Biden pardons federal marijuana offenses. Here's where cannabis laws stand in each state

Earlier this month, President Joe Biden announced pardons for federal convictions of simple marijuana possession. The president's historic announcement will affect more than 6,500 individuals but does not affect the majority of convictions on the state level. Biden is hoping states will eventually follow his lead.

The concept of federally legalizing cannabis has been gaining momentum over the years. Multiple states have approved it for medicinal purposes, and many have legalized adult-use marijuana. On the campaign trail, Biden called for marijuana decriminalization; earlier this year, he pardoned around a dozen people on the federal level.

Currently, 37 states and the District of Columbia have laws permitting cannabis for medicinal consumption, along with four U.S. territories – Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Another dozen states permit limited access to products with CBD and low amounts of THC - one of the cannabinoids found in the greatest abundance in the cannabis plant that can produce euphoric effects.

Nineteen states and Washington D.C. allow adult retail sales and marijuana consumption, along with the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam territories.

According to Americans for Safe Access (a non-profit whose mission is to ensure safe and legal access to cannabis (marijuana) for therapeutic use and research), 27 states have fully or partially decriminalized offenses for possession of marijuana.

That means possessing minor amounts of cannabis for personal use is regulated similarly to a minor traffic violation, with no criminal record or arrest for first-time offenders. Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Ohio have partially decriminalized marijuana possession, which means that the offenses are still considered criminal but carry no threat of jail time.

Here's where states stand on marijuana use, according to Americans for Safe Access:

AL – medical marijuana consumption allowed (Alabama)

AK – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Alaska)

AZ – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Arizona)

Arkansas: medical marijuana consumption allowed

CA – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (California)

CO – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Colorado)

CT – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Connecticut)

DE – medical marijuana consumption allowed (Delaware)

DC – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (District of Columbia)

FL – medical marijuana consumption allowed (Florida)

GA – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Georgia)

HI – medical marijuana consumption allowed (Hawaii)

ID – marijuana use illegal (Idaho)

IL – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Illinois)

IN – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Indiana)

IA – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Iowa)

KS – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Kansas)

KY – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Kentucky)

LA – medical marijuana use permitted (Louisianna)

ME – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Maine)

MD – medical marijuana use permitted (Maryland)

MA – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Massachussetts)

MI – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Michigan)

MN – medical marijuana use permitted (Minnesota)

MS – medical marijuana use permitted (Mississippi)

MO – medical marijuana use permitted (Missouri)

MT – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Montana)

NE – marijuana use illegal (Nebraska)

NV – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Nevada)

NH – medical marijuana use permitted (New Hampshire)

NJ – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (New Jersey)

NM – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (New Mexico)

NY – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (New York)

NC – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (North Carolina)

ND – medical marijuana use permitted (North Dakota)

OH – medical marijuana use permitted (Ohio)

OK – medical marijuana use permitted (Oklahoma)

OR – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Oregon)

PA – medical marijuana use permitted (Pennsylvania)

RI – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Rhode Island)

SC – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (South Carolina)

SD – medical marijuana use permitted (South Dakota)

TN – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Tennessee)

TX – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Texas)

UT – medical marijuana use permitted (Utah)

VT – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Vermont)

VA – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Virginia)

WA – allows personal possession and consumption of marijuana by adults, medical marijuana use permitted (Washington)

WV – medical marijuana use permitted (West Virginia)

WI – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Wisconsin)

WY – allows only limited access to low-dosage THC products (Wyoming)