Marijuana Laws at the State Level

At the state level, marijuana laws vary significantly.  Some states have fully legalized marijuana, others consider it fully illegal, and some states lay somewhere in between.  To further complicate matters, marijuana laws continue to change as public opinions on cannabis evolve. 

 

In 2023, 70% of Americans supported marijuana legalization, showing a marked increase over the past few decades.  More than half of the population of the United States now lives in states that have fully legalized marijuana. 

 

However, some states still place restrictions on the drug.  For example, marijuana is fully illegal in four states.  Some states have decriminalized marijuana.  Others have legalized medical marijuana, while recreational marijuana is either decriminalized or illegal. 

 

There is additional variation in how states approach marijuana in the workplace.  Some states, such as Nevada, have banned pre-employment marijuana tests for most industries.  Five states permit employers to discipline employees for marijuana usage in the workplace; however, these states require extensive proof. 

 

State legislators are constantly introducing new marijuana legislation, and it is likely that state laws will continue to change moving forward. 

 

 

Source: US Drug Test Centers