Learn more about state cannabis laws and licensing terms

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It’s easy to keep up with the changing cannabis industry news if you read and listen to the right cannabis websites, blogs, newsletters, and podcasts, but what about the laws and regulations that are unique to each state? Where can you find the current approval rules for cannabis?

Fortunately, there are a number of websites out there that have up-to-date information on state cannabis laws and regulations. This means that you don’t necessarily have to go to every state’s regulatory website and read through pages and pages of law text to get the information you need.

Below are some of the top resources to find the information you need about cannabis laws and licensing terms.

State guidelines of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)

The NCIA has devoted an entire section of its website to providing up-to-date information on cannabis industry laws in the United States. The NCIA’s State-by-State Policies page is easy to navigate with a US map showing which states have approved cannabis for medical and / or recreational use and which states only allow limited cannabis use (this relates usually focus on low THC levels, CBD products only).

When selecting a state on the NCIA’s map, you can click for more complete details about the state’s legal cannabis program. Most of the information focuses on business laws and license terms. Some of the topics covered are:

• Annual sales volume (earlier and forecast)
• Number of approved pharmacies, manufacturers, breeders and test laboratories
• License types
• License fees
• Licensee Residence Requirements
• Rules for vertical integration
• And more

The data is compiled by NCIA staff and comes from sources such as BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research – two recognized companies in the cannabis industry.

NORML state laws

NORML has a robust State Laws section on its website, where laws in all 50 states can be found by clicking each state on the US map. Once you’ve opened a state’s dates, you’ll find information about cannabis laws and penalties for individuals, including laws regarding possession, cultivation, sale or delivery, hashish and concentrates, paraphernalia, and more. Individuals can also find information on state disabled driving laws, deletion, legalization, medical marijuana, and more.

For some business-related rules, see the medical marijuana section for states that have approved medical cannabis programs. This information includes details about:

• When the state’s medical cannabis law was signed
• When the state’s medical cannabis program is up and running
• When state-licensed pharmacies are allowed
• When state-licensed pharmacies are in operation
• When reciprocity is allowed
• Estimated number of registered patients
• Qualification conditions
• supervisor
• Home growing
• Ownership Limits

Additionally, the medical marijuana information includes source information from various state laws so you can easily find and read those laws to learn more.

Marijuana Policy Project

The State Policy page of the Marijuana Policy Project includes a map that makes it easy to see which states have legalized different types of cannabis use and possession. States are color-coded to show you which of the following categories they fall into:

• States with medical marijuana laws
• States that have abolished prison sentences for possession of small amounts of marijuana
• States that have medical marijuana law and have abolished prison sentences for possession of small amounts of marijuana
• States where adult marijuana is legal and taxed and regulated in a manner similar to alcohol; the state also has a medical marijuana law
• Marijuana is legal (not for sale) for adults; the state also has a medical marijuana law

Unlike the NCIA and NORML resources discussed above, if you click a state on the US map on the State Policy page of the Marijuana Policy Project, you won’t find a list of specific rules.

Instead, you will see a series of articles in reverse chronological order that contain updates on significant regulatory changes affecting this state’s cannabis program. If you scroll down past the articles, you will find a list of the state’s cannabis laws with brief descriptions and links to view the full bills.

Key insights into resources for cannabis laws and licensing terms

There is no single source for the most up-to-date information on the cannabis laws and licensing requirements of all states. Instead, you will likely have to use multiple websites and resources to get all of the information you need. However, the three websites above provide great starting points for your research.

If you’re looking for information on specific cannabis or hemp license holders in the US, Canada, or international markets, you can get all of that data and more by subscribing to the Cannabiz Media License Database. Schedule a demo and see how it can help you build your business by connecting with licensees who need the products and services you offer.