Buying Weed Away From Home: Cannabis Rules for Out-of-State Buyers
Both cannabis tourists and traveling tokers have questions about cannabis rules for out-of-state buyers. Can you buy weed out of state? Can you buy recreational weed with an out-of-state license? Can non-residents buy cannabis? Can out-of-state visitors buy cannabis?
While more and more states are allowing non-residents to purchase cannabis legally, it remains important to stay informed of current laws, even when the same area is frequently visited. Below is the most current information on cannabis rules for out-of-state buyers (as of publication date). Remember to never transport cannabis across state lines, even if from one legalized location to another.
Northeastern Region
Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Vermont have legalized recreational cannabis for both residents and visitors, but they do not accept out-of-state medical patients.
Maine has legalized recreational weed for both residents and visitors, and Maine accepts visitor medical patients without a physician’s certification.
New Hampshire legalized only medical marijuana. Visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Pennsylvania legalized medical cannabis only, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
Rhode Island has legalized recreational cannabis for both residents and non-residents. Visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Southern Region
Alabama legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
Arkansas legalized only medical marijuana. Visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Florida legalized only medical; out-of-state medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions ONLY if the individual qualifies as a seasonal resident.
Georgia and Kentucky legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
Louisiana legalized only medical; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Mississippi legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
North Carolina maintains all forms of cannabis as illegal.
Oklahoma legalized only medical; out-of-state medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification.
South Carolina and Tennessee maintain all forms of cannabis as illegal.
Texas legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
Virginia has legalized recreational cannabis for both residents and visitors, but does not accept out-of-state medical patients.
West Virginia legalized only medical; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Midwestern Region
Illinois has legalized recreational weed for both residents and visitors, but does not accept out-of-state medical patients.
Indiana maintains all forms of cannabis as illegal.
Iowa legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
Kansas maintains all forms of cannabis as illegal.
Michigan has legalized recreational marijuana for both residents and non-residents; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Minnesota has legalized recreational cannabis for both residents and visitors, but does not accept out-of-state medical patients.
Missouri has legalized recreational cannabis for both residents and non-residents; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Nebraska legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
North Dakota legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
Ohio has legalized recreational use for both residents and visitors, but does not accept out-of-state medical patients.
South Dakota legalized only medical, but no out of state medical patients are accepted.
Wisconsin maintains all forms of cannabis as illegal.
Island Region
American Samoa maintains all forms of cannabis as illegal, including CBD.
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands has legalized recreational use for both residents and non-residents, and medical but does not accept out-of-state patients.
Guam has legalized recreational only for both residents and non-residents.
Puerto Rico legalized only medical, but no out-of-state medical patients are accepted.
U.S. Virgin Islands has legalized recreational cannabis use for both residents and non-residents; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Western Region
Alaska, Arizona, California and Colorado have legalized recreational cannabis use for both residents and visitors, but do not accept out-of-state medical patients.
Hawaii legalized only medical; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Idaho maintains all forms of cannabis as illegal.
Montana has legalized recreational cannabis for both residents and visitors, but does not accept out of state medical patients.
Nevada and New Mexico have legalized recreational cannabis use for both residents and non-residents; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the states’ qualifying medical conditions.
Oregon has legalized recreational use for both residents and visitors, but does not accept out-of-state medical patients.
Utah legalized only medical; visiting medical patients are accepted with a physician’s certification for the state’s qualifying medical conditions.
Washington has legalized recreational use for both residents and visitors, but does not accept out-of-state medical patients.
Wyoming maintains all forms of cannabis as illegal.
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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 Aug. 21, 2025.
How about South Carolina‽
not legal
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?
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.
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.
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.
please update info on NY and Virginia
You can have dual residency, it will affect your taxes. Just google
is it legal if I live in Florida and buy cannabis and git it mailed to my home in Florida online from New Jersey
NO CANNABIS CANNOT LEGALLY CROSS STATE LINES.
People from Canada can’t buy cannabis in Montana because they don’t have a card is there any other way to find out?
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!
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
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
If you think that’s fascism you have certainly led a charmed life.
I am visiting family in the US (illinois)from a different country. Can I use my non US passport to purchase marijuana?
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.
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.
I am from Chicago born and raised I am now living in Kentucky what can be done so I can buy legal Marijuana
Drive to Illinois. It’s legal there without a medical card. Just need cash a ID.
even with out of state ID
I am a medical cannabis patient in Illinois, can I purchase medical cannabis with my Illinois card in Colorado?
What about pa or nyc?
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
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!
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…”
Does oregon shops mail weed to other states
No. The USPS mail system is Federal, thus it is illegal to mail cannabis products of any type anywhere in the United States.
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
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.
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!