Marijuana is a class D controlled substance under the Massachusett's Controlled Substances Act.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 31 Web Search

Possession for Personal Use

Fifty-four percent of Massachusetts voters approved Question 4 which permits adults who are not participating in the state's medical cannabis program to legally grow (up to six plants, including all of the harvest from those plants; no residence may exceed 12 cultivating plants) and to possess personal use quantities of cannabis (up to one ounce and/or up to 5 grams of concentrate; in addition, adults may legally possess up to ten ounces of marijuana flower in their home). Public use/display of marijuana is still subject to civil penalties. The new law took effect on December 15, 2016. Read more »

Possession of more than one ounce of marijuana is punishable by a fine of $500 and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months. However, first offenders of the controlled substances act will be placed on probation and all official records relating to the conviction will be sealed upon successful completion of probation. Subsequent offenses may result in a fine of $2000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years. Individuals previously convicted of felonies under the controlled substances act who are arrested with over an ounce of marijuana may be subject to a fine of $2000 and/or up to 2 years of imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 34 Web Search

Possession with Intent to Distribute

For first offenders, possessing less than 50 pounds of marijuana with the intent to manufacture, distribute, dispense or cultivate is punishable by a fine of $500-$5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years. Subsequent offenses are punishable by a fine of $1,000-$10,000 and/or imprisonment of 1-2.5 years.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws, ch. 94C, § 32C Web Search

Possessing 50 - less than 100 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute is a felony punishable by a fine of $500-$10000 and imprisonment for 2.5-15 years. There is a mandatory minimum sentence of 1 year for this offense.

Possessing 100 - less than 2000 pounds if marijuana with intent to distribute is a felony punishable by a fine of $2,500-$25,000 and imprisonment for 2-15 years. There is a mandatory minimum term of 2 years imprisonment.

Possessing 2,000 - less than 10,000 pounds of marijuana with intent to distribute is a felony punishable by a fine of $5,000-$50,000 and imprisonment for 3 ½ - 15 years. There is a mandatory minimum term of 3 ½ years imprisonment.

Possessing 10,000 pounds or more of marijuana with intent to distribute is a felony punishable by a fine of $20,000-$200,000 and imprisonment of 8-15 years. There is a mandatory minimum term of 8 years of imprisonment for this offense.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32E Web Search

If any of the above offenses are committed within 300 feet of a school and if the violation occurs between 5:00 a.m. and midnight, whether or not in session, or within 100 feet of a public park that offense is punishable by a fine of $1,000-$10,000 and imprisonment for 2 - 15 years. This offense has a mandatory minimum term of 2 years of imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32J Web Search

Causing or inducing someone under 18 to commit any of the above offenses is punishable by a fine of $1,000-$100,000 and imprisonment for 5 - 15 years. This offense has a mandatory minimum term of 5 years of imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32K Web Search

Cultivation

Fifty-four percent of Massachusetts voters approved Question 4 which permits adults who are not participating in the state's medical cannabis program to legally grow (up to six plants, including all of the harvest from those plants; no residence may exceed 12 cultivating plants). The new law took effect on December 15, 2016. Read more »

Distribution

For first offenders, selling less than 50 pounds of marijuana is punishable by a fine of $500-$5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to 2 years. Subsequent offenses are punishable by a fine of $1,000-$10,000 and/or imprisonment for 1 - 2.5 years.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32C Web Search

Selling or cultivating 50 - less than 100 pounds of marijuana is a felony punishable by a fine of $500-$10,000 and imprisonment for 1 - 15 years. There is a mandatory minimum term of 1 year for this offense.

Selling or cultivating 100 - less than 2000 pounds of marijuana is a felony punishable by a fine of $2,500-$25,000 and imprisonment for 2 - 15 years. There is a mandatory minimum term of 2 years imprisonment.

Selling or cultivating 2,000 - less than 10,000 pounds of marijuana with is a felony punishable by a fine of $5,000-$50,000 and is punishable by imprisonment for 3 ½ - 15 years. There is a mandatory minimum term of 3 ½ years imprisonment.

Selling or cultivating 10,000 pounds or more of marijuana with intent to distribute is a felony punishable by a fine of $20,000-$200,000 and imprisonment for 8 - 15 years. There is a mandatory minimum term of 8 years imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32E Web Search

If any of these offenses are committed within 300 feet of a school and if the violation occurs between 5:00 a.m. and midnight, whether or not in session, or within 100 feet of a public park, that offense is punishable by a fine of $1,000-$10,000 and imprisonment for 2 - 15 years. This offense has a mandatory minimum term of 2 years imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32J Web Search

Causing or inducing someone under 18 to commit any of the above offenses is punishable by a fine of $1,000-$100,000 and imprisonment for 5-15 years. This offense has a mandatory minimum term of 5 years of imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32K Web Search

Hash & Concentrates

Fifty-four percent of Massachusetts voters approved Question 4 which permits adults who are not participating in the state's medical cannabis program to legally possess personal use quantities of cannabis (up to 5 grams of concentrate). The new law took effect on December 15, 2016. Read more »

Massachusetts statute defines Marihuana as including the resin extracted from the Cannabis plant and any derivatives or compounds thereof. The statute also defines Tetrahydrocannabinol separately as any compound that contains Tetrahydrocannabinol that is not itself Marihuana. The Massachusetts Controlled Substances Schedule classifies Marihuana as a Class D drug whereas Tetrahydrocannabinol as a Class C drug. Case law indicates that Hashish and Concentrates are meant to be prosecuted as Tetrahydrocannabinol, using the penalties for Class C drugs.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, §1 Web Search
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, §31 Web Search
• Commonwealth v. Weeks, 431 N.E.2d 586 (Mass. App. Ct. 1982). Web Search

The Massachusetts decriminalization law explicitly reduced penalties for the possession of less than one ounce of either Tetrahydrocannabinols or Marijuana, though it does not modify any other penalties relating to Hashish.

Possession of one ounce or less of hashish is decriminalized and is punishable as a civil offense. If the offender is over the age of 18 they must pay a fine of $100. Offenders under the age of 18 must pay a $100 fine and must attend a drug awareness program. Possession of less than an ounce of hashish cannot result in denial of public financial assistance or the right to a driver's license.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 94C §32L, 32M Web Search

Possession of any amount of Hashish greater than one ounce is subject to no more than one year's imprisonment and a fine of no greater than $1000. Diversionary probation is available for first time offenders.

See

• Mass. Gen Laws. ch. 94C §34 Web Search

Manufacture, distribution, dispensing, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense Hashish is punishable by up to five years imprisonment in a state prison or two and one half years in a jail or house of correction, as well as a fine of between $500 - $5000.

Engaging in any of the above conduct when one has at least one prior conviction for a similar drug crime is punishable by up to ten years in a state prison or two and one half years in a jail or house of correction, as well as a fine of between $1,000 - $10,000. This crime is subject to a mandatory minimum of two years imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws ch 94C §32B Web Search

The manufacture, distribution, dispensing, or possession with intent to manufacture, distribute, or dispense Hashish to a minor under eighteen years is punishable by up to fifteen years imprisonment in a state prison or two and one half years in a jail or house of correction, as well as a fine of between $1,000 - $25,000. There is a mandatory minimum sentence of two years imprisonment.

See

• Mass Gen Laws. ch. 94C § 32F Web Search

If a police officer finds a child under seventeen years old in a place where Hashish, or what the officer reasonable believes is Hashish, is present, the police officer may lawfully take the child into protective custody for a period not to exceed four hours.

See

• Mass Gen Laws. ch. 94C § 36 Web Search

Using or inducing a minor to manufacture, dispense, distribute, or possess with intent to manufacture, dispense, or distribute Hashish is punishable by up to fifteen years imprisonment in the state prison and a fine of no more than $100,000. This offense carries a mandatory minimum sentence of five years.

See

• Mass Gen. Laws ch. 94C §32K Web Search

Paraphernalia

Fifty-four percent of Massachusetts voters approved Question 4 which permits adults who are not participating in the state's medical cannabis program to legally grow (up to six plants, including all of the harvest from those plants; no residence may exceed 12 cultivating plants) and to possess personal use quantities of cannabis (up to one ounce and/or up to 5 grams of concentrate; in addition, adults may legally possess up to ten ounces of marijuana flower in their home). Public use/display of marijuana is still subject to civil penalties. The new law took effect on December 15, 2016. Read more »

Selling marijuana paraphernalia to someone under 18 years of age is a felony and is punishable by a fine of $1,000-$5,000 and/or 3-5 years of imprisonment.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32I(b) Web Search

Forfeiture

All marijuana is subject to forfeiture, even in amounts under an ounce which is decriminalized in the state.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 47(a)(1) Web Search

Vehicles are subject to forfeiture if they are used to distribute marijuana or possess marijuana that a person intends to distribute.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 47(a)(3) Web Search

All money or proceeds that can be traced to a sale of marijuana are subject to forfeiture.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 47(a)(5) Web Search

Miscellaneous

Conspiracy

Conspiring with another person to commit any marijuana related offense is punishable by up to the maximum punishment for the crime which was the object of the conspiracy.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 40 Web Search

Driving Under the Influence

Failure to pass a sobriety test can result in a fine and/or imprisonment. Massachusetts does not test for THC in blood,urine, or hair when deciding if an individual has been driving while intoxicated.

Driver's License Suspension

Simple possession of one ounce or less of pot cannot result in the suspension of driving privileges.

See

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32L Web Search

 

CONDITIONAL RELEASE

The state allows conditional release or alternative or diversion sentencing for people facing their first prosecutions. Usually, conditional release lets a person opt for probation rather than trial. After successfully completing probation, the individual's criminal record does not reflect the charge.

DECRIMINALIZATION

The state has decriminalized marijuana to some degree. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation.

LEGALIZATION

This state has legalized marijuana for personal use.

MANDATORY MINIMUM SENTENCE

When someone is convicted of an offense punishable by a mandatory minimum sentence, the judge must sentence the defendant to the mandatory minimum sentence or to a higher sentence. The judge has no power to sentence the defendant to less time than the mandatory minimum. A prisoner serving an MMS for a federal offense and for most state offenses will not be eligible for parole. Even peaceful marijuana smokers sentenced to "life MMS" must serve a life sentence with no chance of parole.

MEDICAL MARIJUANA

This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective. For more information see NORML's Medical Marijuana section.

TAX STAMPS

 

This state has a marijuana tax stamp law enacted. This law mandates that those who possess marijuana are legally required to purchase and affix state-issued stamps onto his or her contraband. Failure to do so may result in a fine and/or criminal sanction. For more information, see NORML's report Marijuana Tax Stamp Laws And Penalties.

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Massachusetts Marijuana Arrests

 

Massachusetts	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	ARC
Possession	8,695	1,292	1,240	986	1,104	-40.3%
Sales	1,565	1,456	1,560	1,451	1,492	-1.2%
Total	10,260	2,748	2,800	2,437	2,596	-29.1%

ARC: Annual Rate of Change

Source: Federal Bureau of Investigation, Uniform Crime Reporting Program