Marijuana Is Now Legal in Massachusetts; Here's What You Can, Cannot Do

BOSTON, MA — Massachusetts voted this November to make recreational marijuana legal in the state, but anyone excited to toke up should stop and take a quick breath first.

The law, passed through the Question 4 ballot initiative, took partial effect on Dec. 15. However, other parts will wait until 2018 to roll out, and some things will stay illegal even after that.

As of Dec. 15, 2016

• If you're 21 years old or more, you can legally possess up to 1 oz. of marijuana in public; in your own home, you may possess up to 10 oz.

• You can also grow up to six marijuana plants per person and no more than 12 marijuana plants per household.
• You can give away up to 1 oz. of marijuana, so long as you aren't selling it, publicly advertising it or otherwise angling to make a profit (compare this to home-brewing beer; you can brew it, but don't go putting up billboards or selling door-to-door to try and make some extra cash).

Deadline Summer 2018

• Retail stores can begin selling legal, recreational pot (medical dispensaries are already open).
• Even so, rules still apply for visitors and to you if you're planning to travel outside the state.

Update: Retail openings were originally scheduled for January 2018, according to the ballot measure. Due to recent legislative action, they are now being pushed back to mid-2018. Read more.

Still illegal (and going to stay that way)

• Smoking marijuana in public places (we're looking at you, un-subtle people on the Boston Common benches) and smoking in places cigarettes are already banned (meaning you shouldn't toke up at your local bar)
• Selling or sharing weed with anyone under 21 years old (just like buying a handle of vodka for your freshman cousin at BU)
• Driving high (again, think of the rules for alcohol)

Read More:

• Gov. Baker Signs; Mass. Will Delay Pot Shop Openings
• Here's How Much Massachusetts' Ballot Questions Cost
• MA Question 4: In Marijuana Push, Massachusetts Is Far From Alone
• Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization: What Tourists Should Know

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