From the Boston Tea Party till today, Massachusetts has always been a hotbed for revolutionaries. Therefore, it’s no surprise that the Bay State has some of New England’s most progressive pot laws. Today, it’s legal for adults in Massachusetts to buy, sell, and use recreational cannabis. These lax marijuana laws extend to the state’s burgeoning hemp industry.
While it’s legal to use CBD hemp in Massachusetts, there are a few nuanced restrictions locals should keep in mind. For your safety, please double-check your city’s latest cannabis policies before ordering any of Cannaflower’s smokable hemp buds.
Massachusetts Hemp Laws Before The 2018 US Farm Bill
Massachusetts first relaxed its stance on cannabis in 2008 when lawmakers passed extensive decriminalization laws. These new statutes reduced the penalties on residents who owned less than one ounce of ganja.
Four years later, residents passed the Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Initiative (aka Question 3). As the title suggests, this law created the state’s Medical Marijuana Registry under the MA Department of Health. Anyone with a doctor’s approval could now apply for an MMJ card on the Department of Health’s website. Massachusetts also allows patients to employ caregivers to purchase cannabis from Registered Marijuana Dispensaries (RMDs). For more info on Massachusetts’ MMJ policies, you could visit this government-backed webpage.
In 2016, MA voters approved adult-use recreational weed after passing Question 4. While this initiative legalized the use and possession of < 1 ounce of cannabis flower, it didn’t establish the state’s dispensary program. Indeed, it took an additional year for Boston leaders to finalize the details on cannabis taxation and dispensary registration.
Today, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission oversees all aspects of the Bay State’s recreational marijuana program. Anyone over 21 could buy one ounce of cannabis flower or five grams of concentrate per day from a state-approved dispensary.
Massachusetts Hemp Laws After The 2018 US Farm Bill
Interestingly, it took Massachusetts longer to legalize CBD hemp than marijuana. Apparently, the 2018 US Farm Bill was the “kick start” Boston legislators needed to revise their hemp statutes.
In 2019, Massachusetts passed Bill H.4001 to update its stance on hemp flower. According to this new law, hemp must contain ≤ 0.3 percent delta-9 THC to be considered legal. Bill H.4001 also legalized hemp-derived CBD oils and topicals, as long as they don’t make medical claims.
However, Bill H.4001 doesn’t allow Massachusetts residents to buy or sell CBD edibles. Like nearby New York, Massachusetts is waiting for the FDA to approve CBD as a safe food additive. Until that day arrives, it’s technically illegal to buy CBD edibles and infusions in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts Hemp Regulations FAQs
So, Is It Legal To Grow CBD Hemp Flower In Massachusetts?
Farmers can grow industrial hemp in Massachusetts if they have a state-approved permit. The state’s Department of Agricultural Resources (aka MDAR) now offers three different hemp licenses: grower, processor, or both.
Prospective hemp farmers must submit detailed maps of their growing area plus a criminal background check. No matter what application you fill out, you will have to pay a non-refundable fee of $100. Once approved, you’ll have to pay another $300 for the hemp grower’s or processor’s license. The dual grower-processor permit costs $500.
You could find all of the paperwork you need for an MA hemp grower’s application on MDAR’s website.
Is It Legal To Sell CBD Hemp Flower In Massachusetts?
Massachusetts has no problem with stores selling high-CBD hemp flower. Shop owners just have to double-check that their hemp buds contain ≤ 0.3 percent delta-9 THC.
Even if you’re running a legal cannabis dispensary, you must supply customers with reliable lab data. These tests help give customers a glimpse into the flavors, purity, and effects of each hemp or marijuana strain.
By the way, Cannaflower always sends our hemp flowers to third-party labs for thorough screenings. You can find all of our official lab results on this webpage.
Is It Legal To Buy CBD Hemp Flower In Massachusetts?
Adults in Massachusetts can legally purchase hemp flower, CBD extracts, and topicals. However, Massachusetts law bans the use of CBD as a food additive. Until there’s further guidance from the FDA, Massachusetts residents should avoid CBD-infused edibles and beverages.
Massachusetts also has a strict licensing policy for hemp-derived goods. While most hemp products are legal, they can’t make any health-related claims. Plus, all legal hemp products must contain lab results that clearly show there’s ≤ 0.3 percent THC.
Is It Legal To Smoke CBD Hemp Flower In Massachusetts?
Since smokable marijuana is legal in Massachusetts, residents have every right to smoke their favorite Cannaflower hemp strains. That being said, you can’t smoke high-CBD flower anywhere in Massachusetts.
Please avoid smoking Cannaflower pre-rolls outdoors, especially near schools, government buildings, or places of business. In the current legal climate, it’s a good idea to reserve your hemp smoking for at-home use only. Since hemp flower smells just like marijuana, you could land yourself a hefty fine if you’re caught smoking in public.
Is It Legal To Grow Hemp At Home In Massachusetts?
Massachusetts doesn’t have explicit laws regarding at-home hemp cultivation. However, the state now allows adults to grow six cannabis plants per person at home. Just bear in mind this plant limit is capped at 12 per household.
Unfortunately for CBD fans, these laws don’t allow residents to grow hemp indoors. The only legit way to grow hemp in Massachusetts is to apply for a grower’s license via the MDAR.
Where Can I Buy Hemp Flower In Massachusetts?
As long as you’re not looking for CBD edibles, it’s not challenging to find hemp-derived goods throughout the Bay State. Indeed, since marijuana has been legal since 2016, many state-run dispensaries now stock CBD-rich strains. You could also find hemp products in vape shops, smoke stores, and even health food markets.
Also, please remember that Cannaflower ships our artisan-grade hemp flowers to all 50 states. Whatever flavors or effects you’re craving, we bet you’ll find a fantastic hemp flower in our extensive catalog. Feel free to review our hemp flower strains on this link.
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