Massachusetts is the seventh state to legalize recreational adult-use cannabis. Learn more about the Bay State’s cannabis laws, including what you can consume, how much you can possess, and where you can legally purchase marijuana.
Where Can You Buy Cannabis in Massachusetts?
Good news: The first retail stores opened in two Massachusetts cities, Leicester and Northampton, on November 20 and have been serving steady lines of customers since then.
Not-so-good news: Shops are opening slowly, and with only a few retailers open, lines are long—waits can be multiple hours during busy times of the day. More stores are coming soon, but it’s been a slow rollout.
Don’t worry, this is normal for new markets. Many businesses are waiting for licensing to get approved, inventory to come in, and final inspections to be done. These are just some of the requirements for establishing a regulated, compliant industry.
What you can do now: More adult-use stores are expected to come online in coming weeks. For now, if you’re a registered medical marijuana patient, you can still purchase cannabis at a licensed medical marijuana dispensary. Adults 21 and over can also grow cannabis at home, though seeds and clones won’t be immediately available through retailers; you’ll have to be gifted them.
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Trending Strains in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Cannabis Consumption and Possession Laws
Possession
Outside your primary residence
Of concentrate
Inside your primary residence
Gifted to another person
Consumption
Concentrates
Smoking
Topicals
Edibles
Vaping
What Can You Grow?
Don’t want to wait for recreational dispensaries to open? You can start growing your own strains now!
Within their primary residence, adults 21+ can:
- Grow 12 total plants (maximum 6 mature plants)
- Keep harvest of 6 plants
- Gift up to 1-oz of cannabis
- Grow for someone else who’s at least 21 years old
How to Start an Indoor Marijuana Grow
Can You Buy Medical Marijuana?
Valid patients can qualify for medical marijuana in MA under these conditions:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV/AIDS
- Hepatitis C
- ALS
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Other conditions as determined in writing by your physician
The Benefits of Having an MMJ Card in a Legal State
What Is the Marijuana Tax Rate?
Massachusetts imposes a 17% state tax on cannabis sales, as well as up to a 3% local tax. Funds are projected to be used on the following initiatives:
- Public and behavioral health campaigns centered on public safety, municipal police training, the Prevention and Wellness Trust Fund, and programming for restorative justice
- Science-based public awareness campaigns about responsible use, the dangers of manufacturing marijuana products at home, and youth education/decreasing youth usage rate
What’s Legal With Cannabis in MA
Massachusetts News and Resources
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