The minimum age to buy adult-use cannabis in the United States is 21. Every state that legalized recreational cannabis sets the limit at 21. No state allows recreational sales to people under 21.
Cannabis Legal Age for Recreational Use
There is no federal legal age for cannabis. Cannabis is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Federal law does not permit recreational use at any age.
Adult-use states and age limits
As of 2025, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized adult-use cannabis. Each one sets the minimum age at 21 for possession and purchase. The group includes California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington.
Cannabis Legal Age to Buy in the U.S.: Rules for Recreational, Medical, and CBD
Ohio opened adult-use sales in August 2024. Virginia allows possession for adults 21 and older but runs no retail stores. The District of Columbia allows possession and gifting, not store sales.
Cannabis Legal Age by State: 21 for Adult Use, 18 for Medical
Medical cannabis
Medical programs follow different rules. More than 35 states issue patient cards. Most require a signed recommendation from a doctor.
Age limits in medical programs vary by state:
- 18 and older: many states issue cards to adults at 18.
- Under 18: most states require a parent or guardian to register as caregiver.
- Some states set the card age at 21, matching the adult-use limit.
State health departments publish the exact age rules. A medical card age does not always match the adult-use age in the same state.
Hemp CBD
Hemp with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC by dry weight is legal under federal law after the 2018 Farm Bill. Federal law sets no minimum age to buy hemp CBD.
States set their own limits. Some states require buyers to be 18. Others require 21 for products that contain any THC. In 2025, several states passed laws to restrict intoxicating hemp products such as delta-8 THC. Those laws commonly set the age at 21.
ID checks at the counter
Dispensaries check government photo ID at the door and again at checkout. Accepted forms include a driver license, state ID card, passport, and military ID.
Some states refuse vertical driver licenses, which are issued to people under 21. Expired IDs get refused. A few states accept out-of-state IDs; others require in-state ID for residents.
Federal law
Federal law bans cannabis possession and sale on all ages. The DEA proposed moving cannabis to Schedule III in 2024. The rule was not final in 2025. Until it takes effect, federal penalties can apply. Cannabis is also banned on federal land, including national parks, at any age.
Penalties for underage possession
Most legal states treat possession by a person under 21 as a civil infraction. Fines run from $100 to $500. Some states add drug education classes or community service. Selling cannabis to a person under 21 is a felony in most legal states.
What changed in 2025
No state lowered its adult-use age below 21 in 2025. Florida's 2024 recreational ballot measure failed with 57% support, short of the 60% needed. State legislatures in 2025 focused on hemp product rules, licensing, and testing. The minimum age for adult-use cannabis stayed at 21 in every legal state.