Massachusetts

While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived CBD, it also granted states the option to create their own guidelines. The legality of hemp-derived CBD in Massachusetts is complicated. Unless a product has been approved and evaluated by the FDA , CBD oil cannot be added to any meals or beverages. It can't be advertised as having any curative or medicinal benefits unless the item has been examined and authorized by the FDA .
Individuals who want to produce or process industrial hemp commercially in Massachusetts can do so by obtaining a license from the MDAR.
People aged 21 and older in Massachusetts may buy, possess, use, and grow recreational cannabis/marijuana. Purchasers do not have to be a resident of Massachusetts; still, they must present government-issued identification. Outside of your home, you may possess up to one ounce of flower and up to five grams of any concentrate. Cannabis use is prohibited in public.

Table of contents

1. Brief info

  •  Is CBD Legal in Massachusetts?
The products that contain less than 0.3% THC are federally legal in Massachusetts.
  • Who Can Buy CBD in Massachusetts?
Individuals at the age of 21 or over. 
  • Who Can Grow CBD Products in Massachusetts?
People that have a license issued by the government.
  • Who is protected from criminal offenses regarding CBD use?
The ones who didn’t exceed the dosage and possession limits of CBD 
  • More in-depth information about the state regulations and laws

2. Massachusetts CBD laws

While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp-derived CBD, it also granted states the option to create their own guidelines. The legality of hemp-derived CBD in Massachusetts is complicated. Unless a product has been approved and evaluated by the FDA, CBD oil cannot be added to any meals or beverages. It can't be advertised as having any curative or medicinal benefits unless the item has been examined and authorized by the FDA. Because of this uncertainty, the state has yet to propose a strategy to regulate hemp. The website for the Massachusetts Department of Agriculture (MDAR) notes that it must wait for the USDA to provide direction before creating a state plan for regulating hemp.

Bill H4001

State Representative Mark Cusack and other legislators submitted a petition in 2018 to ban industrial hemp and its derivatives. It was referred to the committee in July 2019, but it was delayed until the end of the year. In March 2020, a new version of H4001, known as H4528, was published. It was stated in preliminary reports that the legislation had been favorably received by the committee. On the same day, it was referred to the Committee on House Rules.

Licensing Requirements

Individuals who want to produce or process industrial hemp commercially in Massachusetts can do so by obtaining a license from the MDAR. Users must follow the steps below to complete the application form:
  1. Review the Commercial Industrial Hemp Program Policy. Applicants must be aware of the program's criteria, risks, and other factors.
  2. Read the Interim Final Rule for US Domestic Hemp Production from the United States Department of Agriculture.
  3. Obtain, complete, and sign one of three types of application forms. Grower, processor, and dual (grower and processor) applications are all available.
  4. Provide a map for each processing or growing site. The details may be found in the downloads section of this page:  https://www.mass.gov/how-to/ma-industrial-hemp-program-licensing/.
  5. Within 60 days of application, applicants must submit a current criminal background check.
  6. Pay the $100 application fee by cash or check.
The costs involved with applying, depending on the type of license sought. Producers and processors must pay $300, but those who combine both operations must pay a $500 fee. The Hemp Program at the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources is responsible for processing applications. The $100 non-refundable application fee should also be included with the application. The MDAR does not require a retail store owner to have a license to sell hemp-derived CBD products.

Where to Buy CBD Products Legally In Massachusetts?

Cannabidiol (CBD) obtained from industrial hemp is legal in Massachusetts as long as it is not used in food or marketed as a supplement. Hemp oil, hemp-derived CBD edibles, tinctures, gummies, topicals, capsules, and vapes are the most popular items. Some stores sell cannabidiol oil for pets. The greatest CBD oil in Massachusetts is one that is authorized under federal law. Here are some of the most popular places to purchase CBD oil in Massachusetts:
  • The Holistic Center in Boston
  • The Kush Groove in Boston
  • Patriot Care in Boston
  • Cultivate in Leicester
  • Buckeye Bros in Springfield
  • Canna Care Docs in Worcester
  • Voltage Vape Shop in Springfield
If users can't find a local store, they may search for reliable online CBD suppliers. Many CBD manufacturers allow consumers to purchase their products on their websites. Most of these providers are able to provide goods to all fifty states.

Medical Cannabis in Massachusetts

People aged 21 and older in Massachusetts may buy, possess, use, and grow recreational cannabis/marijuana. Purchasers do not have to be a resident of Massachusetts; still, they must present government-issued identification. Outside of your home, you may possess up to one ounce of flower and up to five grams of any concentrate. Cannabis use is prohibited in public. 

Steps to Receive a Medical Marijuana Card in Massachusetts

Step 1: Schedule an appointment

Meet with a licensed physician and get a recommendation for approval. 

Step 2: Fill in the application

You'll be sent an email with your unique 4-digit PIN number and instructions on filling out your online patient application after the successful completion of the examination by your suggested doctor.

Step 3: Receive the Card

If your application is accepted, you will receive a temporary version of your Massachusetts medical marijuana card that allows you to begin purchasing cannabis at the dispensary.

Massachusetts CBD possession limits

Although hemp-derived CBD and CBD oil are now illegal in Massachusetts, there are no clear possession limits. Adults 21 years old or older in Massachusetts may possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis on their person and 10 ounces in their house, including CBD, under current law.

3. Notes

  1. Geoffrey William Guy; Brian Anthony Whittle; Philip Robson (2004). The Medicinal Uses of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. Pharmaceutical Press. pp. 74–. ISBN 978-0-85369-517-2.
  2. Bloomsbury Publishing (2010). Dictionary of Medical Terms. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 139