Cannabis Laws, Licenses &amp; Business Guides by State

8,500 licenses19 labsLounges

California is the largest legal cannabis market in the US with over 8,500 active licenses. The state requires all cannabis products to be tested by licensed laboratories before sale.

Colorado

3,000 licenses7 labsLounges

Colorado was one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis in 2012. The state has a mature market with robust testing and compliance requirements.

Oregon

Oregon has a well-established cannabis market with publicly available license data. The state is known for competitive pricing and a large number of craft producers.

2,000 licenses9 labs

Washington

Washington legalized recreational cannabis in 2012 alongside Colorado. The state publishes detailed license and sales data in multiple formats.

1,500 licenses5 labs

Michigan

2,100 licenses13 labsLounges

Michigan is one of the fastest-growing cannabis markets in the Midwest with over 2,100 active licenses and consumption lounges now permitted.

Illinois

800 licenses7 labsLounges

Illinois launched its recreational cannabis program with a strong social equity focus. The state has seen significant growth in dispensary count and sales.

Massachusetts

800 licenses16 labsLounges

Massachusetts has a well-regulated cannabis market with comprehensive open data. The state allows consumption lounges and publishes license data in accessible formats.

Nevada

600 licenses8 labsLounges

Nevada's cannabis market is heavily driven by tourism, particularly in Las Vegas. The state recently approved consumption lounges near the Strip.

Arizona

Arizona legalized recreational cannabis in 2020 and has seen rapid market growth. The state requires third-party testing for all cannabis products.

500 licenses11 labs

New York

2,161 licenses13 labsLounges

New York is one of the newest major recreational markets. Despite a slow rollout, the state has issued over 2,100 licenses and continues to expand.

New Jersey

400 licenses8 labsLounges

New Jersey launched recreational sales in 2022 and has been steadily expanding its licensed operator base.

Missouri

400 licenses10 labsLounges

Missouri legalized recreational cannabis in 2022 and has seen strong early sales growth.

Maryland

300 licenses5 labsLounges

Maryland launched recreational sales in 2023 with a social equity focus and consumption lounge provisions.

Ohio

Ohio voters approved recreational cannabis in 2023. The market is still developing with licenses being issued for the adult-use program.

300 licenses8 labs

Connecticut

Connecticut launched recreational cannabis sales with a strong equity focus and publishes industry data through its open data portal.

300 licenses1 labs

Maine

Maine has a growing cannabis market with monthly data exports available from the Office of Cannabis Policy.

500 licenses4 labs

Montana

Montana legalized recreational cannabis in 2020, with the market growing steadily in the state's population centers.

400 licenses3 labs

New Mexico

500 licenses3 labsLounges

New Mexico launched recreational sales in 2022 with consumption lounges permitted, making it a unique market for cannabis tourism.

Minnesota

200 licenses3 labsLounges

Minnesota legalized recreational cannabis in 2023. The market is in early stages with only 2 testing labs currently operational, creating significant bottlenecks.

Alaska

Alaska was one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis in 2014. The state permits on-site consumption at licensed retailers and has a small but established testing lab sector.

200 licensesLounges

Delaware

Delaware became the 22nd state to legalize recreational cannabis in 2023. The commercial adult-use market is still ramping up, with licensing administered by the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner.

150 licenses

Rhode Island

Rhode Island legalized recreational cannabis in 2022 with retail sales beginning shortly after. The state runs a compact market with a limited number of licensed operators and testing labs.

Vermont

Vermont legalized recreational possession in 2018 and launched commercial retail sales in 2022. The state has a small-grower focused program with testing handled by a handful of licensed labs.

300 licenses

Medical Only States (16)

Florida

Florida has one of the largest medical cannabis programs in the US with a vertically integrated market structure.

400 licenses9 labs

Oklahoma

Oklahoma has one of the most open medical cannabis markets in the US with over 7,300 business licenses. The low barrier to entry has created a highly competitive market.

7,300 licenses19 labs

Virginia

Virginia legalized personal possession in 2021 but has not yet established a commercial adult-use retail market. The state runs a medical cannabis program with a limited number of pharmaceutical processors and testing labs.

50 licenses

Alabama

Alabama legalized medical cannabis in 2021. The program has been delayed by licensing litigation but includes integrated facility, processor, and testing lab license categories.

40 licenses

Arkansas

Arkansas voters approved medical cannabis in 2016 and the program launched commercial sales in 2019. The market is concentrated among a limited number of vertically integrated operators.

Hawaii

Hawaii was among the earliest states to legalize medical cannabis in 2000. The state runs a limited dispensary licensing program with a small number of approved testing facilities.

30 licenses

Kentucky

Kentucky legalized medical cannabis in 2023 with the program becoming operational in 2025. The Office of Medical Cannabis licenses cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and safety compliance facilities.

60 licenses

Louisiana

Louisiana's medical cannabis program is among the most restrictive in the US, limited to two state-licensed growers and a small number of authorized pharmacies. Testing is handled through the LDAF.

20 licenses

Mississippi

Mississippi legalized medical cannabis in 2022 following a citizen initiative and subsequent legislation. The Department of Health licenses cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and testing labs.

200 licenses

New Hampshire

New Hampshire's Therapeutic Cannabis Program dates to 2013 and operates a small non-profit Alternative Treatment Center model with limited commercial scale.

10 licenses

North Dakota

North Dakota voters approved medical cannabis in 2016. The program operates a limited dispensary model with a small number of licensed manufacturing facilities and testing labs.

15 licenses

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has one of the largest medical cannabis programs in the US with over 400,000 registered patients. The Department of Health permits cultivators, dispensaries, and testing laboratories.

250 licenses

South Dakota

South Dakota launched its medical cannabis program in 2021 following voter approval. The Department of Health regulates cultivation, processing, dispensing, and testing.

Texas

Texas operates the highly restrictive Compassionate Use Program limited to low-THC cannabis products and a small group of qualifying conditions. Only a handful of vertically integrated licensees serve the entire state.

6 licenses

Utah

Utah legalized medical cannabis via ballot initiative in 2018. The program is split between UDAF (cultivation, processing, testing) and the Department of Health (pharmacies).

30 licenses

West Virginia

West Virginia legalized medical cannabis in 2017. The program operates under the Bureau for Public Health with licenses for cultivators, processors, dispensaries, and testing labs.