State	Year Law Passed	Amount of Marijuana the Policy Applies To	First Offense Penalty	Subsequent Offense Penalties	Classification for First Offense	Citations	Other Information
Alaska	2014; 1975 court decision	One ounce, six plants, marijuana from those plants	No penalty for those 21 and older	No penalty for those 21 and older	N/A for adults 21 and older	Alaska Stat. § 17.38.020	In 2014, voters approved Ballot Measure 2, to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adult use. It does not allow public use. In addition, the state Supreme Court ruled in 1975 that the state’s right to privacy protects private possession of marijuana (Ravin v. State).
Arizona	2020	One ounce with no more than five grams being concentrates, six plants, and the marijuana from those plants (12 plants if two adults 21+ live at the residence)	No penalty for those 21 and older; $100 fine and four hours of drug counseling for minors	No penalty for those 21 and older; $100 fine and eight hours of drug counseling for minors	N/A for adults 21 and older; petty offense for others	A.R.S. § 36-2852, § 36-2853	Arizona voters approved an adult-use legalization initiative, Prop 207, on November 3, 2020. Legal sales began January 22, 2021. Smoking marijuana in a public place or open space is a petty offense.
California	2016 (legal for adults 21 and up); 1976 and 2010	28.5 grams (about an ounce) or less; six plants, and marijuana from the plants	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; ages 18-20: $100 fine; minors: counseling, community service, drug education	Same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and up; infraction for others	Cal. Health & Safety Code § 11362.1, §11357	Regulated adult-use marijuana sales began in early January 2018. It remains illegal to use marijuana in public (other than in licensed cannabis cafés) or to have an open container in cars.
Colorado	2012 (legal for adults 21 and up); 1975 and 2010 (fining possession)	For adults 21 and older: no penalty for up to two  ounces, six plants, and marijuana from the plants For those under 21: fine applies to up to two ounces	No  penalty for adults 21 and older; $100 fine for those under 21	No penalty	N/A for adults 21 and up; Criminal class 2 petty offense for others	Colorado Constitution Article XVIII, Section 16; C.R.S. § 18-18-406 (1)-(3)	In 2012, voters approved Amendment 64, to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults’ use. It does not allow public consumption.
Connecticut	2021 (legal for adults 21 and up); 2011 (fining possession)	For adults 21 and older: no penalty for up to 1.5 ounces or equivalent and up to five ounces secured at home, plus three mature plants and three immature plants For those under 21: modest fine for up to five ounces	No penalty for adults 21+ For those 18-20: $50 or  community service alternative for indigent Under 18: a written warning and possible referral to a youth services bureau	For those 18-20: $150 or community service alternative for indigent Under 18: mandatory referral to a youth services bureau or other services; subsequent: offenses adjudicated delinquent in juvenile court	Civil violation	C.G.S.A. § 21a-279a	On June 22, 2021, Gov. Ned Lamont signed S.B. 1201, adult-use legalization, into law. One ounce is considered the equivalent to five grams of cannabis concentrate or any other cannabis product with up to 500 milligrams of THC. The law added cannabis to the Clean Indoor Air Act.
Delaware	2023	One ounce or less, up to 12 grams concentrates, or up to 750 mg of THC in products	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; ages 18-20: $100 civil fine; under 18: may be referred to counseling, treatment, or other intervention services	Same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and older, civil violation for minors	Del. Code Ann. Title 16 § 4764; § 4764A	In April 2023, legalization laws HB 1 and HB 2 became law without the governor's signature. Consuming cannabis in public or in a moving vehicle carries up to five days in jail and/or a fine of up to $200. Cannabis must be stored in a closed container in a moving vehicle and can’t be readily accessible.
District of Columbia	2014	For adults 21 and older: Up to two ounces outside the home, plus six plants and the marijuana from the plants at home For those under 21: fine applies to up to one ounce	No  penalty for adults 21 and older; $25 fine for those under 21	Same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and older; civil violation for others	D.C. Official Code §§ 48-904.01 & 48-1203	Parental notification is required for minors. In November 2014, voters approved Initiative 71, which legalized personal possession and cultivation of marijuana for adults 21 and older.
Hawaii	2019	Three grams	$130 fine	Same as first penalty	Non-criminal	H.R.S. 712-1249
Illinois	2019 (legal for adults 21 and up); 2016	Residents: No penalty for up to 30 grams, five grams concentrates, or products with up to 500 mg THC; Non- residents: half those amounts	No penalty for  adults 21 and  older	Same	N/A for adults 21 and older	410 ILCS 705/10-5, 705/10-10.	In 2019, Illinois became the first state to adopt a regulatory system for legal cannabis via a state legislature. The possession limit is half the listed amounts for non-residents. For minors, possession of up to 10 grams of cannabis is punishable by a $100-200 fine. Cultivation of up to five plants is punishable by a fine.
Louisiana	2021	14 grams	Fine of up to $100.  For indigent, the court must find alternatives, such as community service or installment payments.	Same	Unclear	L.R.S. 40:966(C) (2)(a))
Maine	2016 (legal for adults 21 and up); 1976 and 2009	2.5 ounces; six mature plants, 12 immature plants, and the cannabis from the plants	No penalty for adults 21 and older; those under 21: $350 - $1,000 fine	Same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and up; civil violation for others	7 M.R.S.A. §2452; 22 M.R.S.A. § 2383	In 2016, voters approved Question 1 to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adult use. It remains illegal to use marijuana in public.
Maryland	2022	Up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, 12 grams of concentrates, or products with up to 750 mg of THC; up to two plants	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: up to a $100 fine, possible drug education and/or substance abuse assessment	No penalty for adults; For minors, same as first offense.	No penalty for adults; civil offense for minors	Md. Code Ann., Crim. Law § 5-601	In November 2022, voters approved a legislatively referred legalization initiative. The legislature enacted a contingent companion bill in 2022, and in 2023 it approved legal, regulated sales. Public smoking of cannabis is punishable by a fine of up to $50 for a first offense.
Massachusetts	2016 (legal for adults 21 and up); 2008	One ounce, six plants and marijuana from  the plants	Adults 21 and older: no penalty;  ages 18-20: $100 fine; minors: fine, drug awareness class	Same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and up; civil offense for others	M.G. L.A. 94G, Section 7; 94C § 32L-32N	In 2016, voters approved Question 4 to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adult use. It remains illegal to use marijuana in public or to have an open container in cars.
Michigan	2018	2.5 ounces, six plants, and marijuana from the plants	No penalty for those 21 and older	No penalty for those 21 and older	N/A for adults 21 and older		Voters approved Prop. 1 in 2018 to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older. Possession by those under 21 remains a crime, and the law does not allow public consumption.
Minnesota	2023	Two ounces, eight grams of concentrate, and edibles with up to 800 mg of THC; at home: two pounds and up to eight plants (four flowering)	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: unclear	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: unclear	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: unclear	Minn. St. § 342.09; possibly §645.241	In 2023, the legislature and governor approved an adult-use legalization law. Vaping or smoking cannabis in a multi-family home including balconies and patios, is punishable by a $250 fine. Having an open container in a car is a jailable offense. Cities may impose fines for public consumption. The legalization law does not include a penalty for minors in possession, but a default penalty appears to apply — a petty misdemeanor carrying up to a $300 fine.
Mississippi	1977	30 grams (a little more than an ounce) or less	$100-$250 fine	Second conviction within two years is a $250 fine and 5-60 days jail, plus counseling; third conviction in two years is a misdemeanor	Civil summons (first or second); criminal misdemeanor (third conviction within two years)	Miss. Code Ann.  § 41-29-139 (c) (2)	Offenders who provide proof of identity and agree in writing to appear in court are not subject to arrest. The Bureau of Narcotics maintains a record of first and second convictions, but the record does not constitute a criminal record, and the record of each conviction is expunged after two years.
Missouri	2023	Three ounces of cannabis, and the equivalent; six mature plants with cultivation card	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: $250 to $1000 fine	Adults 21 and older: no penalty	No penalty for adults; Class D misdemeanor (infraction) for minors	Mo. Const, Art  XIV, Sec. 2; Mo. St. §579.015.	In November 2022, the voters approved an adult-use legalization measure. The penalty for minors is for up to 10 grams. Cannabis cannot be smoked where tobacco smoking is prohibited. It also cannot be smoked in a motor vehicle or other motorized transport while it is in operation.
Montana	2020	One ounce with no more than eight grams being concentrates, four plants, four seedlings	No penalty for adults 21 and older; for minors, a civil fine not to exceed $100 or up to four hours drug education/ counseling	No penalty for those 21 and older; for minors, same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and up; civil violation for others	Not yet codified	On November 3, 2020, Montanans passed two complementary ballot initiatives to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults 21 and older. Constitutional Initiative 118 amends the Montana Constitution to set the legal age for marijuana at 21, while Initiative 190, a statutory measure, outlines a comprehensive system of legalization overseen by the Montana Department of Revenue.
Nebraska	1978	One ounce or less	$300  fine and a course if judge deems appropriate	Second conviction: $400 fine, up to five days in jail; third conviction: $500 fine, up to seven days in jail	Civil infraction (first); criminal misdemeanor (second and third)	Neb. Rev. Stat. § 28-416 (13)	The first offense is an infraction. A citation is issued in lieu of arrest or continued custody. A citation is also issued for second and third convictions, and thus, they are also not arrestable offenses.
Nevada	2016 (legal for adults 21 and up); 2001	2.5 ounces; for those living 25 miles from retailers: six plants, and marijuana from the plants	No penalty for adults 21 and older; under 21: up to a $600 fine, in some circumstances, treatment and rehabilitation	Second conviction: up to $1,000 fine and treatment; subsequent penalties include possible jail sentences	N/A for adults 21 and up; criminal misdemeanor for others	Question 2 § 6; N.R.S. § 453.336 (4)	In 2016, voters approved Question 2, to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults’ use. It remains illegal to use marijuana in public (other than in licensed cannabis cafés). The legislature increased the possession limit from one ounce to 2.5 ounces in 2023. It takes effect in January 2024.
New Hampshire	2017	3/4 ounce	Adults: $100 fine; Minors: determined by juvenile court	Second offense: $100 civil fine; third offense: $300 civil fine; fourth offense within three years: up to a $1,200 criminal fine	Civil violation	RSA 318-B:2-c	The policy also applies to five grams of hashish and marijuana- infused products containing up to 300 mg of THC, if they were purchased from states where they were legally sold and are stored in the properly labeled, child-proof containers.
New Jersey	2021	Adults 21+: no penalty for up to six ounces or 17 grams of hashish	Adults 21+ no penalty Those under 21: Warning to the minor only	Minors: Subsequent warnings include more information on accessing services Those under 18: Subsequent warnings go to the parent, too	N/A for adults 21 and up For minors: warning	N.J.S.A.  C. 24:6I- 31, C.2C:33-15	A third or subsequent warning for a person 18-20 will include a write-up for a referral to access community services and the agency will be notified so it can contact the individual for things like counseling, tutoring, mentoring, and faith-based or other community initiatives. A third or subsequent warning for a person under 18 will include the same referral, but for both the parent and minor.
New Mexico	2021 (legal for adults 21 and up); 2019 (civil fine)	Adults 21+: no penalty for two ounces; 16 grams of concentrates, and 800 milligrams of edible cannabis; six mature and six immature plants Minors: Fine for up to a half an ounce or less	Adults 21+ no penalty Minors: four hours of community service or a free four-hour drug education and legal rights program	Same as first penalty	N/A for adults 21 and up For minors: non- criminal	L. 2021, 1st Sp. Sess., Ch. 4, § 25,§ 30	Smoking cannabis in public is punishable by a $50 fine.
New York	2021 (legal for adults 21 and up); 1977, expanded in 2019	Adults 21+: three ounces of cannabis and 24 grams of concentrates	Adults 21+: No penalty Under 21: A fine of up to $50 payable to the office of cannabis management	Same as first penalty	N/A for adults 21  and up; For minors: non- criminal	N.Y. Pen Law § 222.05;   § 132 (4)	Minors found with cannabis will also be “provided with information related to the dangers of underage use of cannabis and information related to cannabis use disorder.” Adults 21 and older will be allowed to cultivate six mature plants and six immature plants at home after regulators set rules for it, which will be no later than 18 months after retail sales begin.
North Carolina	1977	A half ounce or less	Up to a $200 fine, possible suspended sentence	Second to fifth offenses: up to $200 fine, 0-15 days in jail, suspended;  on sixth offense, up to 20 days in jail, suspended at judges’ discretion	Criminal misdemeanor (Class 3)	N.C.G.S.A. § 90- 95 (d)(4)	Any sentence of imprisonment imposed must be suspended and the judge may not require that the defendant serve a period of imprisonment as a special condition of probation.
North Dakota	2019	Up to half an ounce	For adults 21 and older: infraction, up to $1,000 fine	Third infraction within a year may become Class B misdemeanor, with up to 30 days in jail	Infraction	ND Cent. Code 19-03.1-23	Paraphernalia is also decriminalized. The law classifies consumption of marijuana by a person under the age of 21 as a Class B misdemeanor.
Ohio	2023	2.5 ounces, 15 grams of concentrate	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: $150 fine	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: $150 fine	No penalty for adults; minor misdemeanor for minors	O.R.C. § 3780.36; 2925.11(c)(3)	Smoking or vaping cannabis while in a vehicle, streetcar, trackless trolley, bike, watercraft, or aircraft carries a $150 fine, as does using adult-use cannabis in public areas.
Oregon	2014 (legal for adults 21 and older); 1973 (fining possession)	For adults 21 and older: no penalty for up to eight ounces, four plants For those under 21: fine applies to less than one ounce	No penalty for adults 21 and older; $650 presumptive fine for those under 21	Same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and older; civil violation for others	OR Rev. Stat § 475.864	In 2014, voters approved Measure 91 to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults’ use. It remains illegal to use marijuana in public.
Rhode Island	2022	One ounce and up to five grams of concentrate; stored at home: up to 10 ounces	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: 17-20 year old, $150 civil fine plus drug-awareness program	Adults 21 and older: no penalty; under 21: Same	No penalty for adults; civil penalty for minors	R.I. Gen. Laws § 21-28-4.01	In 2022, the legislature and governor approved an adult-use legalization law.  Penalties for minors vary based on age and may include an appearance in family court, substance abuse treatment, and a fine.
Vermont	2018 (legal for adults 21 and up), 2013	One ounce or less; up to five grams of hash	For adults, no penalty; if under 21, generally diversion	For adults, no penalty; if under 21, generally diversion	N/A for adults 21 and up; infraction for others	18 V.S.A. § 4230a–b	In 2018, the legislature approved a law allowing adults to cultivate and possess limited amounts of marijuana. It does not include sales. It remains illegal to use marijuana in public or to have an open container in cars.
Virginia	2021 (legal for adults 21 and up); 2020 (civil fine)	Adults 21+: No penalty for up to one ounce of cannabis or the equivalent amount of products and up to four plants at primary residence	Minors in possession or exceeding limits but possessing under a pound: $25 fine	Same as first offense	N/A for adults 21 and up; civil offense for others	Virginia Acts of Assembly, 2021 special session, chapter 551; Code of Virginia 18.2- 250.1	Bringing any cannabis into Virginia will be punishable by up to a year in jail, but there is a reenactment clause on it and many other provisions requiring a second vote in 2022.
Washington	2012	Allows adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce	No penalty for those 21 and older	No penalty for those 21 and older	N/A for those 21 and older; misdemeanor for those under 21	RCW 69.50.325- 69.50.359	In 2012, voters approved I-502 to legalize, regulate, and tax marijuana for adults’ use. The law does not allow public consumption or home cultivation. Possession by those under 21 remains a crime.

Disclaimer: This chart is not intended for or offered for legal advice. It is for informational and educational purposes only. Please consult with an attorney licensed to practice in the state in question for legal advice

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