REGULATIONS

Cannabis has been a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act since 1970. In 2026 the Department of Justice and DEA moved FDA-approved marijuana products and state-licensed medical marijuana to Schedule III; other forms remain Schedule I pending broader rulemaking.

• The Controlled Substances Act (1970) classified marijuana as Schedule I.
• The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp — cannabis with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC by dry weight — federally.
• The FDA has approved one plant-derived cannabis medicine, Epidiolex (cannabidiol), plus synthetic-THC medicines dronabinol (Marinol/Syndros) and nabilone (Cesamet).
• Effective April 28, 2026, DOJ/DEA placed FDA-approved marijuana products and products under a qualifying state medical-marijuana license into Schedule III; recreational, bulk and unlicensed products remain Schedule I pending an ongoing rulemaking.
• State legality does not change a substance's federal status.

US states set their own cannabis policy independently of federal law. As of 2025, the National Conference of State Legislatures reports 24 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized adult (recreational) use, and 40 states have legalized medical cannabis.

• As of 2025 (NCSL): 24 states + DC allow adult recreational use; 40 states allow medical cannabis.
• Rules vary widely by state on possession limits, home cultivation, taxes, licensing and retail sales.
• Some states permit only low-THC / high-CBD products rather than a comprehensive medical program.
• For the current, authoritative count and each state's rules, consult NCSL — figures change as new laws pass.

Canada legalized non-medical adult-use cannabis nationwide under the federal Cannabis Act (Bill C-45) on October 17, 2018. Provinces and territories regulate distribution and retail.

• The Cannabis Act took effect October 17, 2018, legalizing regulated adult use nationwide.
• Provinces/territories set the minimum age, retail model and where cannabis may be used.
• A separate framework governs access to cannabis for medical purposes.

European approaches vary. Germany's CanG legalized limited adult possession and home cultivation in 2024. The Netherlands keeps cannabis technically illegal but tolerates regulated sale of small amounts in licensed coffeeshops.

• Germany: the Cannabis Act (CanG) took effect April 1, 2024, permitting limited adult possession, home cultivation and non-profit cannabis social clubs.
• Netherlands: a long-standing 'tolerance' (gedoogbeleid) policy allows sale of small amounts in licensed coffeeshops although cannabis remains formally illegal.
• Most other EU countries permit medical cannabis under specific programs while restricting recreational use.

In December 2013 Uruguay became the first country in the world to legalize and regulate the entire cannabis supply chain for adult use, administered by the state cannabis regulator (IRCCA).

• Uruguay passed its law in December 2013, the first nation to fully legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis.
• Access is through registered channels (pharmacies, home growing, or membership clubs) overseen by the IRCCA.

Cannabis is controlled under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs. On December 2, 2020, the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs removed cannabis and cannabis resin from Schedule IV (the strictest category), following a WHO recommendation; cannabis remains in Schedule I of the Convention.

• The 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs places cannabis under international control.
• On December 2, 2020, the UN CND removed cannabis from Schedule IV, acknowledging therapeutic potential; it stays in Schedule I.
• The change was symbolic — it does not require any country to legalize cannabis.