Open A Dispensary In Massachusetts - Dispensary Permits Consulting

Status: In Massachusetts, individuals age 21+ may possess up to an ounce of marijuana, keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana at home and grow up to six plants. State licensed businesses may cultivate, manufacture, distribute and sell Marijuana.

CBD Program	Medical Program	Recreational Program	Are Applications Open?
Legal	Legal	Legal	open

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Number of Massachusetts Marijuana Business Licenses Licenses Available

Dispensaries	Cultivation	Manufacturing/Processing	Transportation
1000+	1000+	1000+	1000+

Every state has different marijuana laws- they are regulated by state, not federal law. Some states allow marijuana for recreational and medical use, some states only allow medical use, and some only allow certain low THC products for medical use. Most states limit the number of licenses they will grant and the window to apply for them. Getting licenced is never simple- there are very specific requirements and guidelines that differ by state and its usually highly competitive, which is why most successful applicants work with consultants like Dispensary Permits to help guide them. We highly advise you read the guidelines below thoroughly and then consider working with a consultant or using our templates and guides.
You can read the full text of the Massachusetts Marijuana Business Licenses law at: https://mass.gov/

Massachusetts Marijuana Cultivation License Guidelines

A Marijuana Cultivator means an entity licensed to cultivate, process and package marijuana, and to transfer marijuana to other Marijuana Establishments, but not to consumers. A Craft Marijuana Cooperative is a type of Marijuana Cultivator.

License Types (Indoor or Outdoor)	Application Fee
Tier 1: up to 5,0000 sq. ft.	$200 (I) / $100 (O)
Tier 2: 5,001 to 10,000 sq. ft.	$400 (I) / $200 (O)
Tier 3: 10,001 to 20,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 4: 20,001 to 30,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 5: 30,001 to 40,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 6: 40,001 to 50,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 7: 50,001 to 60,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 8: 60,001 to 70,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 9: 70,001 to 80,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 10: 80,001 to 90,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)
Tier 11: 90,001 to 100,000 sq. ft.	$600 (I) / $300 (O)

RECOMMENDED MASSACHUSETTS MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR CULTIVATION APPLICATION:

Massachusetts Craft Marijuana Cooperative License Guidelines

A Craft Marijuana Cooperative means a Marijuana Cultivator comprised of residents of the Commonwealth and organized as a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, or cooperative corporation under the laws of the Commonwealth. A cooperative is licensed to cultivate, obtain, manufacture, process, package and brand cannabis or marijuana products to transport marijuana to Marijuana Establishments, but not to consumers. The application fee for a Craft Marijuana Cooperative is the total fees for its canopy. If more than six locations, add $200 (I) / $100 (O) per additional location.

RECOMMENDED MASSACHUSETTS MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR CRAFT MARIJUANA COOPERATIVE APPLICATION:

Massachusetts Marijuana Product Manufacturer License Guidelines

A Marijuana Product Manufacturer means an entity licensed to obtain, manufacture, process and package cannabis or marijuana products and to transfer these products to other Marijuana Establishments, but not to consumers. The application fee for a Marijuana Product Manufacturer is $300.

RECOMMENDED MASSACHUSETTS MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MANUFACTURER APPLICATION:

Massachusetts Marijuana Retail License Guidelines

A Marijuana Retailer means an entity licensed to purchase and transport cannabis or marijuana product from Marijuana Establishments and to sell or otherwise transfer this product to Marijuana Establishments and to consumers. Retailers are prohibited from delivering cannabis or marijuana products directly to consumers; and from offering cannabis or marijuana products for the purposes of on-site social consumption on the premises of a Marijuana Establishment. The application fee for a Marijuana Retail is $300.

RECOMMENDED MASSACHUSETTS MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR RETAILER APPLICATION:

Massachusetts Registered Marijuana Dispensary License Guidelines

A Medical Marijuana Treatment Center, also known as a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD), means a not-for-profit entity registered under 105 CMR 725.100: Registration of Registered Marijuana Dispensaries, that acquires, cultivates, possesses, processes (including development of related products such as edible cannabis or marijuana products, tinctures, aerosols, oils, or ointments), transfers, transports, sells, distributes, dispenses, or administers marijuana, products containing cannabis or marijuana, related supplies, or educational materials to registered qualifying patients or their personal caregivers for medical use. Unless otherwise specified, RMD refers to the site(s) of dispensing, cultivation, and preparation of cannabis or marijuana for medical use.

The application fee for a RMD conversion pursuant to 935 CMR 500.101(2) shall be $450, and the annual license fee shall be the sum of the applicable cultivation, retail, and manufacturing license fees.

RECOMMENDED MASSACHUSETTS MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR RMD APPLICATION:

The History of Massachusetts Marijuana Business Licenses Marijuana

Medical Program Overview
In Nov 2012, voters approved Question 3 making Massachusetts the 18th to enact a compassionate medical marijuana program. Opening a Massachusetts medical marijuana treatment center (dispensary) or becoming a cultivation facility producer (cultivation registration) was available to just 35 sites. One Massachusetts medical marijuana treatment center per county with a maximum of 5 in any given county. Only 15 out of the allowed 35 licenses were awarded.

The state reopened the application submission process for the second time on June 29th, 2015 for nonprofit organizations to apply for a Certificate of Registration to operate a Registered Marijuana Dispensary (RMD). There is currently no deadline for application submissions, as the department will review applications on a rolling basis in the order received. Unlike many other states, the applicants are not scored but reviewed and awarded based on if they comply with Chapter 369 and the regulations.

Recreational Program Overview
Question 4, a measure to legalize recreational marijuana on the Nov 2016 ballot will allows for adults 21 and older can possess up to an ounce of marijuana, keep up to 10 ounces of marijuana at home and grow up to six plants. Marijuana sold in licensed shops would be subject to an excise tax of 3.75 percent in addition to Massachusetts’ 6.25 percent state sales tax. Individual counties, cities, and towns would have the ability to enact additional taxes as well as bans on recreational marijuana operations.

On March 6, 2018, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission approved 935 CMR 500.00, the regulations for licensing and implementation of the adult-use cannabis industry in Massachusetts, ahead of its statutory deadline of March 15, 2018. The Commission began accepting applications for Marijuana Business Licenses April 1, 2018.

In July 2019, Massachusetts regulators gave preliminary approval to rules that would permit marijuana cafes and delivery services in the state, paving the way for the creation of two new types of cannabis businesses. The regulations were finalized on September 24, 2019.