Is marijuana legal in Massachusetts?
Yes. As of 2026, marijuana (weed) is legal in Massachusetts for adults 21 and older. A 2026 law raised the adult possession limit to 2 ounces, and medical marijuana remains legal.
Status checked November 4, 2026
Contents
Marijuana laws in Massachusetts
Massachusetts voters legalized adult-use marijuana by passing Question 4 on November 8, 2016. The law took effect December 15, 2016. Medical marijuana has been legal since Question 3 passed in 2012. Acts of 2026, Chapter 65, effective April 19, 2026, raised the adult possession and transfer limits from 1 ounce to 2 ounces, or the equivalent amount of marijuana products set by the Cannabis Control Commission.
Adults 21 and older may possess, use, buy, process or manufacture 2 ounces or less. In a primary residence, they may possess up to 10 ounces plus any marijuana from plants grown there, and cultivate up to 6 plants, with no more than 12 plants on the premises. They may give away up to 2 ounces, without payment, if the transfer is not advertised.
Licensed marijuana retailers, overseen by the Cannabis Control Commission, sell to adults 21 and older. The chapter does not require employers to allow marijuana at work.
Public consumption on school grounds, school buses, youth centers and correctional or detoxification facilities is banned. Driving while impaired remains illegal. Marijuana remains illegal under federal law, apart from state-licensed medical marijuana, which moved to Schedule III in April 2026.
Boston, MA – Nov 15, 2025: Massachusetts State House Photo: Adobe Stock (editorial use only).
What the law says
Legal
- possessing, using, purchasing, processing or manufacturing 2 ounces or less of marijuana or the equivalent amount of marijuana products as determined by the commission
- within the person's primary residence, possessing up to 10 ounces of marijuana and any marijuana produced by marijuana plants cultivated on the premises and possessing, cultivating or processing not more than 6 marijuana plants for personal use so long as not more than 12 plants are cultivated on the premises at once
Not legal
- This chapter shall not require an employer to permit or accommodate conduct otherwise allowed by this chapter in the workplace and shall not affect the authority of employers to enact and enforce workplace policies restricting the consumption of marijuana by employees.
- possession of 3 ounces or less of marihuana shall only be a civil offense, subjecting an offender who is 18 to 21 years of age, inclusive, to a civil penalty of one hundred dollars and forfeiture of the marihuana
Quoted from Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 94G §7.
How old do you have to be to use marijuana in Massachusetts?
You have to be 21 to buy weed in Massachusetts for adult use. Licensed retailers may sell only to adults 21 and older. Medical marijuana is separately available to qualifying patients under the 2012 medical law. For people 18 to 20, possessing 3 ounces or less is a civil offense with a $100 fine and forfeiture, not a crime, under Chapter 94C section 32L as amended in 2026. People under 18 face the same civil penalty and must complete a drug awareness program.
How much marijuana can you have in Massachusetts?
Adults 21 and older in Massachusetts can have up to 2 ounces of marijuana, or the equivalent amount of marijuana products set by the Cannabis Control Commission, after the April 19, 2026 change. At your primary residence, you can have up to 10 ounces plus any marijuana produced by plants grown there. In a car, the 2-ounce limit applies when you are carrying marijuana outside the home. An open or in-use product while driving is not protected.
Where can you buy marijuana in Massachusetts?
You can buy weed in Massachusetts at licensed marijuana retailers regulated by the Cannabis Control Commission. Adults 21 and older need a valid ID. Medical patients buy at medical marijuana establishments. Cities and towns can limit or ban storefronts, so what is nearby depends on where you are. Buying from an unlicensed seller is not legal.
Can you grow marijuana at home in Massachusetts?
Yes. Adults 21 and older in Massachusetts can grow up to 6 marijuana plants for personal use, and no more than 12 plants may be cultivated on a premises at once. Homegrown marijuana can be kept at the primary residence along with up to 10 ounces. The plants are for personal use; selling them is not allowed. Making concentrates with dangerous methods at home is not authorized by the personal-use section.
Where can you use marijuana in Massachusetts?
You can smoke weed in Massachusetts on private property. The adult-use law does not authorize consumption on the grounds of a public or private school for children in preschool through grade 12, on a school bus, in a youth center, or in a correctional or detoxification facility. Cities may have additional public-consumption rules, and property owners can ban smoking. Using marijuana while driving is not protected.
How do you get a medical marijuana card in Massachusetts?
To get a medical marijuana card in Massachusetts, you need a certification from a qualifying health care provider and then register with the Cannabis Control Commission's medical program. Qualifying patients and caregivers can buy at medical marijuana establishments. The 2012 medical law remains in place alongside adult use, and patients 18 and older who are certified can use the medical system even if they are under 21.
Can visitors buy or use marijuana in Massachusetts?
Yes. Out-of-state visitors can buy marijuana in Massachusetts if they are 21 or older. Chapter 94G does not require Massachusetts residency to possess or purchase adult-use marijuana. Visitors follow the same 2-ounce limit, home-grow rules and public-use limits as residents. Taking marijuana out of Massachusetts across state lines remains illegal under federal law.
What are the rules on driving and marijuana in Massachusetts?
No, you can't drive high in Massachusetts. The adult-use law does not change penalties for doing any task while impaired by marijuana, including driving, and it does not stop civil or criminal penalties for that conduct. Massachusetts has no separate THC blood limit in the adult-use chapter. Possessing a legal amount in the car is not a defense to impaired driving.
Can an employer in Massachusetts fire you for using marijuana?
Yes, you can get fired for using marijuana in Massachusetts. Chapter 94G section 2 says the law does not require an employer to allow workplace conduct that the chapter otherwise permits, and employers may enact and enforce policies restricting employees' marijuana consumption. There is no general statewide ban on disciplining workers for off-duty use.
What are the penalties for breaking marijuana laws in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, adults 21 and older who stay within the 2-ounce limit, and the home-grow and residence-storage limits, are protected from state arrest and prosecution for those acts. People 18 to 20 who possess 3 ounces or less face a $100 civil penalty and forfeiture. Possessing more than the legal limits, selling without a license, or giving away marijuana in a way that is advertised can bring criminal charges. Under-18 possession adds a drug awareness program requirement.
Are CBD, hemp and delta-8 products legal in Massachusetts?
Hemp itself is excluded from some marijuana definitions in Massachusetts law, and CBD from lawful hemp can be sold as a hemp product. Chapter 65 of 2026, which raised marijuana possession limits, also directed a study of the hemp-derived cannabinoid market rather than setting a new delta-8 or THCA sales rule in the text reviewed here. Intoxicating products that are marijuana under state law must be sold through licensed marijuana businesses. Separately, a stricter federal hemp definition, with a total-THC standard that counts THCA and a 0.4 mg-per-container cap, takes effect December 11, 2026.
Does federal law still apply in Massachusetts?
Yes. Federal law still applies in Massachusetts. Marijuana remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, with one exception: since April 28, 2026, marijuana covered by a state medical marijuana license and FDA-approved marijuana products are in Schedule III. A broader federal rescheduling proceeding was stayed on September 29, 2026, and has no decision date. State law does not change federal rules on federal land, on carrying marijuana across state lines, or on federally required drug testing, such as for DOT-regulated jobs.
Has the law in Massachusetts changed recently, or is it about to?
Yes. The biggest recent change is Acts of 2026, Chapter 65, effective April 19, 2026. It raised adult personal possession and no-pay transfers from 1 ounce to 2 ounces, or the equivalent in products, and raised the under-21 civil-possession amount from 2 ounces to 3 ounces. New federal hemp limits take effect November 12 and December 11, 2026.
Legislation
Sources (7)
- Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 94G §7 (personal use; as amended by 2026, 65) malegislature.gov
- Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 94G §2 (limitations) malegislature.gov
- Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 94C §32L (civil possession) malegislature.gov
- Acts of 2026, Chapter 65 malegislature.gov
- dea.gov
- federalregister.gov
- congress.gov
General information, not legal advice. Laws change often, so check with the state's cannabis agency before relying on this.
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