Cannabis law in the US varies drastically by state, and recreational cannabis remains illegal under federal law even in states that have legalized it themselves — always check the state-specific rules before you travel, see our state guides on this site.

  1. Denver, CO — Colorado was one of the first two states to legalize recreational cannabis (2012), with a mature retail market.
  2. Los Angeles, CA — California has one of the largest legal cannabis markets in the world.
  3. San Francisco, CA — California, long history of cannabis culture.
  4. Las Vegas, NV — Nevada allows recreational sales, including dedicated cannabis lounges.
  5. Portland, OR — Oregon, recreational legal since 2015.
  6. Seattle, WA — Washington, one of the first states with a licensed recreational market.
  7. Chicago, IL — Illinois, recreational legal since 2020.
  8. New York, NY — New York, recreational legal since 2021, licensed dispensaries citywide.
  9. Boston, MA — Massachusetts, recreational legal since 2016.
  10. Miami, FL — Florida: medical cannabis only, recreational use remains illegal — a useful contrast to the states above.

This is general travel information, not legal advice — cannabis cannot legally cross state lines or US borders under any circumstances, regardless of either state's legal status.