Location Wise Blogs

Massachusetts and marijuana have a long history together. In 1911, the state became the first to prohibit cannabis without a prescription. Fast forward almost a century to 2008 when Massachusetts became one of the first states on the East Coast to decriminalize marijuana in small amounts.

In 2012, Massachuesetts voted in favor of Question 3 on the ballot and approved medical marijuana for patients who suffered from serious health conditions. Four years later, voters in a major legislative coup approved Question 4. Question 4 legalized recreational marijuana (also called adult-use). This created a regulated marijuana market similar to alcohol. The initiative eliminated penalties for limited possession and cultivation, making recreational marijuana legal.

As you might imagine, the two Massachusetts programs – medical marijuana and recreational marijuana – are quite different from one another.

Medical Marijuana Laws In Massachusetts

One of the biggest differences between medical and recreational marijuana in Massachusetts is that medical marijuana patients must be diagnosed with one of the state’s many qualifying medical conditions before they can purchase cannabis. They also have to register and apply for a state issued medical marijuana card.

Patients must be at least 18 years of age. Minors under 18 need to be diagnosed with at least two of the state’s qualifying medical conditions. They are required to show that other medicines did not sufficiently help in their treatment, and that they are expected to die within two years.

There are exceptions when it comes to minors. If their legal guardian gives consent, and if a physician can establish that the use of medical marijuana outweighs the risks of using it, exemptions for minors may be made.

As a medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts, it’s important to note that not all of the state’s dispensaries cater to medical marijuana patients. Some only serve the medical community, some sell only to recreational consumers, and others are “hybrids” serving both.

Medical marijuana patients are prescribed a 60-day supply, up to 10 ounces, by their certified doctor. This supply can be bought at one or more dispensaries.

Medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts are also allowed to grow their own cannabis plants. They are permitted to have six plants in flower, and 12 total at any one time.

Another benefit of being a medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts is that home delivery from your favorite dispensaries, like Nature’s Medicines, is available. Delivery isn’t legal yet for recreational consumers.

Recreational Marijuana Laws In Massachusetts

As a recreational marijuana consumer in Massachusetts, you don’t need to meet any health qualifications or register as a medical marijuana patient. Marijuana consumers in Massachusetts may legally purchase marijuana as long as they’re over the age of 21.

Before heading to the nearest dispensary, however, you’ll want to be sure it offers recreational marijuana. Some dispensaries are designated for medical marijuana patients only, so it’s wise to call ahead to be certain.

Once you choose a recreational marijuana dispensary, you’ll be able to buy up to an ounce of flower and up to five grams of concentrates per visit.

The possession and grow limits in Massachusetts are the same for both recreational consumers and medical marijuana patients — up to six flowering plants, with 12 total allowed. Possession of up to 10 ounces is also permitted under the Massachusetts recreational marijuana law.

Medical Marijuana And Recreational Cannabis Laws

As you can see there are many differences between the medical marijuana and recreational marijuana programs in Massachusetts. But there are some very important laws that apply to both:

• It’s illegal to consume marijuana while driving
• It’s illegal to consume marijuana on public property
• It’s acceptable to give away marijuana, but there can’t be an exchange of money

If you have any questions regarding the different regulations pertaining to medical marijuana and recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, don’t hesitate to ask the knowledgeable and caring team at any Nature’s Medicines dispensary.

Need more information about buying medical marijuana in Massachusetts? Ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Service Provider.

Visit our dispensaries in Massachusetts:
Fall River – Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Uxbridge – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
Wareham – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

With the 2012 passage of Question 3 on the ballot, Massachusetts became one of the first states on the East Coast to legalize medical marijuana. Here’s some worthwhile information to help you prepare for medical cannabis shopping in The Commonwealth.

Getting Your Medical Marijuana Card In Massachusetts

In order to purchase medical marijuana at a dispensary in Massachusetts, you must first be diagnosed by your physician with one of the state’s qualifying medical conditions. While there are dozens of conditions, these are the main ones:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• HIV / AIDS
• Hepatitis C
• ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease)
• Crohn’s Disease
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Other conditions as determined in writing by a patient’s physician

You’ll get a PIN from your doctor once you’re diagnosed with a qualifying condition. That PIN is necessary to register with the state’s medical marijuana program and complete the application process for your Massachusetts medical marijuana card.

Finding A Medical Marijuana Dispensary In Massachusetts

As a medical marijuana patient, you’ll want to do some research before you start buying cannabis at dispensaries.

First, make sure the dispensary serves medical marijuana patients, and not just recreational ( adult-use), consumers. Call ahead to be certain, and have your MMJ card with you when you visit.

Second, look online at products offered and patient reviews.. Many medical marijuana dispensaries have their own in-house brands. Reviews will give you information about what to look for when you visit.

Third, talk to people you know – especially friends – who already have medical marijuana cards. You’ll find that marijuana patients truly enjoy talking about their dispensary experiences and the products they prefer.

Delivery For Medical Marijuana Patients In Massachusetts

Currently, Massachusetts only allows for medical marijuana delivery to state-registered patients. The delivery driver will ask to see your medical marijuana card upon arrival. Have it ready!

Pre-order For Pickup

Most medical marijuana dispensaries, such as Nature’s Medicines, allow patients to place their order online. If you’re familiar with our menu, you can save time by ordering ahead and having your order ready when you arrive.

Need more information about buying medical marijuana in Massachusetts? Ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Service Provider.

Visit our dispensaries in Massachusetts:
Fall River – Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Uxbridge – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
Wareham – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

Medical marijuana and recreational marijuana are both legal in Massachusetts. The state’s medical marijuana program was approved in 2012, and recreational marijuana was passed by voters in 2016. To shop at Massachusetts marijuana dispensaries, you must have a Massachusetts medical marijuana card, or be over the age of 21. Being over the age of 21 allows you to use marijuana for recreational reasons.

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries In Massachusetts

The first step to acquiring your medical marijuana card in Massachusetts is to see your physician and meet one of the medical qualifying conditions. There are more than 100 medical qualifying conditions in Massachusetts – way beyond most other medical marijuana states in the country.

Once you’ve received your medical marijuana card, you can purchase medical cannabis at a dispensary. Even though Massachusetts allows recreational marijuana, many patients choose to remain medical marijuana patients. Here’s why:

• Recreational marijuana is taxed in Massachusetts, sometimes up to 20%. Medical marijuana is not taxed at all.
• Prices are lower for you if you’re a patient because your use is considered medicinal.
• You’ll have shorter lines – and a shorter wait – if you’re a medical marijuana patient.
• If you suffer from financial hardship, you’ll get discounts if you’re a medical marijuana patient, rather than an adult-use consumer.
• You can buy higher doses of medical marijuana products, such as edibles, which have a maximum allowed THC of 100 mg if you’re a recreational buyer.
• Medical marijuana patients can take advantage of convenient home delivery.
• Not all dispensaries can service recreational cannabis sales, as some haven’t switched to allow both medical and recreational sales.
• As a medical marijuana patient, you have more dispensaries to choose from.

Recreational Marijuana Dispensaries In Massachusetts

When you’re looking for a recreational dispensary in Massachusetts, check out online reviews and pay special attention to wait times. Some dispensaries have such long lines that people have to park far away and take free shuttles to the shop.

Why not ask your friends if they have a favorite recreational marijuana dispensary? Things to ask, if you’re new to marijuana, are:

• Variety of marijuana products for recreational consumers
• Pricing (including taxes)
• Knowledge and friendliness of the staff, Personal Service Providers, and Budtenders
• Favorite marijuana products they’d recommend

Once you find a marijuana dispensary you like, share your thoughts with friends and write online reviews. Word-of-mouth is the best way to share first-hand information when it comes to medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. You’ll feel good about helping others make educated decisions.

If you have any questions about the differences between being a medical marijuana patient and a recreational marijuana consumer, be sure to ask our Personal Service Providers or staff members when you visit Nature’s Medicines dispensaries.

Need more information about buying marijuana in Massachusetts? Ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Service Provider.

Visit our dispensaries in Massachusetts:
Fall River – Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Uxbridge – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
Wareham – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

In 2012, Massachusetts voters approved the use of medical marijuana with legislation known as “An Act for the Humanitarian Medical Use of Marijuana.” It gave patients the right to use and purchase medical marijuana in Massachusetts as long as they were diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition by their physician.

First Steps To Getting Your Medical Marijuana Card In Massachusetts

Make an appointment with your doctor to discuss any qualifying medical conditions you may have. It’s very important to get a proper diagnosis. Massachusetts has one of the most generous lists of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana patients. They include:

• AIDS
• ALS, or Lou Gehrig’s disease
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• HIV
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Any debilitating condition diagnosed by a registered physician, submitted in writing
• “Any debilitating condition” including:
  • Anxiety, depression, and mental health disorders such as panic disorder, insomnia, depression, and PTSD
  • Chronic pain, such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease, and sinusitis
  • Digestive problems, like colitis, diverticulitis, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome
  • Disorders, diseases and conditions like alcoholism, Bell’s Palsy, eczema, and sickle cell anemia

Once you’re certified by your physician with a medical marijuana qualifying condition, you’ll receive a PIN that will allow you to go online to register for the state medical marijuana program. To complete your registration as a medical marijuana patient, you’ll also need a current Massachusetts ID, a recent photo, and an accepted form of payment for the $50 fee. If you’re suffering from financial hardship, you’ll be asked to show proof of income / hardship at the time of registration.

Medical Marijuana Caregivers In Massachusetts

As a medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts, you can choose to designate a caregiver to assist with the purchase of medical marijuana. You’re allowed to name up to two caregivers, but they can’t be working with other patients unless they are a family member.

When Can You Purchase Medical Marijuana In Massachusetts?

Once your medical marijuana application is accepted, you’ll receive a printable, temporary medical marijuana card online. While you’re waiting for your permanent card to arrive by mail, why waste time? Grab your temporary card and visit Nature’s Medicines.

Need more information about buying medical marijuana in Massachusetts? Ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Service Provider.

Visit our dispensaries in Massachusetts:
Fall River – Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Uxbridge – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
Wareham – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

Massachusetts voters passed a much welcomed medical marijuana program in 2012 permitting medical marijuana patients to buy cannabis after being diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition. Four years later, on election day 2016, voters took an even bigger leap by legalizing recreationa (adult use) marijuana in the state. One of the major differences between the two programs is the allotments. As a medical marijuana patient, you’ll benefit from higher allotments. Medical marijuana patients also benefit from zero taxes and more potent strains of cannabis.

Medical Marijuana Patient Allotments In Massachusetts

Before you can purchase medical marijuana in Massachusetts, you’ll have to register with the state’s medical marijuana program. Once a physician has diagnosed you with a qualifying medical condition, you can apply online to receive a medical marijuana card in the mail.

When looking for a medical marijuana dispensary that meets your needs, it’s wise to do some research to make sure the shop services medical marijuana patients – not just recreational consumers.

How much can you buy? There are limits on what medical marijuana patients are allowed to purchase and possess. Your medical marijuana allotment in Massachusetts is based on a doctor’s prescription of a 60-day supply, up to 10 ounces. The 60-day supply can change over time based on your needs as a patient. It’s called a “rolling 60-day” limit.

Growing Your Own Medical Marijuana In Massachusetts

Along with the 10-ounce dispensary limit, medical marijuana patients – over the age of 21 – are also allowed to grow their own medical marijuana plants. As a medical cannabis patient, you can have up to 12 plants, but only six of them can be flowering.

Recreational Cannabis Allotment In Massachusetts

If you don’t qualify as a medical marijuana patient in Massachusetts, you can buy marijuana for recreational purposes. As long as you’re over 21 years old, you can shop at any dispensary in the state that sells recreational marijuana products.

Recreational marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts can sell you up to an ounce of flower at a time and up to five grams of concentrate. You can have up to 10 ounces in your home. Growing marijuana is legal, too. You can have up to six flowering, or 12 total plants, the same allotment given to medical marijuna patients.

Have any questions about your allotment as a medical marijuana patient or recreational consumer? Talk to us at Nature’s Medicines on your next visit.

Need more information about buying medical marijuana in Massachusetts? Ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Service Provider.

Visit our dispensaries in Massachusetts:
Fall River – Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Uxbridge – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
Wareham – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

Massachusetts is currently home to approximately 60,000 registered medical marijuana patients. If you’re one of them, it’s important to protect yourself by understanding and abiding by state laws.

Do’s For Medical Marijuana Patients In Massachusetts:

• DO meet with a certified Massachusetts doctor to get diagnosed with one of the dozens of qualifying medical conditions.
• DO register online as soon as you get your PIN from your doctor. You’ll need to visit the Massachusetts state website in order to do this.
• DO research dispensaries to be sure that they serve medical marijuana patients.
• DO bring your MMJ card and state ID to all dispensary visits.
• DO familiarize yourself with laws on growing cannabis. Medical marijuana patients in Massachusetts are permitted to grow up to 12 cannabis plants, but only six flowering.
• DO start slowly. Keep a journal of medical marijuana products you’ve tried. Take notes of where you bought them, the effects you experienced, and how long they lasted.
• DO try new things! You’ll be surprised at the wide variety of medical marijuana products available on the market.
• DO ask questions of Nature’s Medicine’s Personal Service Providers. Our medical marijuana staff is highly trained and can walk you through the large selection of cannabis products in our dispensaries.
• DO keep track of your 60-day allotment. In Massachusetts, you’re allowed up to ten ounces during that time. Most medical marijuana dispensaries will only sell patients one ounce per visit.

DON’TS For Medical Marijuana Patients In Massachusetts

• DON’T lose your PIN number. It’s absolutely essential for your medical marijuana card registration. Without it, you won’t be able to complete your medical marijuana card application.
• DON’T sell your medical marijuana to anyone. Only registered dispensaries are legally allowed to sell medical marijuana in Massachusetts.
• DON’T grow more than the flowering 6-plant limit or 12-plant total limit
• DON’T consume medical marijuana in public. It’s only legal to use in your own home. If you’re a renter, check your landlord’s policies.
• DON’T forget to renew your medical marijuana card every year before it expires. To avoid lapses, It’s best to do so at least 60 days prior to your current medical marijuana card expiration date.

Questions? Rest assured that you can get the answers you need from our welcoming Personal Service Providers.

Need more information about buying medical marijuana in Massachusetts? Ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Service Provider.

Visit our dispensaries in Massachusetts:
Fall River – Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Uxbridge – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
Wareham – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary

It’s somehow ironic that Massachusetts, the first state to criminalize cannabis in the early 1900s, became the first state to legalize marijuana nearly a century later.

How did it happen? Motivated voters in Massachusetts rallied together to pass a revolutionary ballot in 2008 decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. The “Massachusetts Sensible Marijuana Policy Initiative” (MSMPI) made it possible to have up to an ounce of cannabis without it affecting the possessor’s legal record. If caught, the punishment could be a $100 fine. Compare that to the law before MSMPI passed when the same offense was punishable by a stiff sentence of six months in jail plus a fine of $500!

Medical Marijuana In Massachusetts

Four years later, when Massachusetts headed to the polls in the state’s 2012 general election, 63% of voters approved Question 3, the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative. With its passage, medical marijuana patients could purchase medical cannabis after being diagnosed with a qualifying medical condition by a certified doctor and registering to get a state- issued medical marijuana card.

Unfortunately, the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts took much longer than expected. Frustrated registered patients were forced to buy cannabis from illegal sources while they waited for licensed medical marijuana dispensaries to open their doors. Four medical marijuana dispensaries finally opened in the state by the end of 2015. Complex licensing and cultivation issues were blamed for the slow roll-out process.

Recreational Marijuana In Massachusetts

Question 4 appeared on the Massachusetts ballot on November 8, 2016 as a recreational (also called adult-use) initiative. Thanks to its passage, state residents over 21 years of age could legally buy up to one ounce of marijuana at a time and have 10 ounces at home. It took two years for the first recreational marijuana dispensaries to finally open their doors, due mainly to the complicated licensing process.

The very first sale of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts was also the first sale on the East Coast. On November 20, 2018 a veteran of the Iraq War made his historic purchase at the Cultivate dispensary in Leicester – one of the first two recreational marijuana dispensaries to open in the state. Asked what he bought, he said one of his purchases was a pre-rolled joint that he would “save for the Smithsonian.”

Laws For Selling Recreational Marijuana In Massachusetts

The Cannabis Control Commission was created in 2018 to regulate and administer laws regarding the use and sale of recreational marijuana in Massachusetts. Oversight of recreational  marijuana dispensary applications and licensing is now the Commission’s main focus. Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker encouraged the Commission to move slowly and take small steps forward to assure a “safe, reliable, legal market” in the state.

If you have any questions about medical or recreational marijuana in Massachusetts, ask the caring and knowledgeable staff at Nature’s Medicines.

Need more information about buying medical marijuana in Massachusetts? Ask a Nature’s Medicines Patient Service Provider.

Visit our dispensaries in Massachusetts:
Fall River – Recreational and Medical Marijuana Dispensary
Uxbridge – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary
Wareham – Recreational Marijuana Dispensary