Can Visitors Buy Out-of-State Cannabis? [Updated 2023]

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Countless polls and surveys have revealed the majority of Americans are in favor of cannabis legalization, however there are still four states were cannabis and CBD are fully illegal and many more with varying degrees legalization. Frequent and occasional travelers alike generally prefer to maintain their regular habits when they’re not at home. If cannabis is part of your routine, it’s wise to stay abreast of local cannabis laws in the places you plan on visiting. Below is an updated listing for non-residents purchasing out-of-state medical cannabis and recreational marijuana.

Keep in mind that with just a few exceptions, it’s generally illegal to consume cannabis in public. Refrain from crossing state lines. Don’t drive while consuming or immediately afterward. Finally, check with hotel staff and locals when traveling, as some cities and municipalities have additional, stricter regulations than the states where they’re located.

Here are the current cannabis rules for out-of-state buyers:

Alabama

Can non-residents buy cannabis here? No.

Alaska

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Arizona

 Just a valid ID, such as a current driver’s license, is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Arkansas

Any would-be purchaser must have an existing medical cannabis card from another state and a doctor’s recommendation, then complete a visiting patient form and submit an application fee in order to purchase cannabis.

California

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Colorado

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Connecticut

As of Jan. 10, just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Delaware

Out-of-state medical cannabis is not legal. Try New Jersey instead.

Florida

Visiting medical patients from other states may qualify by living in Florida for at least 31 consecutive days during a given calendar year and maintaining a temporary residence in the state.

Georgia

Cannabis is not legal or decriminalized in Georgia. CBD oil is legal.

Hawaii

Out-of-state medical cards can be used to purchase medical cannabis. The state aims to legalize recreational use in 2023.

Idaho

Cannabis is fully illegal in Idaho. Try Washington instead.

Illinois

A valid ID is required to purchase cannabis in Illinois. Cannabis rules for out-of-state buyers only change in regard to the amount allowed for purchase.

Indiana

Cannabis is not legal or decriminalized in Indiana. CBD oil is legal.

Iowa

Cannabis is not legal or decriminalized in Iowa. CBD oil is legal.

Kansas

Cannabis is fully illegal in Kansas. Try Missouri instead.

Kentucky

Medical cannabis is available with written documentation from a medical provider licensed in the visitor’s home state as long as the visitor suffers from a Kentucky-qualifying medical condition. Further, an eligible visitor with a valid doctor’s certification can possess and use cannabis if it is legally purchased in another state as long as they can provide a written receipt showing when and where purchase was made.

Louisiana

House Bill 135 passed in August 2022, which authorizes the dispensing of medical cannabis to certain qualifying patients who are not Louisiana residents.

Maine

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Maryland

July 1, 2023 will be the first day of legal recreational sales in Maryland. Rules clarifying “can out-of-state visitors buy cannabis?” are not established yet. Until then, try nearby Washington, D.C.

Massachusetts

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Michigan

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Minnesota

Visitors are not allowed to purchase cannabis. However, recreational legalization may be right around the corner.

Mississippi

Out-of-state access to medical cannabis is not yet legal.

Missouri

As of February 2023, just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Montana

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Nebraska

Cannabis is illegal in Nebraska, but it is decriminalized. Try Colorado instead.

Nevada

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

New Hampshire

Out-of-state medical patients with conditions that qualify under New Hampshire state law may possess cannabis here. 

New Jersey

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here. 

New Mexico

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

New York

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

North Carolina

Cannabis is illegal in North Carolina, but it is decriminalized. Try Virginia instead.

North Dakota

No non-residents may buy cannabis in North Dakota. Pop over to Montana instead.

Ohio

State law allows the regulatory authority to enter into agreements with other legalized medical states to provide access to patients visiting Ohio. The other states must have similar laws and agree to accommodate Ohio resident patients. So the answer to “can non-residents buy cannabis?” here is “it depends.”

Oklahoma

Medical patients from out-of-state are able to purchase from dispensaries after applying for a temporary license.

Oregon

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Pennsylvania

Out-of-state medical cannabis is not legal. Try neighboring New York instead.

Puerto Rico

Medical cannabis registrations from other states are recognized.

Rhode Island

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

South Carolina

Cannabis is not legal or decriminalized in South Carolina.

South Dakota

Can non-residents buy cannabis here? No. Fingers crossed for Minnesota to legalize soon!

Tennessee

Cannabis is not legal or decriminalized in Tennessee. CBD oil is legal.

Texas

Cannabis is not legal or decriminalized in Texas. CBD oil is legal.

Utah

Current medical patients can apply for a 21-day license if their conditions qualify under Utah law.

Vermont

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Virgin Islands (US)

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Virginia

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Washington

Just a valid ID is needed to purchase recreational cannabis here.

Washington D.C.

Visitors can present a valid ID online and pay a $30 fee to obtain a temporary 30-day digital recommendation. This allows them access to the city’s licensed dispensaries.

West Virginia

Only terminal cancer patients with medical cards from other states may purchase here.

Wisconsin

Cannabis is not legal or decriminalized in Wisconsin. CBD oil is legal.

Wyoming

Cannabis is fully illegal in Wyoming. Try Montana or Colorado instead.

Canada

Tourists from the United States and elsewhere are legally allowed to purchase cannabis in Canada. Those who are at least 19 years of age (18 in Alberta, 21 in Quebec) can safely purchase and possess up to 30 grams and consume it in a private residence, in any part of the country. It is important to note, however, cannabis cannot be transported from Canada to anywhere in the United States, including to states where cannabis is legal.

Out-of-state medical cannabis laws continue to evolve

Can out-of-state visitors and non-residents buy cannabis? In most cases, yes! More detailed information regarding purchasing out-of-state medical cannabis can be found on each state’s official government website.

The list of options for cannabis enthusiasts continues to expand every year! Grow the industry with us! CannaCon is your trusted source for valuable B2B connections and vendor networking throughout the United States. Explore the cannabis and CBD industry by visiting the nation’s leading business-to-business cannabis conference in a city near you! Check out the current show lineup!

This article on cannabis rules for out-of-state buyers is not legal advice. The information was accurate at the time of update. Originally published June 1, 2021. Updated Feb. 7, 2023.

31 Comments

  1. Christopher Osborne on October 11, 2021 at 9:59 am

    How about South Carolina‽

    • jhg on March 17, 2023 at 9:05 am

      not legal

  2. Jane chatelain on October 25, 2021 at 1:22 pm

    If I live in louisiana but want to establish a citizenship in Colorado so I can go back and forth w my personal marijuana and smoke it at both homes. What do I need to do? I have a travel trailer. Could I establish a residency in co also and have a dual residency?

    • DSP on November 10, 2021 at 6:38 pm

      Each state law applies independent of each other. Also you can only have one residence that residence would be the only you file home stead exemption. I am from Louisiana myself, so wish I could purchase here.

    • Sabrina on November 16, 2021 at 6:03 pm

      Why would you need a citizenship to Colorado since it is in the USA? I lived in Colorado and didn’t have to have a citizenship. I wa shuts a resident. To get a medical card in CO you’d need a local address to get your medical card sent to.

    • Dondell on March 17, 2022 at 10:52 am

      You still cannot travel state to state . Medical or otherwise. I live in Minnesota and have medical, we vacation in the u.p of Michigan all summer. I cannot bring my medicine from one home to the other. It’s because it’s not recognized on a federal level.
      It sucks as I grow my own indoor and would love to not have to purchase 3months worth every summer.

      • Luis on December 15, 2022 at 8:03 am

        please update info on NY and Virginia

    • annabelles on October 10, 2022 at 8:46 pm

      You can have dual residency, it will affect your taxes. Just google

    • Dennis Snee on April 20, 2023 at 9:07 am

      is it legal if I live in Florida and buy cannabis and git it mailed to my home in Florida online from New Jersey

      • Marty Forrest on February 1, 2024 at 1:46 pm

        NO CANNABIS CANNOT LEGALLY CROSS STATE LINES.

  3. Beth on October 26, 2021 at 4:02 pm

    People from Canada can’t buy cannabis in Montana because they don’t have a card is there any other way to find out?

  4. Gina Marie Emenheiser on November 11, 2021 at 10:04 am

    My husband is a PTSD medical marijuana patient where we’ve lived for 16 years. His family lives in Pennsylvania. Why is Pennsylvania forcing my husband to stay out of his birth state by restricting his stress medication? I think this is cruel and fascist government! The very thing that could help his condition (a visit to his parents) is thwarted by strict nonsensical laws!

    • Barbra on March 19, 2022 at 8:28 am

      At least he can get his meds somewhere. Some of us aren’t lucky enough to get our medical marijuana from any.state. I live in a state where suicide is probably gonna be my only choice

    • Peterabbit 57 on August 27, 2022 at 12:11 am

      Hi Gina……… I hope your husband has his Mary Jane BY NOW….I live in PA and there’s like 22 symptoms a person could have you don/ need all If your husband has P.T.S.D. than he has anxiety and depression that’s more than.enough to get the card I have a good doctor if he doesn’t have the.card.yet please list another comment and my wife and I will help your husband achieve his goal here in his home state

    • Hannah on October 10, 2022 at 8:48 pm

      If you think that’s fascism you have certainly led a charmed life.

  5. phillip on November 16, 2021 at 7:56 pm

    I am visiting family in the US (illinois)from a different country. Can I use my non US passport to purchase marijuana?

  6. Alex on December 3, 2021 at 10:08 am

    I am visiting from Florida and I keep calling all the dispensaries and they tell that they don’t accept out of state card holders. Anyone can clear this up for me? I will be here for a little bit.

  7. Michelle Catapang on December 23, 2021 at 12:45 am

    It is really important to know the policies and laws in each state if you are planning to buy cannabis products. This article is really helpful. Thank you.

  8. Marshall Baugh on January 5, 2022 at 9:18 am

    I am from Chicago born and raised I am now living in Kentucky what can be done so I can buy legal Marijuana

    • Alicia Lee on October 5, 2022 at 3:34 pm

      Drive to Illinois. It’s legal there without a medical card. Just need cash a ID.

      • Hope on April 16, 2023 at 8:59 pm

        even with out of state ID

  9. Colin Holden on January 24, 2022 at 11:00 am

    I am a medical cannabis patient in Illinois, can I purchase medical cannabis with my Illinois card in Colorado?

  10. Catherine on April 3, 2022 at 8:51 am

    What about pa or nyc?

  11. Hamid Kazi on April 5, 2022 at 12:13 pm

    I live in Maryland and visiting AZ. Can I buy for personal use THC electronic marijuana and take it with the flight back to MD

  12. Sheryl on April 22, 2022 at 8:48 pm

    I recently moved from CA where I used marijuana to effectively treat severe back injuries. Hearing rods from T3 and throughout my pelvis. After this injury I survived the Camp Fire where our town including hospital and schools were burned to the ground. I narrowly escaped all while in a wheel chair from the above surgery. In CA I could get what I considered life saving medication in the form of THC drops. I moved to Alabama because of the trauma that happened in Paradise Ca (the Camp Fire) However I now found myself dependent on ineffective OxyContin, anti depressant’s anti anxiety and. Keep medications because Marijuana drops are illegal. Just trying to live my life and it seems impossible in this state of Alabama! It is pretty here. I have family here! But I can’t live my life here because of the ignorance!! I am angry, sad, hurt and confused by the government of Alabama! Open your eyes Alabama you could be so much more!

  13. Gregg Warren on June 5, 2022 at 10:29 pm

    What about Wisconsin? You fail to mention that cannibis isn’t legal (both medical and recreational) in your list of states where it’s NOT legal. “Laws against…ten states…”

  14. Rocky Deckard on August 11, 2022 at 3:45 pm

    Does oregon shops mail weed to other states

    • Afton on March 8, 2023 at 3:32 pm

      No. The USPS mail system is Federal, thus it is illegal to mail cannabis products of any type anywhere in the United States.

  15. Jody Lehrer on November 13, 2022 at 4:17 pm

    The facts about the Commonwealth of Massachusetts are incorrect. The information in this article states that “Massachusetts: recreational and medical cannabis are available for anyone 21 or older with a valid government-issued identification.”

    Recreational cannabis may be purchased by anyone 21 or older REGARDLESS of residency but such person must have valid government identification to establish age.

    Medical marijuana maybe purchased by a Registered Qualifying Patient who is 18 or over and is a Massachusetts resident. Under specific provisions of the law residents under 18 may be a Registered Qualifying Pediatric Patient.

    Jody H. Lehrer, JD, MPA

  16. Sally on November 20, 2022 at 10:16 am

    Once the feds stepped in, I could no longer purchase medical marijuana in Michigan unless I had an address in Michigan. I’m in Indiana & I have a medical card for migraine relief. Such a better option than the pills they want me to take but guess the feds don’t get as much kickback from marijuana sales as they do Big Pharma.

  17. Karl Schneider on February 14, 2023 at 3:51 am

    I live in Massachusetts and thank god for medical/recreational herb. I had a liver transplant about 2.5 years ago plus I suffer from depression and anxiety that’s on top of the compression fractures in my back and 4 scopes on mt knees. I can’t take opiates and medical herb is the only relief I can get!

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