# Medical vs adult-use

> Medical and adult-use cannabis are separate legal channels: medical access depends on authorisation by a health professional, adult-use on age alone.

- Canonical: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/medical-vs-adult-use.html
- Also written: medical cannabis, adult-use cannabis, recreational cannabis, rec vs med, medicinal cannabis
- Glossary category: Legal and regulatory
- Status: Draft: awaiting expert review · Updated: 2026-10-31
- Licence: CC BY-SA 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/), attribute "GenetixBay cannabis glossary"

Medical and adult-use (recreational) cannabis are two legal routes to the same plant. Medical access requires a patient authorisation, registration or prescription, and may allow larger possession or [cultivation limits](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/personal-cultivation-limit.md), different taxes or products. Adult-use access is open to adults above a minimum age, through licensed retail or [home grow](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/home-grow.md), without any health justification.

## In practice

Some places have only a medical programme, some only adult-use, and some both in parallel with different rules for each channel. The product in a medical and an adult-use jar may come from the same facility. Advertising and product claims are tightly limited in many places, especially any claim of health benefit.

GenetixBay does not make medical claims. Effects people report are reported, not promised, and nothing here is advice about treating any condition.

Rules differ by country, state, province and city, and change often. This is a general definition, not legal advice: check local rules.

## Don't confuse with

- **Decriminalisation**: reduced penalties; not a legal supply channel.
- **Hemp-derived products**: often regulated under separate [hemp](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/hemp.md) law.

## Related terms

[Licensed producer](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/licensed-producer.md), [Home grow](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/home-grow.md), [Possession limit](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/possession-limit.md), [Labelling requirements](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/glossary/labelling-requirements.md)