USA/Laws

Cannabis History

The history of cannabis stretches back millenia, and has been documented as both medicinal plant and recreational substance. However, by the early 20th century, U.S. states began targeting cannabis for prohibition.

U.S. prohibition

The federal government first formally criminalized cannabis markets through the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act. This was followed by more agressive anti-cannabis messaging and policing throughout the 1960s and 70s. The late 1970s was also when the cannabis decriminalization movement began to gain traction.

Legal Components

Among jurisdictions having legalized cannabis both medical and non-medical use as of 2025 several trends have emerged. The following table outlines cannabis policies based on how common they were. Traceability Reporting and Commercial Licensing were almost always part of cannabis laws, but the Northern Mariana Islands have not adopted a traceability system, and Washington D.C. only licensing medical cannabis production and sale due to opposition from Congress.

Requirement in Legal Cannabis Jurisdictions	How Common
Age Restriction	Always (In all jurisdictions)
Medical Program	Always
Sales/Possession Limit	Always
Impaired Driving Law	Always
Laboratory Testing	Always
Taxation	Always
Mandatory Labeling	Always
Edible Product THC Content Cap	Always
Licensing Fee	Always
Traceability Reporting	Very Common (In 20 or more jurisdictions)
Commercial Licensing	Very Common
Personal Cultivation	Very Common
Cap on Licensing	Very Common
Advertising Restrictions	Very Common
Social Equity Component	Very Common
Consumption Event Licensing	Common (In 10 or more jurisdictions)
Local Government Control	Common
Consumption Lounge Licensing	Common
Microbusiness Licensing	Uncommon (In 5 or less jurisdictions)
Concentrate THC Content Cap	Uncommon

International laws

While the U.S. championed international treaties involving the cannabis, with the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs including cannabis as a Schedule I substance. This meant countries can allow the medical use of cannabis, but it continues to be classified as an addictive drug with a serious risk of abuse.

Cannabis Markets

U.S. states

Modern regulation of cannabis markets in the U.S. began with state medical cannabis laws began in the 1990s. Legalization ballot measures were unsuccessful until 2012, when both Washington State and Colorado voters approved legalization measures. As of May 2025, 24 states and 4 territories had approved non-medical use of cannabis by adults.

International

A patchwork of legal structures for cannabis has emerged worldwide. Many countries have prohibited cannabis, others have decriminalized; some have legalized cannabis possession or markets. With subsequent changes to international agreements, nations may be able to regulate a non-medical cannabis industry under the convention's Article 2 paragraph 9. As of May 2025, Canada, Uruguay, while six countries legalized possession, but have not licensed sales.