According to the Associated Press, voters in Massachusetts have approved Question 4, legalizing the adult use of marijuana for adults. The AP’s final vote count is 54 to 46 percent.
“Massachusetts voters historically have embraced progressive marijuana policies, having previously voted twice to amend various elements of marijuana prohibition,” said NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano. “It is hardly a surprise that they have done so again. Question 4 is a common sense alternative that comports with public and scientific consensus and that reflects marijuana’s rapidly changing cultural status.”
Question 4 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) 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) while also licensing commercial cannabis production and retail sales. The law imposes a 3.75 percent excise tax on commercial marijuana sales. Under the law, localities have the authority to regulate, limit, or prohibit the operation of marijuana businesses.
The new law takes effect on December 15, 2016. Regulators are scheduled to begin accepting applications from marijuana-related businesses on October 1, 2017. You can read the full text of Question 4 here.
“In the face of inaction from elected officials, voters in the Bay State sent a resounding message this evening that it is time to move away from our failed, racist policy of marijuana prohibition and towards a safer, regulated industry,” said Erik Altieri, NORML’s new Executive Director. “By legalizing the adult use of marijuana, Massachusetts will shrink the illicit black market, generate millions in tax revenue, end the arrest of otherwise law abiding citizens, and better enable society to keep marijuana out of the hands of children.”
Hell yeah, Massachusetts! The first East Coast State to vote freedom!
So is it 18 or 21 for recreational?
[Paul Armentano responds: 21 or older.]
I live in Massachusetts. Where can I purchase marajana legally on 12/15/16?
[Paul Armentano responds: Under the law, the state is required to begin accepting applications for retailers by October 1, 2017. Legal sales will not begin until after that. Changes in penalties permitting personal possession and cultivation occur when the law goes into effect.]
so they won’t let medical shops sell to 21+ until they open rec shops? Im from the PNW and portland allowed this to go on until they set up rec shops
So another yr or 2 before legal? If was a new tax on smokes or gas would start immediately why so long
[Paul Armentano responds: The possession and cultivation of marijuana by adults will be legal once the law is enacted on December 15, 2016. State regulators then have up to one year or so to establish regulations regarding the licensed commercial cultivation and retail sale of marijuana.]
01/01/18 is when the first stores are allowed to open.
Hallelujah! Now time for the rest of east coast to follow suit
I’m so glad that this has happened in my lifetime. No more hiding and dealing with sketchy characters. America is great again!!! ??
Agreed, MJ legalization makes America “great.”
But Trump and Pence are in bed with the drug warriors, don’t you know. So, you might say they’ve “Made America Paranoid Again!” Which sucks.
OK so can you please elaborate on who these “warriors” are. Also what’s the penalty for growing more than the allowed amount. Won’t people just do what they want ? Why bother people at that point and doesn’t slacking on the law just promote people to just grow their own ..how can they keep track of everyone growing it ..won’t the black market get larger because they’re slacking on putting the shops out ? I think it’s the best idea ever I’m proud to live in mass now again. Yay for mass. But there is a lot of grey area. If you have ever 13 plants are yout tossed in jail. Do they count cuttings not rooted and rooted cuttings as plants ? What about seeds ? Do people still have to break the law to obtain seeds .
OK so once again since my question disappeared for no reason.
Who are the Warriors you talk about ? Care to elaborate on that or are you just still crying yourself to sleep because Hilary lost and you just hate trump. Trump could care less about bothering law abiding pot smoking citizens. Trump cares more about the money it would bring to the states that pass it.
Congratulations Massachusetts!! Good for you!! Now let’s just hope Trump doesn’t ruin it all.
Cat Cassie,
That’s my concern precisely. We’ve papered over the conflicts between state and federal laws with “states’ rights” jargon, a principle that should make any civilized citizen wary, as it was also used to justify racial violence and murder in The South, and is still popular on the Right. The Left pay lip service to it, when it’s about marijuana legalization!
As a progressive liberal, I say we should stop doing that. Personally, I am certain that our rights go deeper than that — human rights and civil rights trump (fuck he fucked up that word forever, damn it) states’ rights and corporations’ rights.
Colorado went blue this election, so we have that going for us here… maybe some protection… but you know the DEA is just chomping at the bit. You just know they want Colorado real, real bad!
But the genie is out of the bottle, so to speak. So, if it’s a showdown between Trump’s AG (let’s say, Chris Christie, maybe) and the “cannabis genie”, who would win? Do we all go back “underground?” The entire cannabis industry??? Not sure myself, and don’t want to find out, either!
Except…it’s not freedom, if another person or group of people can limit how much you can grow and possess.
It’s an expanded privilege, which should not be confused with a right. Freedom would mean individual people have the ability to mind their own business (unmolested)and not have the boundaries be forcibly determined by “authorities”.
There is a difference between having a kinder master and being free.
I get what you are saying, but in some ways this is less restrictive then the laws on brewing beer. With beer and wine they limit the amount you can make in a year to 100 gals. In some ways this law is less restrictive.
Bob, you seem to be a reasonable person, and I mean no disrespect when I say — so what’s your point? The initiative is a binary vote, not an academic analysis. Are you suggesting that you are against the initiative? Or what?
I’m a big believer in Freedom, myself; I’m sympathetic to your line of thinking, but — there’s what you can control, and there’s what you can’t control. If you were registered to vote in MA, then you had a choice: for or against?
I wouldn’t pass up a chance to force the cops to stop arresting people for pot — would you?
Will I be able to take advantage if I am an out of state resident? Or is this limited to Massachusetts residents only?
[Paul Armentano responds: The law provides legal protections to anyone over age 21, regardless of residency.]
Fantastic Question.
If you can find someone in MA to let you grow it on their land, sure!
But really, I believe anyone will be able to buy once they have stores. Of course, taking it out of state would be illegal (although maybe you can take a boat up to Maine…)
should be able to.
i moved from sc to wa and with my sc dl i was able to walk on in a rec shop… co and or dont care either. I think they might put a cap on quantity but all you gotta do is go to all the different shops lol come back the next day …
Lots of misinformation going around, please confirm this new law doesnt mean citizens are required to have a medical card right? Some people saying you’ll be prosecuted if caught with marijuana without the medical card, thats not how I read the ballot question details…
[Paul Armentano responds: The new law is parallel to the existing medical laws. Question 4 legalizes and regulates those who are not part of the medical program.]
What does this mean for those with medical cards? Insurance paying for medicine? Do I just toss my card?
[Paul Armentano responds: The new law is parallel to the existing medical laws. It does not directly impact medical regulations.]
I imagine its possible the state will set up a different taxation system for recreational vs. medical. Meaning that medical could be cheaper. I would just hold onto the card and wait to see whats up once they finish the regulations in a year
Colorado has both medical and recreational. The medical side means cannabis patients pay less taxes, and have access to higher potency edibles and products.
Agreed – I read the whole thing, and there is no mention of residency/citizenship requirement for teh commonwealth (other than import/export cannot break federal laws – but that seems to be more related to interstate shipping for example).
Maine reads to be the same as well – but there is a residency requirement for owning the store.
NC really needs something to fix all of its problems now. #helpNC
So possession & cultivation of marijuana is legal as if 12/15/16 but we have no way of legally purchasing seeds until approximately 2018 correct?
you can purchase seeds online for ‘souvenir/luxury bird food’ purposes.
Tomorrow, Im driving into Massachussetts to get a feel for how citizens feel about the upcoming change in the law. Ill report back on this blog.
What fascinates me is the transformation our American culture is going through recognizing the difference between patently poisonous pharmaceuticals and whole plant medicine. Despite Trump and his band of losers… (Trump once said, ” Surround yourself with unsuccesful people because it makes you look good; do you understand that?” Or as Bill Maher said, “that explains Guliani…”)
How do the laws stand on growing in a rental apartment? If the lease says nothing about growing and only no smoking, can someone be evicted if the landlord doesn’t approve?
As I understand it, when the law is enacted in December I will be allowed to cultivate a small number of plants. I can’t seem to figure out how to purchase seeds legally. How did this work in other states?
Clones.
Find somebody that will give you a clone — a cutting. It’s a baby pot plant. In Colorado, you can get them fairly easily, for a small fee.
This is a chance to make the world beautiful and the place it should be. So many things this plant does and all of them heal us from medicine to buliding Materials to plastic and paper this is the most wonderful plant or thing on the planet it could save the world. We just have to help it. The worlds in shambles it needs this trillion dollar crop. The lies that cover it have to stop somewhere.
After 12/15/2016, will it be legal to BUY marijuana on the black market? Just wondering whether you can still be hassled if you buy from a non-licensed dealer.
been party-ing since mid 60’s..edibles are a very bad idea…period….can increases potency like 10 fold…even can be dangerous at times…they should not be allowed…50 years says so…I know of what I speak…Alice…
oh…the cannabis today is so much stronger than it was back then…errrrr…..right!
IT STARTED OUT WITH 6 PLANTS PER ADULT. THEN IT CHANGED TO 12 PLANTS PER HOUSEHOLD.ARE THEY SAYING ALL PLANTS? CLONES,SEEDLINGS,VEG PLANTS? IS IT ONLY FLOWERING PLANTS? THAT WOULD BE UNREASONABLE! WHAT ABOUT OUTDOOR GROWS? IT SAYS YOUR RESIDENCE ONLY.DO THEY MEAN YOUR PROPERTY? GROW CAN NOT BE SEEN BY THE PUBLIC.FENCING TO HIDE IT.ALSO LOCKED AREA!