Yes. Marijuana dispensaries are legal in Boston in accordance with Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative (Question 4). Question 4 legalized adult-use marijuana in Massachusetts and permitted the establishment of marijuana dispensaries in the state.
Yes. With the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Ballot Initiative (Question 3) legalizing medical marijuana and the operations of medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts, Boston permits the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries within its jurisdiction.
Yes. You can buy cannabis online from Boston weed dispensaries. You should have your payment and ID ready when they deliver.
Before visiting a dispensary in Boston, you must be aware of Boston and Massachusetts laws on cannabis. Firstly, you cannot enter a recreational cannabis dispensary unless you are 21 or older. The rules are strict with marijuana sales, and your ID will be checked and verified before entering the dispensing facility, let alone buying cannabis.
There are also purchase limits for cannabis; hence, you cannot buy more than the stipulated limits under the law (1 gram of usable cannabis and 5 grams of marijuana concentrate). Most dispensaries have budtenders who will be able to guide you when making purchases to ensure you keep under the legal limits. Note that dispensaries are also required to comply with sales limits per buyer, so do not try to trick them into selling you more. Buying more than the stated limits is illegal and will lead to severe punishments.
Also, know that you cannot consume cannabis products on the premises of the dispensaries or in public. You should wait until you get home before consuming the products. Consumption of cannabis in public places violates Massachusetts and Boston laws. You can purchase cannabis even if you are an out-of-state visitor in Boston adult-use dispensaries. You only need to show a valid government-issued photo ID showing you are of legal age in the state to purchase recreational cannabis.
The following are operation requirements for Boston dispensaries:
A dispensary may not sell more than the stipulated possession limits to cannabis buyers
Dispensaries must verify proof of identification and the ages of customers before selling cannabis to buyers
EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards may not be accepted as payment for recreational marijuana purchases
Dispensaries may sell cannabis, cannabis products, cannabis resin, edibles, topicals, seedlings, extracts, tinctures, cannabis-infused products, and marijuana paraphernalia
Medical marijuana dispensaries may sell recreational cannabis products if they have obtained the relevant licenses
Dispensaries must verify visitors' IDs before selling them cannabis products
Sales of recreational cannabis to persons under 21 are illegal
Boston recreational marijuana laws permit marijuana possession, use, and sale to the extent allowed under the Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization Initiative. These include:
Boston residents aged 21 or older may possess marijuana within the stipulated limits (carry up to 1 ounce with them or possess a maximum of 10 ounces at home)
Cannabis cultivation of up to 6 plants indoors for personal use, or 12 plants if two or more adults domicile in a household, is legal. Cultivation must be in areas equipped with locks or security devices. Cultivation areas must not be visible from public areas except by the use of optical aids
A government-issued ID is required to purchase marijuana from approved dispensing facilities in the city
Cannabis consumption in any form, such as eating, vaping, and smoking, is illegal in public places and federal lands
It is illegal to possess an open container of marijuana in any form in the passenger area of a vehicle. A violation of this rule attracts up to $500 in fines. Marijuana must be stored in a closed container in your vehicle's trunk or locked in the glove compartment of the car
It is illegal to cross state lines with marijuana
It is illegal to mail marijuana even to jurisdictions where marijuana use is legal
If you possess more than one ounce of cannabis at home, it must be locked and kept in a secure place
It is prohibited to drive when under the influence of cannabis
Boston employers and landlords are permitted to have their own policies governing marijuana use in their workplaces and on their properties
Out-of-state visitors may purchase adult-use cannabis from approved Boston dispensing locations if they present valid government-issued IDs
Medical marijuana laws in Boston are similar to the state laws on medical marijuana. State laws allow Boston residents to register under the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Program (MMP). Registration under the MMP permits them to access marijuana for medical purposes. State law permits registered medical marijuana patients to possess up to 60-day supplies of cannabis concentrates. Consumption of medical marijuana is illegal in public, and transporting it across state lines is also an offense.
Registered patients in Boston may cultivate up to 12 flowering and 12 vegetative cannabis plants at home for personal use. However, if they want to grow enough cannabis to yield 60-day supplies for personal medical uses, they must apply for Hardship Registrations with the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission.
A registered patient may apply for a Hardship Cultivation Registration if experiencing financial difficulty, is physically unable to go to a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center (MTC), or live far away from an MTC. A Hardship Cultivation Registration enables a registered patient or the patient's designated caregiver to grow a limited number of plants enough to maintain a 60-day marijuana supply. Note that out-of-state residents in Boston are not permitted to purchase medical marijuana in the city.
In order to qualify for a medical marijuana card in Boston, you must be 18 or older, reside in Boston or another Massachusetts location, and be certified to have one or more of the approved conditions. The conditions approved for medical marijuana in Boston and Massachusetts include the following:
Parkinson’s disease
Crohn’s disease
HIV/AIDS
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Hepatitis C
Cancer
Glaucoma
Multiple Sclerosis
Other debilitating health conditions as determined in writing by a certified physician
Follow these steps to complete your medical marijuana card application:
Obtain a physician's certification confirming that you suffer from a qualifying condition
Obtain a personal identification number (PIN) from your physician
Provide a valid government-issued ID to establish proof of Boston or Massachusetts residency
A current photograph of yourself
Visit the Massachusetts Medical Use of Marijuana Online System to create an account and complete your registration. The documents stated above will be required before completing your application. If you are a first-time registrant, you must first register with Massachusetts Virtual Gateway (VG) portal before commencing your application on the Medical Use of Marijuana Online System. Note that paper applications are available to persons unable to register online. Call the state medical marijuana program at (833) 869-6820 to obtain a paper registration form
For more information on obtaining a medical marijuana card in Boston, check the application instructions guide or email the medical marijuana program at MedicalMarijuana@State.MA.US.
Cannabis consumption in Boston is legal on private properties or residences. You may not consume cannabis in multi-unit homes or any vehicle, moving or parked. Consumption in public spaces is also illegal. If you are renting an apartment or a hotel room, ask the property manager about the facility’s cannabis policy since Massachusetts permits property owners to prohibit cannabis use on their properties.
You may buy cannabis from a Boston Dispensary by visiting the address of the retail outlet. If you are unsure about the location of Boston weed dispensaries near you, use the search term "weed dispensaries near me" on an online search engine. The search results will reveal local Boston cannabis dispensaries' addresses and operating hours. Ensure you have cash and a valid government-issued card when visiting the dispensary. You may also order cannabis online from the websites of the dispensaries in the city.
On average, an ounce of high-quality cannabis costs $250 at Boston dispensaries, while a gram costs about $20. Cannabis concentrates cost about $60 or more per gram.
Some popular cannabis strains in Boston are:
Blue Dream
Gorilla Glue
Candyland
Gary Payton
Peanut Butter Breath
Jet Fuel
Alien OG
Brownie Scout
Blueberry
Green Crack
Cannabis smoking in public is illegal in Boston. Per state law, no individual may consume marijuana in a public place or smoke cannabis where tobacco smoking is prohibited. Any violation of this section may be punished by a civil penalty of up to $100.
The legal cannabis possession limit is 10 ounces (at home) for persons aged 21 or older and up to 1 ounce (28 grams) outside their residences. Boston adults may also grow up to six cannabis plants per person and 12 plants per household if two or more adults reside in a household. Registered medical marijuana patients may possess up to 60-day supplies of cannabis concentrates.
Shipping cannabis of any amount across state lines into Boston is illegal and may not occur under any circumstance. Cannabis possession in any form is not legal once you cross a state line, and cannabis product possession is prohibited in Massachusetts airports. You risk state or federal penalties if you attempt to ship cannabis in Boston.
Yes. You can order both medical and recreational marijuana online from Boston dispensaries.
There are currently no restrictions on the hours of operation for cannabis dispensaries in Boston. Therefore, you may find some dispensing facilities offering 24-hour services in the city. You can find the operation hours for a cannabis dispensary in the city by looking up the business website.
Yes, tourists in Boston may use recreational weed dispensaries in the city as long as they provide government-issued IDs showing they are of legal age (21) to consume marijuana in Massachusetts.
You do not need a medical marijuana license to visit or purchase cannabis from an adult-use dispensary in the city. However, you need an ID showing you are 21 or older.
The best cannabis dispensaries in Boston include:
Berkshire Roots
Triple M Dispensary
Ascend Wellness Holdings
NETA Brookline
SEED
Happy Valley
Pure Oasis
Marijuana dispensaries in Boston are required by state law to track purchases. Therefore, dispensaries in the city may scan your ID to ensure you do not purchase above the stated limits.
There are over a dozen cannabis dispensaries operating in the City of Boston. You can search the addresses and locations of cannabis dispensaries in the city using the Find a Retailer tool on the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission website.
No. Boston marijuana dispensaries do not accept credit cards. Cannabis sales are usually cash only. In some dispensaries, you may use debit cards, but the transactions will be processed as ATM withdrawals. You may also use an ATM close to a dispensary to withdraw cash for your purchases.
You may visit several cannabis dispensaries in one day in Boston. However, since weed purchases at approved dispensing facilities are tracked, you cannot buy more than the stipulated limits under Massachusetts cannabis law.
No. The cost of cannabis purchases must be paid in full by customers. Cannabis dispensaries in Boston do not accept health insurance from buyers.
Yes. Boston cannabis dispensaries are required by law to keep track of sales. This ensures buyers do not exceed the state-imposed purchase or possession limits.
No, you cannot enter an adult-use cannabis dispensary in Boston at 18. You must be at least 21 before you may visit an adult-use cannabis dispensary in the city. However, you may enter a medical weed dispensary in the city if you are 18 or older.
The Boston Cannabis Board is the city's regulatory authority for cannabis businesses. The Board's contact information can be found on the City of Boston website. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission also has an oversight role over cannabis operations in Boston. You can find the contact information for the Massachusetts CCC on its website.
To file a complaint about illegal cannabis operations in Boston, you may contact the following: