Massachusetts cannabis history
Reviewed
Question 4’s official summary said the law would take effect on December 15, 2016. The Cannabis Control Commission’s minutes note the first adult-use retail locations opening on November 20, 2018.
This is a short history, not legal advice. The rules that apply today are on the Massachusetts cannabis laws page. A date is included only when the linked page states it.
At a glance
November 4, 2008The Secretary lists Question 2, Possession of Marijuana, as adopted, with 1,949,704 yes and 1,038,523 no.
November 6, 2012Question 3, Medical Use of Marijuana, was adopted. The summary said the law would take effect January 1, 2013.
November 20, 2018The commission minutes say the chair noted the first adult-use retail locations opening today.
Ballot questions
- The Secretary’s results page is the count for the November 4, 2008 possession question. It replaced criminal penalties for one ounce or less with civil penalties.
- The same results series lists Question 3 as adopted, 1,914,747 yes to 1,108,904 no.
- Election statistics list Question 4 at 1,769,328 yes and 1,528,219 no. A second Secretary page prints different percentages from the same counts, so no percentage is stated here.
The first licensed stores
- The chair called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. on November 20, 2018.
Sources
- 1,769,328 yes and 1,528,219 no
- first adult-use retail locations opening today
- 1,949,704 yes and 1,038,523 no
- January 1, 2013
Citations were checked against the linked pages on October 24, 2026. Claims without a statute, election result, regulator page, court opinion, or news report were left out.