Buying Weed Away From Home: Cannabis Rules for Out-of-State Buyers

Archive · 2025-08-21

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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CannaCon is here to answer questions through education and networking about anything and everything related to running a cannabis business. Sign up to attend a CannaCon event! 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.