States with proposed bills to legalize cannabis for adults: 14

• Hawai’i — DEAD for the year — HB 1246 and SB 1613 would have legalized and regulated cannabis for adults 21 and older. HB 1246 passed out of the House Judiciary & Hawaiian Affairs and Agriculture & Food Systems Committees on February 4, 2025, but referred back to committee. SB 1613 passed out of the Senate Health and Human Services and Judiciary Committees but was not scheduled for a hearing in the next two committees before a deadline. Both bills are dead for the year, but carry over to 2026.
• Florida — DEAD—H1501, S1032, and S1390 would have legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over, allowing current medical marijuana treatment centers to convert to both medical and adult-use sales.
• Indiana —DEAD — HB 1630 and HB 1654 would have legalized and regulated cannabis for adults. HB1145 would have removed penalties for possession of up to two ounces of marijuana. HB 1332 would have established a comprehensive framework for regulating the production and sale of cannabis. SB 1113 would have allowed both medical cannabis and adult-use. All bills died because they did not advance before the crossover deadline.
• Kansas — DEAD for the year —HB2405 would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older. It carries over to 2026 and can be taken up then.
• Kentucky — DEAD — SB36/HB105 was a proposed constitutional amendment that would have created a right for adults to possess up to an ounce of cannabis and grow up to five plants. It would have also authorized the General Assembly to create regulations for an adult-use market. SB33 would have removed criminal penalties for possessing up to 8 ounces of cannabis flower and growing up to five plants. The legislation would have also set an expungement process for violations covered by the legislation. HB 106 would have removed criminal penalties for up to one ounce of cannabis, five grams of concentrate, 1,000mg of consumable cannabis products, and up to five plants.
• Louisiana — DEAD — HB627 would have set up a three-year pilot program allowing medical cannabis dispensaries to sell adult-use cannabis to people 21 and older.
• Mississippi — DEAD — SB2351 would have removed all criminal penalties for possession of cannabis flower. This legislation would not have set up a regulatory framework for distribution and sales of cannabis. Meanwhile, HB 518 would have proposed a constitutional amendment — which would have been referred to voters — to legalize cannabis for adults. Both bills died in committee without receiving a hearing.
• New Hampshire — TABLED and RETAINED — HB 198 would legalize simple possession of cannabis and penalize public smoking. It passed the House floor 208-125 on March 26, 2025, and was deferred on the Senate floor in a 12-10 vote, with two excused. HB 186 would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults. It was retained by the committee. HB 75 is intended to legalize cannabis for adults 21 and older with no regulation. It was tabled in a voice vote. Procedurally, the tabled bills could be removed from the table before the legislature adjourns in June or when they reconvene next January. HB 186 — the retained bill — will be considered in committee in January 2026.
• North Carolina — DEAD for the year — HB 413 would legalize and regulate cannabis for adults 21 and older. S350 would legalize and regulate both adult-use and medical cannabis.
• Pennsylvania — SB 120, HB 20, and HB 1735 would legalize cannabis with privately run, state-licensed stores. All are pending in committee and have not received hearings. HB 1200 would have legalized cannabis for adults, with sales from state-run stores. It passed the House of Representatives in a 102-101 vote on May 7, 2025, but was voted down, 7-3, by the Senate Law and Justice Committee. HB1107 says it would establish an adult-use cannabis program, but is an incomplete bill focused on farmer-grower permits.
• Tennessee —DEAD—HB0703, HB 836, HB 809, SB809, andSB981 would have legalized and regulated cannabis for adults. SB923 and HB981 would have legalized possession and home grow of up to five plants without a regulated market.
• Texas’ regular session —DEAD—HB1208, HB2975, and SB335 would have legalized possession and distribution of cannabis. HB1763 would have removed penalties for possession of cannabis and paraphernalia, among other changes to relax cannabis laws.
• Texas’ first special session— SB54 removes all criminal penalties for possession and home growing of up to six plants for adults 21 and over and sets up a commission to make recommendations for adult-use sales. HB195 would legalize and comprehensively regulate adult-use cannabis sales, possession, cultivation and distribution for adults 21 and over.
• West Virginia —DEAD — SJR3 would have referred a cannabis legalization constitutional amendment to voters. It included expungement of criminal records for cannabis convictions. It did not advance before the crossover deadline.
• Wisconsin — DEAD — AB50 and SB45 are the governor’s proposed budget bills that would legalize cannabis as part of a larger appropriations proposal. The Republican-majority Legislature removed legalization from the bills.

Twenty-four states, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have already passed laws to legalize cannabis for adults. One of the 24 states — Virginia — only has legal possession and home cultivation, with no legal sales, as does Washington, D.C. In Virginia, lawmakers passed legislation, SB970 and HB2485, to create the framework to permit adult-use sales, but they were vetoed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R). In Washington D.C., B26-0051 would legalize and regulate the sales and distribution of cannabis for adults. Thus far, however, Congressional intervention has prevented regulated adult-use sales in the District.

States with decriminalization bills: 8

• Alabama — DEAD — SB50 would have created a fine-only offense for possession of under one ounce of cannabis with a fine not to exceed $200. For possession over one ounce, fines would have begun at $250 for a first offense and risen for subsequent offenses. The legislation would have set up the process for expungement for previous violations.
• Iowa — DEAD — HF72 would have decriminalized possession of 10 grams or less of cannabis. HF78 would have decriminalized possession of up to one-half ounce (14 grams). Although these bills would have removed jail time for possession, they carried an exorbitant $500 misdemeanor fine.
• Kansas — DEAD for the year — SB295 would create a civil infraction of $25 for possession of under one ounce, five grams of concentrate or 1000 milligrams of edibles. It carries over to 2026 and can be taken up next year.
• Pennsylvania — SB 75 and HB 578 would reduce the penalty for possession of up to 30 grams of marijuana or eight grams of hashish to a summary offense carrying a fine of up to $25. They impose a fine of up to $100 for smoking cannabis in public. SB 75 was referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, while HB 578 is in the House Judiciary Committee.
• South Carolina — DEAD for the year — H3110 would create a civil infraction for possession of 28 grams of cannabis flower or 10 grams of hashish. It carries over to 2026 and can be taken up next year.
• Texas —DEAD—HB3242 would have made possession of up to an ounce of cannabis flower a non-custodial arrestable Class C misdemeanor with no possible jail time and a fine not to exceed $500. It would have also set up the mechanism for expungement with a cost of $30.
• West Virginia — DEAD— SB 219 would have established that possession of less than 15 grams of marijuana is subject to a fine of no more than $25 rather than being a criminal offense. It did not advance before the crossover deadline.
• Wyoming — DEAD — HB 191 would have replaced criminal penalties and possible fines for simple possession of cannabis. The penalty would have been a maximum $100 fine for up to three ounces of cannabis, or equivalent amounts of cannabis products.

Thirty-one states and Washington, D.C. have decriminalized or legalized cannabis possession. Check out MPP’s report on the 19 states that have not even stopped jailing cannabis consumers. Bills have been proposed to reduce penalties for existing “decriminalization” states, including North Dakota’s HB 1596, which would reduce the penalty from an up to $1,000 fine to a fee of $150. HB 1596 passed the North Dakota House of Representatives but was voted down (13-33) in the Senate.

States with bills to create comprehensive medical cannabis programs: 9 — one of which is now law

• Georgia — DEAD for the year — SB220 would strengthen Georgia’s existing low-THC program. (Due to limitations in its program, MPP considers Georgia a “low-THC medical cannabis state” instead of a state with a comprehensive medical cannabis law)The legislature has adjourned, but it can be taken up next year.
• Idaho — DEAD — HB 401 would have created a very limited medical cannabis law, that would likely be unworkable because it failed to provide for in-state production. The legislature adjourned without it receiving a committee vote.
• Indiana — DEAD— HB1178 would have created a conservative medical cannabis program. SB0113 would have created the Indiana Cannabis Commission to oversee, implement, and enforce the program. SBO400 would have permitted patients and caregivers to possess a certain amount of medical marijuana, for certain medical conditions. SB0341 would have established a comprehensive medical marijuana program, for patients with serious conditions, contingent on marijuana getting removed as a federal Schedule I substance. All bills failed to advance before Indiana’s crossover deadline.
• Kansas — DEAD for the year — SB294 would create a conservative comprehensive medical cannabis program. The legislature has adjourned, but it can be taken up next year.
• Iowa — DEAD for the year — HF 950 would allow medical cannabis patients to have inhalable botanical cannabis, creating flexibility in treatment options. (Due to limitations in its program, MPP considers Iowa a “low-THC medical cannabis state” instead of a state with a comprehensive medical cannabis law.) While deadlines have passed it 2025, it can be taken up next year.
• North Carolina — DEAD for the year — HB1011 would create a comprehensive medical cannabis program. HB984 would allow for patients to participate in approved state cannabis research programs.
• South Carolina — DEAD for the year —S0053 would create a conservative comprehensive medical cannabis program. H3019 would create a much more expansive medical cannabis program than S0053. H3018 would give legal protection from prosecution for veterans suffering from combat-related PTSD for possession of under 28 grams of cannabis flower or 10 grams of hashish. The legislature has adjourned its regular session, but the bills carry over to 2026 and can be taken up then.
• Tennessee — DEAD for the year — HB0872 and SB0489 would create comprehensive medical cannabis programs. The legislature has adjourned its regular session, but the bills carry over to 2026 and can be taken up then.
• Texas —PASSED— HB46 expands the Compassionate Use Program in regards to cultivators, satellite locations for patient pickups for medication, methods of delivery, and ailments covered under the program. It replaces a 1% THC cap with 10 milligrams of THC per serving and one gram per package. Gov. Abbott signed it into law on June 22.

Forty states, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have effective medical cannabis laws. In addition, two states have more restrictive laws that allow in-state distribution of federally illegal cannabis-based products with lower amounts of THC: Iowa and Georgia.

This is a partial list of bills to roll back progress:

• Connecticut — DEAD — Several bills, including HB 07204, would make it legal for police to search based on the odor of cannabis. HB 07204, which includes numerous topics, passed out of the Joint Public Safety and Security Committee on March 11, 2025. The legislature adjourned without it passing out of committee.
• Colorado — DEAD — SB 25-076 would have banned adults 21-24 from buying cannabis with more than 10% THC while making other changes that increase waste, drive up prices, and hamstring the industry. It was withdrawn by its sponsor.
• Montana — DEAD — SB 255 would have required cannabis consumers to pay a $200 annual registration fee for a state-issued card, and granted law enforcement access to a state-run registry on consumers. It was scheduled in committee but was never heard, and the bill page says it was withdrawn. SB 443 would have capped THC potency to just 15% and essentially banned vapes and concentrates entirely. A committee vote failed (1-11), as did a floor vote to spring it from committee (23-27).
• Nebraska —  DEAD — LB483 would have re-criminalized most types of medical cannabis. Only pills and liquid tinctures would be allowed. Smoking, vaping, flower, and edibles would be prohibited. LB 483 also requires all recommending practitioners to be licensed in Nebraska, meaning visiting patients would be re-criminalized. The General Affairs Committee held a hearing on March 3, 2025, but did not advance it out of committee. Meanwhile, LB 677 included important provisions to implement the voter-approved Nebraska Medical Cannabis Regulation Act, but, as passed out of the General Affairs Committee, it included serious restrictions on the medical cannabis program, including removing providers’ ability to certify patients for any condition, and instead listing 15 qualifying conditions, which do not include PTSD; requiring providers to have at least a six-month treating relationship with patients they certify; limiting cannabis to two ounces, instead of five; and banning cannabis smoking and paraphernalia for smoking. It died after a supermajority could not be mustered for cloture — to stop debate. The legislature has adjourned.
• Ohio —SB 56 and HB 160 would dramatically erode freedoms enacted by the voter-approved cannabis legalization initiative. They would re-criminalize innocuous conduct including passing a joint and possessing cannabis from another legal state, and would dramatically limit where cannabis can be used. SB 56 would even ban smoking or vaping in your own backyard. Both bills also gut social equity funding and eliminate small grower licenses. The full Senate passed SB 56 in a 23-9 vote. Both bills are now in the House Judiciary Committee, which has held several hearings on the issue and amended SB 56 with a substitute.
• New Jersey — S.4154 would classify purchasing cannabis from an unlicensed source as a “disorderly persons offense,” punishable by a fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to six months in jail, among other provisions. A hearing was held on May 29, but it has not been called to a vote.
• New York — DEAD —  Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) proposed a budget which would have removed the ban on giving law enforcement probable cause to search vehicles based solely upon the odor of cannabis. She signed a budget in May that did not include the offending provision.
• South Dakota — DEAD — HB 1101 would have completely eliminated the state’s voter-enacted medical cannabis program. It was "deferred to the 41st legislative day" (which is one day more than the legislative session) in a 7-6 House Health and Human Services Committee vote. HB1124 would have taken away the affirmative defense (which prevents a conviction but not an arrest) for unregistered patients. It passed the House 43-27 and failed in the Senate in a 17-18 vote.
• Texas — VETOED — SB3 would have criminalized the manufacturing, distributing, possession, or selling of consumable hemp products that contain cannabinoids other than CBD and CBG. On June 22, Gov. Abbott vetoed the bill and called a July 21 special session to include regulating THC derived from hemp.. . SB1870— DEAD —would have revoked municipalities’ and counties’ (even those with Home Rule Charters) ability to implement decriminalization ordinances around controlled substances banned by state and/or federal law. HB4283— DEAD —would have allowed the state Attorney General to levy fines on cities/counties that pass ordinances that run counter to state law.
• Texas special session — SB5 would criminalize the manufacturing, distributing, possession, or selling of consumable hemp products that contain cannabinoids other than CBD and CBG. On August 1, the Senate passed the legislation in a 21-8 vote. The future of this legislation is in question as the quorum was broken in the House and no legislation is advancing at this point.

If you live in a state that still prohibits cannabis and no lawmakers have taken the lead to change that, send your state legislators a note to ask them to stand up for humane and sensible cannabis policies. Take a few moments to email them in support of medical cannabis, decriminalization, or legalizing and regulating cannabis.

MPP has webpages for each individual state, which you can access here. They include a snapshot of cannabis policies in the state, along with additional bills, courtesy of Bill Track 50, to change cannabis laws. These include proposals to improve (or undermine) existing legalization, medical cannabis, and decriminalization laws.