If you’re traveling or moving across the United States and plan to visit a dispensary, one of the most common questions you might have is: how much weed can i buy from a dispensary in a day?
But the truth is, cannabis purchase limits vary significantly from state to state, and understanding the rules can prevent confusion, fines, or even criminal charges.
Cannabis laws have evolved rapidly in recent years, but each state has its own regulations regarding how much cannabis you can buy, possess, and cultivate.
In this article, we have coverd everything regarding the key regulations that govern dispensary purchases and have provided a state-by-state breakdown of how much weed you can legally buy, whether you’re a recreational consumer or a medical marijuana patient.
What Are Dispensary Purchase Limits?
Dispensary purchase limits are legal boundaries set by individual states that define how much cannabis a consumer can buy from a licensed dispensary in a given time period. These limits exist to maintain control over the legal cannabis market and to prevent excessive consumption.
Purchase Limits vs. Possession Limits
It’s essential to distinguish between purchase limits (how much cannabis you can buy from a dispensary) and possession limits (how much you can legally carry or store).
While these limits are often similar, some states allow consumers to possess more cannabis than they can legally purchase at one time.
For example, if a state’s recreational purchase limit is 1 ounce, but the possession limit is 2 ounces, you could legally buy 1 ounce from a dispensary but carry 2 ounces in your possession, as long as you follow the state’s regulations.
Factors Influencing Limits
Several factors influence the legal limits on cannabis purchases, including:
- State Regulations: Each state determines its cannabis purchase and possession laws. These can vary widely, even between states with similar legal frameworks for cannabis.
- Medical vs. Recreational Use: Medical cannabis patients often have higher purchase and possession limits compared to recreational users. Medical patients may also be able to purchase cannabis from more dispensaries than recreational consumers.
- Product Type & Equivalencies: States measure cannabis differently depending on the product. Flower, concentrates, edibles, and tinctures are typically measured in grams, ounces, or milligrams of THC, with each state defining equivalencies for these products. For example, one gram of concentrate may be equal to 3 grams of flower in certain states.
- Timeframe: While some states enforce daily limits, others use rolling limits, such as 14-day, 30-day, or 60-day limits. These limits define how much you can buy over time, not just on a single day.
State-by-State Purchase Limit Guide (Medical & Recreational)
Here’s a clear breakdown of the purchase limits by state. The table below covers both medical and recreational use where applicable:
| State | Recreational | Medical | Cultivation |
| Alabama | Illegal; Misdemeanor for first offense, felony for subsequent offenses | Legal to possess up to “70 daily dosages” at one time | Illegal |
| Alaska | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 6 plants per person |
| Arizona | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) per 14 days | Legal for medical & recreational use, up to 6 plants per person |
| Arkansas | Illegal; Misdemeanor | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) per 14 days | Illegal |
| California | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal to possess up to 8 oz (230 g) | Legal for recreational use up to 6 plants per household |
| Colorado | Legal to possess up to 2 oz (57 g) | Legal to possess up to 2 oz (57 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 6 plants per person |
| Connecticut | Legal to carry up to 1.5 oz (43 g) or possess up to 5 oz (140 g) in a vehicle | Legal to possess up to 5 oz (140 g) per month | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 6 plants |
| Delaware | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) & 12 g of concentrate | Legal to possess up to 6 oz (171 g) | Illegal |
| Florida | Illegal | Legal to possess up to three 70-day, or six 35-day “supply limits” | Illegal |
| Georgia | Illegal; Decriminalized in certain cities | CBD oil (less than 5% THC) | Illegal |
| Hawaii | Illegal; Decriminalized up to 0.11 oz (3 g) | Legal to possess up to 4 oz (114 g) | Legal for medical use only, up to 7 plants per person |
| Idaho | Illegal; Misdemeanor for up to 85 g | CBD oil (less than 0.1% THC) | Illegal |
| Illinois | Legal; Residents can possess up to 30 g of cannabis flower, 500 mg of THC in an infused product | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) per 14-day period | Legal to grow 5 plants per person, 12 plants per household |
| Indiana | Illegal; Misdemeanor | CBD oil (less than 0.3% THC) legal for any use | Illegal |
| Iowa | Illegal; Misdemeanor | Legal to possess up to 4.5 grams of THC per 90-day period | Illegal |
| Kansas | Illegal; Misdemeanor | CBD oil (containing 0% THC) | Illegal |
| Kentucky | Illegal; Misdemeanor | Legal to possess an uninterrupted 30-day supply | Illegal |
| Louisiana | Illegal; Decriminalized up to 14 grams | Legal to possess up to a 30-day supply | Illegal |
| Maine | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 6 plants per person |
| Maryland | Legal to possess up to 1.5 oz (42 g) & 12 g of concentrate | Legal to possess up to 120 g (4.2 oz) or 36 g of concentrate | Legal for medical use up to 2 plants per household |
| Massachusetts | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) in public or 10 oz (280 g) at home | Legal to possess up to 10 oz (280 g) per 2-month period | Legal for recreational use up to 6 plants per person |
| Michigan | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) in public or 10 oz (280 g) at home | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) | Legal for recreational use up to 12 plants per household |
| Minnesota | Legal to possess up to 2 lbs (2 oz in public), 8 g of concentrate, and 800 mg of infused edibles | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) every 14 days | Legal for recreational use up to 8 plants |
| Mississippi | Illegal; Decriminalized up to 30 g for first offense | Legal to possess up to 3 oz (85 g) per month | Illegal |
| Missouri | Legal to possess up to 3 oz (85 g) | Legal to possess up to 6 oz (170 g) per month | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 6 plants |
| Montana | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) & 8 g of concentrates | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 4 plants per person |
| Nebraska | Illegal; Decriminalized (first offense only) | Legal | Illegal |
| Nevada | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) & 7 g of concentrate | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use only for those 25 miles away from dispensary |
| New Hampshire | Illegal; Decriminalized up to 0.75 oz (21 g) | Legal to possess up to 2 oz (57 g) | Illegal |
| New Jersey | Legal to possess up to 6 oz (170 g) | Legal to possess up to 3 oz (85 g) per month | Illegal |
| New Mexico | Legal to possess up to 2 oz (57 g) | Legal to possess up to 8 oz (230 g) per 90 days | Legal for medical & recreational use, 16 plants |
| New York | Legal to possess up to 3 oz (85 g) | Legal to possess a 60-day supply | Legal for medical & recreational use, 6 plants |
| North Carolina | Illegal; Decriminalized up to 42 g (1.5 oz) | CBD oil | Illegal |
| North Dakota | Illegal; Decriminalized up to 14 g | Legal to possess up to 3 oz (85 g) | Illegal |
| Ohio | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) & 15 g of concentrates | Legal to possess up to a 90-day supply | Legal to grow 6 plants per adult, maximum 12 plants per household |
| Oklahoma | Illegal | Legal to possess up to 8 oz (230 g), 1 oz (28 g) of concentrate, and 72 oz (2 kg) of edibles in a residence. Patients can possess up to 3 oz (85 g) in public. | Legal only for medical patients up to 6 plants & 6 seedlings per person |
| Oregon | Legal to possess up to 2 oz (57 g) in public or 8 oz (230 g) at home | Legal to possess up to 24 oz (680 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 6 mature plants & 18 seedlings for medical patients or 4 plants per household for recreational use. |
| Pennsylvania | Illegal; Decriminalized in some cities | Legal to possess up to a 90-day supply | Illegal |
| Rhode Island | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal to possess up to 2.5 oz (71 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 12 plants & 12 seedlings for medical patients or 6 plants for recreational use |
| South Carolina | Misdemeanor | CBD oil (less than 0.9% THC) | Illegal |
| South Dakota | Misdemeanor | Legal to possess up to 3 oz (85 g) | Legal for medical patients up to 2 flowering, and 2 non-flowering plants; more in some cases |
| Tennessee | Illegal; Misdemeanor (less than 0.5 oz (14 g)) | CBD oil (less than 0.9% THC) | Illegal; Misdemeanor (9 plants or less), Felony (10 or more plants) |
| Texas | Illegal; De facto legal in certain cities | CBD oil (no more than 1% THC and no less than 10% CBD) | Illegal |
| Utah | Illegal; Misdemeanor | Legal to possess up to 4 oz (113 g) per 30-day period | Illegal |
| Vermont | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal to possess up to 2 oz (57 g) | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 9 plants, with only 2 at a time being mature for medical patients, or 6 plants for recreational use |
| Virginia | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) in public; no limit applies at home | Legal to possess up to 4 oz (113 g) per 30-day period | Legal for medical & recreational use up to 4 plants per household |
| Washington | Legal to possess up to 1 oz (28 g) | Legal to possess up to 3 oz (85 g), 48 oz (1.3 kg) of edibles, 21 g (.74 oz) of concentrate, & 216 oz (6.1 kg) of infused-liquids. | Legal for medical patients only up to 6 plants |
| West Virginia | Illegal; Misdemeanor | Legal | Illegal |
| Wisconsin | Illegal; Misdemeanor on first offense, felony on subsequent offenses | CBD oil | Illegal; Felony |
| Wyoming | Illegal; Misdemeanor | CBD oil | Illegal |
Note: State regulations can change frequently, so it is always advisable to consult local laws before purchasing or possessing cannabis.
How Dispensaries Enforce Purchase Limits
Dispensaries use state-mandated point-of-sale (POS) systems to track purchases and ensure compliance with the established limits.
Staff members may also verify the customer’s ID and medical card (if applicable) before completing a sale. These systems help prevent consumers from purchasing beyond their legal limits and are tied to state-level cannabis tracking databases.
How Dispensaries Verify Medical Marijuana Cards
Dispensaries are required to verify the validity of a medical marijuana card before allowing purchases. This typically involves:
- Checking the Patient’s ID: Ensuring that the cardholder is the same person listed on the medical marijuana card.
- Validating the Medical Marijuana Card: Using state-run databases or dispensary-specific software to confirm that the card is active and valid.
- Reviewing the Physician’s Recommendation: In some cases, dispensaries may also ask for a copy of the physician’s recommendation to ensure the patient qualifies for medical cannabis use under state law.
Consequences of Exceeding Cannabis Purchase Limits
- For the Consumer: Exceeding the purchase limit can result in fines, a refusal of service, or legal consequences, depending on the state.
- For the Dispensary: Dispensaries that fail to enforce purchase limits can face penalties, fines, or the suspension of their operating license.
Tips for Staying Within Cannabis Purchase Limits
- Understand Equivalencies: Be aware of how different products (flower, concentrate, edibles) are measured in your state.
- Track Purchases: Keep a record of your purchases, especially if your state uses rolling limits.
- Ask Staff: Budtenders can help clarify any doubts about limits and ensure you’re staying within the legal boundaries.
Conclusion
Whether you are a recreational or medical marijuana user, ensures that you stay compliant and avoid any legal issues. Medical marijuana cards offer patients several advantages, including higher purchase limits, access to a broader range of products, and potential tax exemptions.
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of having a medical marijuana card, MMTC ohio is here to help. We offer a simple, online process to get you certified by a licensed physician, ensuring that you have access to the medicine you need, wherever you go.
Disclaimer
This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice. Laws regarding cannabis purchases and possession are subject to change, and it’s important to check with local authorities or dispensaries for the latest regulations.
