Diving into the world of growing your own cannabis is like stepping into an evergreen jungle of laws, with each state playing by its own set of rules. If your green thumb is itching to get planting, make sure you understand the maze of regulations before you set up shop. Here’s a list of states and the current laws for growing medicinal or recreational legal cannabis plants
Alaska
Medicinal growing laws: In the land of the midnight sun, medical marijuana is legal, and patients can grow up to six plants, but only three can be flowering at one time??.
Recreational growing laws: The same holds true for recreational weed; adults over 21 can grow up to six plants, but only three of these can be in the flowering stage at any one time. It’s all about keeping it personal and out of commercial territory.
Arizona
Medicinal growing laws: Qualified patients or their caregivers can cultivate up to 12 plants in an enclosed, locked facility if they live more than 25 miles from a dispensary.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and older may grow up to six plants at their primary residence, with a maximum of 12 plants in households with two or more adults.
California
Medicinal growing laws: For medicinal growers, California is your oyster. Under Proposition 215, patients, along with their chosen main caregivers, have the green light to own and grow cannabis amounts beyond the six-plant cap. This is allowed as long as they have the nod from a California-certified doctor and they’re not stepping over any local laws or zoning rules. You can grow as much as your medical needs require, within reason, of course
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Recreational growing laws: Up to six plants per residence, not per person, as long as it’s indoors or in a locked area out of public view.
Colorado
Medicinal growing laws: Patients and caregivers can grow up to 6 plants, with no more than three mature and flowering at any one time. Additional plants may be allowed with specific medical necessity.
Recreational growing laws: Adults over the age of 21 may grow up to 6 plants, with no more than three mature and flowering at any one time, for personal use.
Connecticut:
Medicinal growing laws: Medical marijuana patients 18 years of age and older are able to grow up to three mature and three immature plants in their home, with a cap of 12 total plants per household.
Recreational growing laws: Legal for recreational use from July 2021, adults can grow up to six plants for personal use starting from July 2021, with the same rules of 3 mature and three immature plants and a cap of 12 plants per household. Plants must be grown indoors and must not be visible from the street.
District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)
Medicinal growing laws: Not specified beyond recreational allowances.
Recreational growing laws: Individuals may grow up to six plants, with no more than three mature at any time, for personal use.
Delaware
Medicinal growing laws: A registered qualifying patient is permitted to cultivate and produce marijuana for personal medicinal use, up to six mature, flowering plants and no more than six immature plants or seedlings. All cultivation must occur at the patient’s home address listed on their registration. Each plant or seedling requires a legible tag displaying the patient’s name, address, and registry identification number.
Caregivers are authorized to supply marijuana to registered patients who are unable to cultivate their own. They may grow marijuana for no more than three registered patients, with a limit of six mature, flowering plants and six immature plants or seedlings per patient. Marijuana cultivation and production must be conducted within an enclosed, locked facility
Recreational growing laws: Growing marijuana for recreational purposes is not allowed, although the recreational use and possession of cannabis in DE was legalized in April of 2023.
Hawaii
Medicinal growing laws: The cultivation of cannabis in the Aloha state is strictly for medical purposes, with recreational cultivation remaining illegal. Registered medical cannabis patients and their designated caregivers are allowed to grow up to ten plants at a time. The growing area must be registered with the Hawaii Department of Health.
Recreational growing laws: Recreational marijuana is not yet legal in Hawaii, although 2024 may be the year that adult-use cannabis is allowed in Hawaii.
Illinois
Medicinal growing laws: Qualifying patients who possess an Illinois Medical Cannabis Registry Identification Card are permitted to cultivate up to five cannabis plants that exceed five inches in height within their own homes.
Recreational growing laws: Conversely, for individuals without an IL Medical Cannabis ID Card, cultivating cannabis plants remains strictly illegal.
Louisiana
Medicinal growing laws: Only licensed cultivators can grow medicinal marijuana in Lousiana, patients are not allowed to grow their own. Mosca Seeds offers bulk seeds for the commercial growing market, in regular, feminized, and auto flowering varieties.
Recreational growing laws: Recreational cannabis for adults is not yet legal in Louisana.
Maine
Medicinal growing laws: Patients may cultivate up to six mature plants, 12 immature plants, and an unlimited number of seedlings.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over may cultivate up to three flowering marijuana plants, 12 immature plants, and unlimited seedlings.
Massachusetts
Medicinal growing laws: Patients can cultivate enough plants to yield a 60-day supply of cannabis for personal medical use, subject to the healthcare provider’s recommendation.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over may grow up to six plants per person, with a maximum of 12 plants per household.
Michigan
Medicinal growing laws: Patients and caregivers can grow up to 12 marijuana plants for medicinal purposes in a locked and enclosed facility.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over may cultivate up to 12 plants for personal use, in a locked and enclosed space.
Minnesota
Medicinal growing laws: Growing for medical purposes was not allowed until August of 2023 when recreational cannabis was legalized in the state. The same growing laws apply to medical patients and adults over 21.
Recreational growing laws: Effective August of 2023, with the legalization of adult-use cannabis, adults 21 and over can grow up to eight plants at their primary residence, with only four mature plants at one time. They must be in a locked space away from public view.
Missouri
Medicinal growing laws: A medical patient may grow up to six flowering, six nonflowering plants, and six clones under 14 inches in an enclosed facility at any given time.
Recreational growing laws: Adults over 21 can cultivate cannabis with the same restrictions as patients, up to six mature, six immature, and six plants under 14 inches for recreational use.
Montana
Medicinal growing laws: Medical marijuana patients are allowed to cultivate up to four mature plants and four seedlings.
Recreational growing laws: Adults are permitted to grow up to two mature marijuana plants and two seedlings for personal use within a private home, adhering to specific limitations.
Nevada
Medicinal growing laws: Patients may grow up to 12 plants under certain conditions, such as living more than 25 miles from the nearest dispensary.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over may grow up to six plants per person, with a maximum of 12 plants per household, if they live more than 25 miles from a dispensary.
New Hampshire
Medicinal growing laws: Medical patients and caregivers can grow up to six mature plants, three immature plants, and twelve seedlings.
Recreational growing laws: Adults over 21 years of age can grow up to six plants, with three mature and three immature, and can possess all the cannabis produced from their plants at their location.
New Mexico
Medicinal growing laws: Patients enrolled in the medical program can apply for a Personal Production License to grow up to 16 plants, with a maximum of four mature plants at a time.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over can grow up to six plants per person, with a maximum of 12 plants per household.
New York
Medicinal growing laws: Medical patients can cultivate up to six plants total with three mature plants and three immature plants in their home, or a total of twelve with six mature and six immature no matter the number of patients in the home.
Recreational growing laws: The legal framework is in place, although the details are still being worked out, that will allow adults 21 and over to grow up to six plants (three mature and three immature) or 12 plants (six mature and six immature), for households with more than one adult.
Ohio
Medicinal growing laws: Growing was not legal in Ohio until November of 2023, when Ohio legalized recreational marijuana, allowing for home growing by adults.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over can grow up to six plants or a maximum of twelve per household. This might be the best option for some Ohioans, as buying legally from a dispensary will take some time for the state to establish the framework.
Oregon
Medicinal growing laws: Patients and their caregivers can grow up to six mature plants and 18 seedlings.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over may grow up to four plants per household, regardless of the number of adults.
Rhode Island
Medicinal growing laws: Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Patients have the privilege to cultivate up to 12 mature and 12 immature Medical Cannabis Plants for personal use, on the condition that they are duly registered through the Office of Cannabis Regulation’s Plant Tag Program. The cultivation area must be indoors, surrounded by four walls and a solid roof (excluding greenhouses), ensuring that the plants are not visible to the public. Additionally, it’s required to implement measures to control the odor. Patients are permitted to have in their possession up to 2.5 ounces of “dry, usable” marijuana or 12.5 ounces of “wet, unconsumable” marijuana, or a proportional mix of both.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over can grow up to six plants, with no more than three being mature.
South Dakota
Medicinal growing laws: Registered medical marijuana patients may have the opportunity to grow more than three plants if they complete and submit a formal request for permission to cultivate an increased number of plants. This request must include a certification from the patient’s doctor, endorsing the need for a higher quantity of plants.
Recreational growing laws: Individuals who are 21 years of age or older are permitted to cultivate up to three marijuana plants in their homes, provided they live in a location without any licensed marijuana dispensaries. In cases where two or more individuals cultivating marijuana share the same living space, a collective maximum of six plants is allowed.
Vermont
Medicinal growing laws: Registered patients are allowed to grow up to two mature plants and seven immature plants.
Recreational growing laws: Adults 21 and over can grow up to two mature plants and four immature plants.
Virginia
Medicinal growing laws: Medical patients in Virginia can grow up to four plants, with the same laws applying to adults 21 and over.
Recreational growing laws: Adults aged 21 and over are allowed to cultivate up to four plants within their residences. These plants must not be visible from the street and must be kept out of reach of anyone under the age of 21.
Washingto
Medicinal growing laws: Patients in the medical program can grow up to six plants for personal use and may grow up to 15 plants if their healthcare provider recommends a greater amount for their personal medical use.
Recreational growing laws: Not permitted for recreational use.
Growing Green: The Universal Importance of Quality Seeds in Every State
Navigating the intricate web of cannabis cultivation laws across the United States can be as complex as cultivating the plants themselves. Each state, with its unique regulations, offers a diverse growing environment for both medicinal and recreational cultivators. Understanding these laws is crucial for ensuring that your cultivation practices are both legal and productive. However, the foundation of a successful harvest lies not just in adhering to the legalities but in starting with quality genetics.
High-quality cannabis seeds are the cornerstone of any fruitful cultivation endeavor. Seeds from reputable sources like Mosca Seeds provide cultivators with the confidence that their efforts will yield potent, high-quality cannabis. With a wide selection of strains that are genetically designed for a variety of growing conditions and preferences, Mosca Seeds ensures that cultivators have access to the best possible start for their cannabis plants. Whether you’re a seasoned grower or just beginning your cultivation journey, choosing the right seeds can make all the difference in achieving a successful and rewarding harvest.
While the legal landscape for cannabis cultivation continues to evolve across the country, one principle remains constant: the importance of starting with quality seeds. By understanding and complying with state laws and choosing to cultivate with premium seeds from Mosca Seeds, cultivators can look forward to bountiful yields of high-quality cannabis. Explore the selection at Mosca Seeds for top-notch cannabis and let your cultivation journey begin.
**Don’t take our word for it, laws change on the daily. Eventhough some states allow you to grow, some municipalities do not. Please check with the appropriate governing body within your city and state to determine what the law says about cultivation.