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Four US states have legal recreational cannabis but ban home grow for recreational users. They are Washington, New Jersey, Illinois, and Delaware. Illinois allows medical patients to grow up to 5 plants. Washington allows medical patients to grow up to 6 plants. New Jersey and Delaware allow no home grow for any user.
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Washington
Voters passed Initiative 502 in 2012. Retail sales started in 2014. Home cultivation for recreational use is illegal. State law does not allow recreational users to keep plants. Medical patients with an authorization can grow up to 6 plants.
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New Jersey
New Jersey legalized recreational cannabis in 2021. The law does not permit home cultivation. Medical patients also cannot grow. All cannabis must be bought from licensed dispensaries.
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Illinois
Illinois legalized recreational cannabis in 2020. Recreational users cannot grow. Medical patients can grow up to 5 plants. The plants must be in a locked enclosure.
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Delaware
Delaware legalized recreational cannabis in 2023. The law allows possession of up to 1 ounce. Home grow is not allowed. Medical patients also cannot grow.
Why these states ban home grow
Lawmakers cite several reasons. They want to track product from seed to sale. They want tax revenue from retail stores. They say home grow makes it harder to enforce possession limits. They also say home grow can lead to diversion to illegal markets.
Convenience factor
Retail stores are open. They sell tested products. They accept credit cards in some cases. Home grow requires time, space, and equipment. A single plant can yield 4 ounces. But a retail store sells an ounce for $200 to $400. For many users, convenience wins. That is why states with legal sales but no home grow see high retail demand.