As of mid-2024, 14 states allowed recreational cannabis delivery and 26 states plus DC permitted medical cannabis delivery, with wide variation in regulations.
Policy researchers, cannabis industry stakeholders, and patients interested in understanding delivery access laws.
14 states allow recreational delivery; 26 states + DC allow medical delivery
What the researchers found
States took markedly different approaches to cannabis delivery regulation, with some allowing only licensed dispensary delivery, others permitting caregiver delivery, and significant variation in licensing requirements.
Why it matters
Delivery access directly affects who can obtain cannabis, particularly for medical patients with mobility limitations or those in areas without nearby dispensaries.
The numbers in context
14 states authorized recreational cannabis delivery. 26 states and DC permitted medical cannabis delivery. 12 states allowed medical delivery exclusively through caregivers.
How the study worked
Comprehensive legal epidemiology review coding all state-level cannabis delivery policies as of July 1, 2024, across four regulatory categories.
What this study cannot tell us
Legal snapshot as of July 2024 only; policies change rapidly. Does not assess how well delivery laws are implemented or enforced in practice.
How to read the evidence
Comprehensive legal review with systematic coding, though limited to a single time point and does not assess implementation outcomes.
When this study was published
Published in 2025, data as of July 2024.
The bigger picture
As more states legalize cannabis, delivery regulation becomes a key access point that can either expand or restrict who actually benefits from legal cannabis markets.
Questions still open
- How do different delivery models affect patient access? Do states with more permissive delivery laws see different public health outcomes?
Common questions
How many states allow cannabis delivery?
Can caregivers deliver medical cannabis?
Read the original research
US State Recreational and Medical Cannabis Delivery Laws, 2024.
American journal of public health, 115(2), 178-190
Citation
Ebling, Todd; Azagba, Sunday; Hall, Mark; Jensen, Jessica King. (2025). US State Recreational and Medical Cannabis Delivery Laws, 2024.. American journal of public health, 115(2), 178-190. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307874