Three U.S. territories—the Northern Mariana Islands (2018), Guam (2019), and the U.S. Virgin Islands (2023)—legalize adult-use cannabis

While state-by-state cannabis reform often dominates national headlines, three U.S. territories—the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands—pioneered legislative legalization of commercial adult-use cannabis between 2018 and 2023.

1. Northern Mariana Islands (Signed September 21, 2018)

Eight months after Vermont legalized non-commercial cannabis possession via its legislature, CNMI Governor Ralph Torres signed House Bill 20-178 (Public Law 20-66, the Taulamwaar Sensible CNMI Cannabis Act) on September 21, 2018—making CNMI the first jurisdiction in the United States to legalize a commercial, taxed adult-use cannabis market through a legislature (nine months ahead of Illinois). The law legalized possession of up to 1 ounce, home cultivation of up to 6 mature and 12 immature plants, and commercial retail licensing.

2. Guam (Signed April 4, 2019)

Five years after Guam voters approved medical cannabis on the ballot in November 2014 (Proposal 14A, 56.48% Yes), the Guam Legislature passed Bill 32-35 (the Guam Cannabis Industry Act, Public Law 35-5) by an 8–7 vote, and Governor Lou Leon Guerrero signed it into law on April 4, 2019—immediately legalizing adult possession of up to 1 ounce of flower, 8 grams of concentrate, and 6 home-grown plants (up to 3 mature).

3. U.S. Virgin Islands (Signed January 18, 2023) & Puerto Rico Medical Program

After U.S. Virgin Islands voters backed medical cannabis in a 2014 referendum and the territorial legislature enacted medical cannabis in January 2019, Governor Albert Bryan Jr. signed the Virgin Islands Cannabis Use Act (Act 8680) on January 18, 2023, legalizing adult possession of up to 2 ounces of cannabis flower, 14 grams of concentrate, and sacramantal/cultural protections for Rastafari residents. Neighboring Puerto Rico also operates one of the largest medical cannabis programs under U.S. jurisdiction, initially established by executive order in May 2015 and codified by Act 42-2017.