Cannabis in Massachusetts is legal for medical and recreational use. It also relates to the legal and cultural events surrounding the use of cannabis. A century after becoming the first U.S. state to criminalize recreational cannabis, Massachusetts voters elected to legalize it in 2016.

In 2008 Massachusetts voters decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Massachusetts became the eighteenth state to legalize medical marijuana when voters passed a ballot measure in 2012, even though the federal government still lists marijuana as a Schedule 1 controlled substance with no medical value. Recreational marijuana is legal in Massachusetts as of December 15, 2016, following a ballot initiative in November of that year.

You can read more about Massachusetts laws in Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative and Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization.

Medical marijuana

On November 6, 2012, 63% of Massachusetts voters approved Question 3, the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative. The law took effect on January 1, 2013, eliminating criminal and civil penalties for the possessions and use of up to a 60-day supply of marijuana for patients possessing a state issued registration card. With a recommendation by a physician, patients with cancer, glaucoma, and other medical conditions can receive a registration card.

Recreational cannabis

In the November 8, 2016 election, Massachusetts voters passed a ballot initiative making recreational cannabis legal in the state.

Provisions for home use and cultivation went into effect on December 15, 2016. Individuals are allowed to possess and purchase up to one ounce (28 g) at a time, and if driving it must be locked up and not openly visible. Each household can grow up to six plants, or twelve for those with more than one adult, but the plants cannot be visible from the street. Households can store up to ten ounces (280 g), or more if harvested from a home crop.

Marijuana cultivators have a several tier systems for the kind of licenses they can apply for, but have the added stipulation that they can only sell to marijuana establishments like dispensaries but cannot directly sell to customers.

Smoking marijuana on public property, including parks and sidewalks, is illegal, as is smoking it while driving. An unlicensed sale (including barter) is illegal for the seller but not the buyer; giving away home-grown marijuana for free is allowed.