Planning a fishing trip and thinking about bringing cannabis along? For today’s anglers, the rules can feel more tangled than a wind-knotted line. In the United States, cannabis law is a patchwork of state rules laid over strict federal prohibitions, and that matters a lot when you’re on the water.
As of mid-2025, forty states plus several territories and D.C. allow some form of medical cannabis, and roughly two dozen states plus D.C. permit adult-use recreational sales. But at the federal level, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act, with no accepted medical use in federal eyes. That clash between state and federal rules is where many fishing trips can quietly drift into legal trouble.
Step one: know your state’s category
Before any trip, anglers should check an up-to-date map from a neutral policy group or official state resources that track which states are recreational, medical-only, CBD-only, or full prohibition.
Key questions for each destination state:
- Is possession legal for adults, medical patients only, or not at all?
- What are the possession limits, and are edibles or vapes treated differently?
- Does the state allow public consumption, or must use stay on private property?
Even in legal states, public use is often banned, which can include crowded piers, popular beaches, or public boat ramps.
Boats, lakes, and the long arm of federal law
Things get trickier once the fishing day moves onto the water. Under maritime and federal law, having cannabis on a boat in navigable waters can be treated as a federal offense, even if the home state allows recreational use. The U.S. Coast Guard can board vessels, conduct safety checks, and enforce federal drug laws regardless of state legalization.
On top of that, every state and D.C. prohibit operating a boat while intoxicated by alcohol or drugs, including cannabis. “Boating under the influence” laws often mirror DUI statutes on the road, with possible jail time, fines, license impacts, and in serious cases felony charges if an accident causes injury.
For anglers, that means two safety rules:
- Never run the boat high, just as you wouldn’t drive high.
- Understand that even a small amount of cannabis on board might be a problem once you’re on federally patrolled water.
Federal lands: lakes, rivers, and national parks
Many favorite fishing spots sit on federal land or water—national parks, national forests, wildlife refuges, and reservoirs managed by federal agencies. On all of these, cannabis remains illegal, with no exception for state programs or medical cards. Recent statements from federal land agencies and prosecutors have emphasized that marijuana possession and use on federal land may be actively enforced again.
If the trailhead, campground, or shoreline is in a national park or national forest, the safest assumption is: leave the cannabis at home.
Practical checklist for cannabis-using anglers
- Research each state on your route using a current legalization map and official state sites.
- Confirm land ownership (state vs. federal) for lakes and rivers you plan to fish.
- Keep it off the boat if there’s any chance of entering federally patrolled or interstate waters.
- Never operate a vessel impaired—designate a sober captain.
- Pack discreet and legal alternatives where appropriate, or save consumption for private property in clearly legal jurisdictions.
With a little homework before you load the rods and tackle, anglers can enjoy both the bite and the buzz—without snagging serious legal trouble along the way.