Cannabis Cultivation Laws: State-by-State Marijuana Growing Guide

Cannabis prohibition continues to fall state by state, giving more consumers the opportunity to grow their own marijuana. However, many of those states also have inconsistent or confusing laws regarding home cultivation.

For instance, browsing this list you may notice limits on mature plants, like those ready for harvest, versus immature plants, like seedlings just beginning. In cases like these, people are allowed to maintain a certain number of plants, but only some of which may be flowering, or about to flower, at a given time. Laws like these encourage the grower to keep a rotating cycle of small and large plants.

Below we have collected and arranged the marijuana cultivation laws by state, including Washington DC.

Alabama

Cultivation is prohibited in Alabama.

Alaska

Adults in Alaska can grow up to six (6) marijuana plants, with only three (3) mature at a time. Additionally, all plants must be grown out of public view and properly secured from unauthorized access.

Arizona

Arizona allows home cultivation of up to six (6) plants in a private residence.

Arkansas

Cultivation is prohibited in Arkansas.

California

Adults in California can grow up to six (6) plants for personal use.

Registered patients are permitted to grow the amount of cannabis required for their medical treatment. However, individual counties are able to set further home cultivation restrictions. It is best to check with your local jurisdiction before starting a home grow.

Colorado

Colorado citizens can grow up to six (6) plants, with three (3) allowed to mature and flower at any time. Medical patients in Colorado are allowed to cultivate six (6) plants as well, though they are also allowed to petition for, “greater amounts [when] medically necessary to address the patient's debilitating medical condition.” Caregivers assigned up to five patients may grow up to thirty-six (36) plants.

Connecticut

Qualified medical patients in Connecticut may grow up to six (6) plants in their home for personal use. Despite the legalization of adult-use cannabis in 2021, home growing for adult-use is still prohibited until 2023.

Delaware

Cultivation is prohibited in Delaware.

Florida

Cultivating cannabis in Florida is a third-degree felony.

Georgia

Cultivation is prohibited in Georgia.

Hawaii

Hawaii allows qualified medical patients and certified caregivers to cultivate cannabis for their own use. Before growing, a person must register as a cultivator with the state. Once approved, they can produce up to ten (10) plants at a time.

Idaho

Cultivation is prohibited in Idaho.

Illinois

Illinois began adult-use cannabis sales on New Year's Day 2020. The issue of home growing played a central part in discussions. Ultimately, lawmakers agreed to allow medical patients to grow their own, with up to five (5) plants per household regardless of the number of patients living there. Additional laws regarding access and visibility apply.

Indiana

Cultivation is prohibited in Indiana.

Iowa

Cultivation is prohibited in Iowa.

Kansas

Cultivation is prohibited in Kansas.

Kentucky

Cultivation is prohibited in Kentucky

Louisiana

Cultivation in Louisiana is prohibited.

Maine

Adults in Maine can grow their own marijuana, up to three (3) flowering plants at a time. Households are limited to six (6) mature plants, with higher limits for medical patients.

Maryland

Cultivation is prohibited in Maryland.

Massachusetts

As a legal adult-use state, Massachusetts allows all adults to grow up to six (6) plants. If two adults live in one home, they can collectively produce twelve (12) plants. 

Michigan

Adults in Michigan may grow up to twelve (12) plants for personal use, while qualified medical patients may grow “an amount needed to harvest a 60-day supply.” 

Registered caregivers serving multiple patients may grow up to sixty (60) plants.

Minnesota

In Minnesota, cultivation is considered possession, and thus suffers the same penalties. The possession of less than 42.5g is a misdemeanor, increasing from there to a felony.

Mississippi

Cultivation is prohibited in Mississippi. 

Missouri

Qualified medical patients in Missouri may grow up to eighteen (18) plants, with six (6) mature at a given time. Home cultivation is prohibited for anyone else.

Montana

In Montana, home growing is permitted to medical patients, who can grow up to 4 mature plants or 12 seedlings at any time. Two adults living together can grow up to 4 mature plants and 4. All grow efforts must be reported to the state Department of Public Health.

Nebraska

Cultivation is prohibited in Nebraska.

Nevada

Adult-use growing is allowed in Nevada if a person lives 25 miles or more away from the closest dispensary. If so, an adult can grow up to six plants per person or 12 in one household. A property owner or landlord can prohibit growing on their site, while the state requires all activities occur in an enclosed, secure space.

New Hampshire

HB 364 allows New Hampshire's patients and caregivers to grow up to three (3) mature plants as well as three (3) immature plants at any time. They are also permitted twelve (12) seedlings as well. All of these must be stored in a secure location undetectable from the street or public view.

New Jersey

Though adult-use cannabis is legal in New Jersey, home cultivation remains prohibited.

New Mexico

Cultivation of up to six (6) mature plants is perfectly legal in New Mexico.

New York

Residents of New York over the age of 21 may grow up to six (6) plants with only three (3) mature allowed at a given time. 

North Carolina

Cultivation is prohibited in North Carolina

North Dakota

Cultivation is possession in North Dakota, and possessing any more than 500g is a felony.

Ohio

Cultivation is prohibited in Ohio.

Oklahoma

Approved medical patients can grow up to six mature plants and six seedlings in Oklahoma. 

Oregon

Since 2015, adults in Oregon have been allowed to grow up to four (4) plants at home for their own personal use.

Medical caregivers can grow up to eight (8) plants but are capped at six (6) mature plants at any time. 

Pennsylvania

Cultivation is prohibited in Pennsylvania.

Rhode Island

Qualified medical patients or caregivers in Rhode Island are permitted to grow up to twelve (12) plants and twelve (12) seedlings on their property in an indoor setting. Home cultivation is banned for adult-use.

South Carolina

Cultivation is prohibited in South Carolina.

South Dakota

Cultivation is prohibited in South Dakota.

Tennessee

Cultivation is prohibited in Tennessee.

Texas

In Texas, cultivation is considered possession, which is a misdemeanor at 2 oz, rising from there to a felony.

Utah

Cultivation is prohibited in Utah. 

Vermont

Vermont residents are allowed to grow nine (9) plants, though only two (2) mature at a time.

Virginia

Adults in Virginia may grow up to four (4) plants without penalty.

Washington

Washington medical patients are allowed to grow up to six (6) plants at home. This figure can be enhanced if a medical practitioner believes the patient necessitates it. In this case, a person can grow up to fifteen (15) plants at a time.

Adult-use cultivation is still illegal.

Washington D.C.

Adults in the District of Columbia are allowed to cultivate and possess up to six (6) plants at a time, three (3) mature and three (3) immature.

West Virginia

Cultivation is prohibited in West Virginia.

Wisconsin

Cultivation is prohibited in Wisconsin.

Wyoming

Cultivation is prohibited in Wyoming.

As of November 2021, there are nineteen legal grow states, inducing DC, where some form of cannabis cultivation is allowed. That said, these laws are subject to change. Check out your state on our home page for up-to-date laws in your state, and always confirm with local authorities before growing.

If you’re looking for additional information about growing cannabis, from how to choose the best pots, to more technical guides like Understanding Photoperiod Manipulation, PotGuide offers advice for every stage of the growing process.

Which States Can You Grow Pot in?

As of Nov. 2021, some form of cannabis cultivation (recreational or medical) is allowed in:

How Long Does It Take to Grow Marijuana?

Growing a marijuana plant can take anywhere from 4 to 8 months, depending on the strain in question and time devoted to curing after harvest.

PotGuide offers several helpful resources, including guides to growing marijuana for personal use.

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Which states do you think will allow for home growing next? Sound off in the comments!