Licensing for Some Massachusetts Rec. Cannabis Businesses Opens Apr. 2
Mon / Mar 19th
Licensing for some prospective Massachusetts retail dispensaries will begin on Apr. 2 as the state will open up the process… Read More
Massachusetts Cannabis News
Massachusetts, which launched its legal adult-use marketplace in 2018, was the first New England state to legalize recreational cannabis. Find all of the latest Massachusetts cannabis industry news updates and information below:
UMass Psychology Professor Designs Mobile App to Remove Subjectivity from Cannabis Impairment Testing
Thu / Mar 15th
Psychology professor at the University of Massachusetts, Boston Michael Milburn has developed a mobile application that tests response time as… Read More
Massachusetts Cannabis Regulators Adopt Final Rules
Wed / Mar 7th
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission has finalized the regulations for the state’s voter-approved recreational cannabis industry, four months before the… Read More
Massachusetts Cannabis Regulators Reject Social-Use Proposal
Tue / Feb 27th
Massachusetts will not be the first state to allow social cannabis use as the Cannabis Control Commission voted 4-1 against… Read More
Massachusetts Regulators Suggest State-Run Bank for Cannabis Industry
Thu / Feb 22nd
The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is suggesting the creation of a state-run bank to serve the state’s canna-businesses after Chairman… Read More
Massachusetts Public Safety Director Opposes Social Clubs in Letter to Cannabis Regulators
Tue / Feb 13th
Massachusetts Secretary of Public Safety and Security Daniel Bennett is opposing the creation of cannabis clubs in the state, alleging… Read More
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Won’t Rule Out Federal Charges Against Canna-Businesses
Thu / Jan 25th
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling, who was appointed by President Donald Trump and assumed office in December, told reporters yesterday… Read More
Marijuana Policy Project Drafting Massachusetts Cannabis ‘Sanctuary State’ Legislation
Mon / Jan 22nd
The Marijuana Policy Project in Massachusetts is drafting legislation which would prohibit state and municipal employees from cooperating with federal… Read More
19 Attorney Generals Send Letter to Congress Asking for Cannabis Banking Protection Legislation
Wed / Jan 17th
Attorney generals from 17 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam have sent a letter to members of Congress urging them to… Read More
Massachusetts U.S. Attorney ‘Cannot Provide Assurances’ Cannabis Licensees Won’t Face Federal Prosecution
Tue / Jan 9th
In a memo dated Jan. 8, the U.S. Attorney in Massachusetts, Andrew E. Lelling, said he cannot “provide assurances that… Read More
Massachusetts Cannabis Regulators Approve Rec. Draft Rules
Fri / Dec 22nd
Massachusetts’ Cannabis Control Commission has approved draft regulations for the forthcoming recreational cannabis industry, including rules for cannabis clubs and… Read More
Topical Wins ‘Best Overall’ at Inaugural New England Harvest Cup
Mon / Dec 18th
A cannabis-infused topical took home the top prize at the first-ever New England Harvest Cup, held in Worcester, Massachusetts over… Read More
Massachusetts Cannabis Regulators Approve Social-Use Policy
Tue / Dec 12th
Massachusetts‘ Cannabis Control Commission has approved a social-use policy that will allow cannabis to be consumed on premises in so-called… Read More
‘Cannabis Clubs’ Being Considered in Massachusetts
Thu / Dec 7th
A Massachusetts Cannabis Advisory Board subcommittee has recommended that state regulators allow public use – or so-called cannabis clubs –… Read More
Massachusetts Community College Offering Non-Credit Cannabis Industry Training Program
Mon / Nov 20th
Gardner, Massachusetts’ Mount Wachusett Community College is partnering with Online Cannabis Education on a not-for-credit Cannabis Career Training Program, according… Read More
Cannabis Marketing Strategies New England Coming to Boston Feb. 28 to March 1
Wed / Nov 15th PRESS RELEASE
CBI—the leading marketing events firm—now launches the first conference of its kind: Cannabis Marketing Strategies New England from February 28 – March 1,… Read More
Massachusetts Bill Would Allow Some Cannabis Convictions to be Expunged
Tue / Nov 7th
A criminal justice reform bill making its way through the Massachusetts legislature would allow individuals convicted of cannabis possession to… Read More
Two More Members Tabbed for Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission
Tue / Oct 3rd
Officials in Massachusetts have appointed two more members to the state Cannabis Control Commission, adding Kay Doyle, former deputy general… Read More
Analysts Suggest Massachusetts Cannabis Industry Could Reach $450M During First Year
Mon / Oct 2nd
Analysts from New Frontier Data project Massachusetts’ legal cannabis industry could be worth $450 million during the first year of… Read More
Mehka King: The Power of Grassroots Cannabis Media
Thu / Sep 28th PODCAST
Mehka King is a journalist, host of the Cash, Color, and Cannabis podcast, and the filmmaker behind The Color Green: Cash,… Read More
Tikun Olam and MariMed Partnership to Expand into 4 States
Thu / Sep 21st
Tikun Olam and MariMed Inc. have agreed to expand their partnership which will see Tikun-branded products rolled out in Rhode… Read More
Massachusetts Supreme Court Rules Field Sobriety Tests Not Valid to Test Cannabis Impairment
Wed / Sep 20th
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court has ruled that field tests currently used to test for alcohol impairment cannot be used… Read More
Massachusetts Cannabis Commission Chair Says Prohibition has Failed
Fri / Sep 8th
In his first public comments since being tabbed to chair the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, Steven Hoffman admitted that he… Read More
Roger Stone Out at Cannabis World Congress & Business Expositions
Thu / Sep 7th
Amid a boycott by the Minority Cannabis Business Association, a Change.org petition, and the loss of sponsors, and participants, Roger… Read More
History of Massachusetts cannabis policy
Massachusetts was the very first U.S. state to restrict cannabis use —over 100 years later, in 2013, it became the 18th state to legalize medical cannabis. And in 2016, Massachusetts also legalized recreational cannabis, becoming the first New England state to legalize adult-use cannabis. The state’s regulated marketplace officially opened for business in 2018, which ultimately put pressure on other New England states to pass their own adult-use cannabis reforms (the majority of which have since done exactly that).
Industry overview
The Massachusetts cannabis industry is overseen by the state’s Cannabis Control Commission. Adult-use cannabis carries a 10.75% excise tax as well as the state’s standard 6.25% sales tax; there is also an optional local tax of up to 3%, for a total tax rate of 17%-20%. But while cannabis possession and cultivation have been legalized statewide, more than 100 towns and municipalities have passed bans on licensed retailers and other industry operators.
Cannabis possession & purchasing rules
- Adults aged 21+ in Massachusetts can possess up to one ounce of cannabis flower or five grams of concentrate on their person.
- Adults can store up to 10 ounces in a secure/locked place at home.
- Anyone 21 or older can also purchase cannabis products from licensed retailers. Purchases are limited to one ounce of flower or five grams of concentrate.
- Adult residents of Massachusetts can grow up to six cannabis plants at home with a max of 12 per household.
What is this website?
Ganjapreneur.com is an online platform dedicated to providing useful information and resources to cannabis industry entrepreneurs, investors, and other professionals. From our comprehensive business index to our daily newsletter, our priority is to help connect and inform the cannabis industry and its ancillary partners.
