Massachusetts Cannabis Program Overview

Massachusetts Cannabis Program Overview

Sabrina
APRIL 19TH, 2024

Massachusetts Adult-Use Marijuana Program Overview

On November 2016, Ballot Question 4 passed allowing for adults 21 years of age and older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, grow at most six plants and be able to store 10 ounces of marijuana at home. Marijuana sold in licensed shops can be subjected to an excise tax of 3.75 percent and a 6.25 percent Massachusetts’ state sales tax. Additional taxes and bans of recreational marijuana can be enacted by Individual counties, cities, and towns.

The regulations for licensing and implementation of the adult-use cannabis industry in Massachusetts was approved by The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission on March 6th, 2018, before its statutory deadline of March 15th, 2018. Applications for Marijuana Business Licenses began being accepted by The Commission on April 1st, 2018. Preliminary approval was given by Massachusetts regulators in July 2019, to permit marijuana cafes and delivery services in the state, this paved for two new types of cannabis businesses. Regulations were finalized on September 24, 2019.

Adult-Use Marijuana License Information

Marijuana Business Types

Licenses are available pending on each local municipality (city, township, borough, county).

Massachusetts Cannabis Cultivation – can grow cannabis plants and sell wholesale to other licensed Massachusetts Cannabis Businesses. There are no state-wide limits on number of cultivation licenses available.

There are many types of cultivation licenses available, both indoors (I) and outdoors (O). The application fees are listed below:

Massachusetts Cannabis Manufacturing – can extract, process and produce cannabis products such as edibles, concentrates, tinctures, etc. and sell to retail stores. There are no state-wide limits on number of cultivation licenses available. The application fee for a Marijuana Product Manufacturer is $300.

Massachusetts Cannabis Retail – can purchase cannabis from licensed cultivation and manufacturing facilities and sell cannabis to persons 21 years and older or qualifying patients with a valid medical marijuana card. There are no state-wide limits on number of cultivation licenses available. The application fee for a Marijuana Retail is $300.

Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Program Overview

Massachusetts legalized medical cannabis in 2012, through a ballot, Question 3, which provided a legal way for qualifying patients in the state to access and utilize medical cannabis as a form of treatment for their ailment.  In 2016, Massachusetts legalized medical cannabis through a ballot, Question 4, which provided a legal system and access to cannabis for persons 21 years and older.

Access to cannabis is through state licensed businesses that are allowed to grow, manufacture and sell cannabis.

Medical Marijuana License Information

Massachusetts Marijuana Dispensary License – referred to as a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center, also known as a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD), that is a registered not-for-profit entity allowed to acquire, cultivate, possess, process (including development of related products such as edible cannabis or marijuana products, tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments), transfer, transport, sell, distribute, dispense, or administer marijuana products containing cannabis or marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to registered qualifying patients or their personal caregivers for medical use.

Program Timeline

  • 2012 – Massachusetts legalized medical cannabis
  • 2016 – Massachusetts legalized adult-use cannabis
  • 2018 – Adult-use cannabis sales began

Are you interested in obtaining a cannabis business license in Massachusetts? Call us to speak with an industry expert at 602-290-9424.

Need help developing an effective business plan? Shop our templates today!

 

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