The 2025 Legal Status of Cannabis in the Southeast
Cannabis laws in the Southeast are different from the rest of the country. Some states are still strict. Others are starting to loosen up. But compared to the West Coast or Northeast, this region is moving slower.
If you’re in the Southeast and wondering what’s legal now, this breaks it down clearly. As of 2025, cannabis is still mostly restricted, but hemp-derived THC products like Delta-9, THCa, and CBD are widely available in some states through legal loopholes.
Cannabis Remains Illegal in Most Southeastern States
Marijuana is not fully legal in any state in the Southeast. That includes North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Florida.
Some of these states have limited medical programs. A few allow low-THC cannabis oil for medical use. But most do not allow smoking, flower, or high-THC products from marijuana.
For example, Georgia allows low-THC oil with a medical card but does not allow marijuana sales. Alabama has passed a medical cannabis law but has delayed rollout. South Carolina and Tennessee have no medical marijuana program at all. These laws are slow to change.
Hemp-Derived THC Products Are Filling the Gap
In states without legal marijuana, people are turning to hemp-derived cannabinoids. These include Delta-8, Delta-9 from hemp, THCa flower, and CBD. These products are legal under the 2018 Farm Bill as long as they stay under 0.3 percent Delta-9 THC by dry weight.
This is how stores in North Carolina and surrounding states are legally selling THC products. Even though marijuana is banned, THC from hemp is allowed in small amounts. This includes edibles, drinks, vapes, tinctures, and smokable flower.
The loophole exists because the law only restricts Delta-9 THC from marijuana. If the THC is made from hemp and meets the weight rule, it’s legal at the federal level. Many states in the Southeast follow this same rule.
What’s Legal by State in 2025
North Carolina: No medical or recreational cannabis. Hemp-derived Delta-9 THC, THCa, and CBD are legal under federal guidelines.
South Carolina: Same as NC. No medical marijuana. Hemp-derived products are available and legal under the Farm Bill.
Georgia: Low-THC oil allowed for certain medical conditions. Hemp-derived THC is sold in shops under the 0.3 percent rule.
Tennessee: No marijuana laws. Hemp products like Delta-9, THCa, and CBD are legal and widely sold.
Alabama: Medical marijuana was legalized but not yet available in most places. Hemp-derived THC is sold statewide.
Mississippi: Has a medical program, but access is limited. Hemp-derived THC is still allowed under federal rules.
Kentucky: No legal marijuana. Hemp-derived cannabinoids are widely sold and used as alternatives.
Florida: Medical marijuana is legal. Recreational use remains illegal, but a vote could change that in 2026.
Federal Law Still Controls the Line
The Farm Bill is still the reason hemp products are legal. As long as Delta-9 THC stays under 0.3 percent by weight, the product is legal under federal law. That includes most of the THC gummies, seltzers, and THCa flower being sold across the region.
But each state has the right to make its own rules. Some may pass laws that ban certain cannabinoids. Others may allow more. Laws are changing quickly, but for now, federal hemp law is the baseline for what’s legal across the Southeast.
What Could Change in 2025 and 2026
There are signs that cannabis laws in the Southeast could shift. Florida is considering a recreational vote in 2026. Alabama is supposed to open dispensaries, but progress is slow. Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have lawmakers pushing for change, but nothing official yet.
Until then, most people will continue using hemp-based THC as a legal option.