The Short Answer
Possession limits for cannabis come from state law, not federal law. There is no national limit for recreational use. Federal law bans cannabis in all amounts. Hemp is the exception: cannabis with 0.3% delta-9 THC or less on a dry weight basis is legal under federal law. As of 2025, 24 states and the District of Columbia allow adult use. Public flower caps in those states range from 28 g to 85 g.
cannabis possession limits 2025
Federal Rules
Cannabis is a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Simple possession, first offense, carries up to 1 year in prison and a $1,000 fine under 21 U.S.C. 844. A second offense carries a $2,500 minimum fine and up to 2 years. Federal charges for small personal amounts are not common.
Cannabis Possession Limits for Medical Patients: State Rules and CBD Labels
Congress has blocked the Justice Department from spending money to stop state medical cannabis programs since 2014. That provision, the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, must be renewed in each appropriations bill. It covers medical programs. It does not cover adult-use sales.
cannabis possession limits by state
The 2018 Farm Bill removed hemp from the controlled substance list. Hemp means cannabis with 0.3% delta-9 THC or less. CBD from hemp is legal at the federal level.
State Possession Limits for Adults, 2025
The figures below are public possession caps for adults 21 and older. Home caps are larger in several states.
- California: 28.5 g flower, 8 g concentrate. Home grow: 6 plants.
- Colorado: 28 g flower, 8 g concentrate, 800 mg THC in edibles. Home grow: 6 plants, 3 in flower.
- Illinois: 30 g flower for residents, 15 g for visitors. Concentrate: 5 g residents, 2.5 g visitors.
- Michigan: 71 g in public, 283 g at home. Home grow: 12 plants.
- Minnesota: 57 g in public, 907 g at home. Home grow: 8 plants, 4 in flower.
- Nevada: 28 g flower, 3.5 g concentrate.
- New York: 85 g flower, 24 g concentrate. Home grow: 6 plants, 12 per household.
- Ohio: 71 g flower, 15 g extract. Home grow: 6 plants, 12 per household.
- Oregon: 28 g flower in public, 227 g at home. Home grow: 4 plants.
- Washington: 28 g flower, 7 g concentrate, 16 oz solid edibles, 72 oz liquid.
Possession across state lines stays illegal under federal law, even between two adult-use states.
Medical Cannabis Limits
Medical programs set supply limits in grams or in days of supply.
- Florida: 2.5 oz flower per 35 days. Medical only. Adult use is not legal in Florida.
- Oklahoma: 3 oz flower on the person, 1 oz concentrate, 72 oz edibles. Medical only.
- Pennsylvania: 30-day supply, set by the certifying doctor.
- Texas: low-THC program with a 0.5% THC cap. Possession of 2 oz or less is a Class B misdemeanor.
Few states honor an out-of-state medical card. Arizona, Nevada, and New Mexico are among the exceptions. Check the state regulator before travel.
Hemp and CBD THC Rules
Federal hemp law uses a 0.3% delta-9 THC limit on a dry weight basis. States set their own rules for finished CBD products. Some use 0.3% total THC. Some use milligrams per container. A CBD product that meets federal hemp law can still break a state rule.
Several states restricted delta-8 THC and other hemp-derived intoxicating cannabinoids in 2024 and 2025. Rules differ by state and change during the year. Read the certificate of analysis for THC content and check the state health department rules.
Penalties Above the Limit
California treats possession of more than 28.5 g as an infraction with a $500 fine and no jail time. Most adult-use states use a civil fine up to a set weight, then a misdemeanor, then a felony. Possession with intent to distribute is a felony in most states.
Federal trafficking charges carry mandatory minimum prison terms. A first offense at 100 kg of marijuana mixture, or 100 plants, triggers a 5-year minimum.
How to Check Your State
Find the state cannabis regulator website. Look for four numbers: public possession cap, home possession cap, plant count, and purchase limit per transaction. Local rules can be stricter than state rules. Counties and cities in California, Colorado, and Michigan have their own bans and caps.