Medical Cannabis:

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. Cannabis is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that cannabis medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective.

Conditions Approved for Medical Cannabis include:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Cancer
• Crohn's Disease
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Hepatitis C
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Parkinson's Disease

• You must be 21 or older to buy and use cannabis (There are some medical exceptions)
• You don't have to be a Massachusetts resident but you must have a Government ID
• Sales are only done in cash
• Cannabis is a class D controlled substance under the Massachusetts Controlled Substances Act.
• All cannabis is subject to forfeiture, even in amounts under an ounce which is decriminalized in the state.
• An adult may buy and use cannabis paraphernalia.
• Selling cannabis 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.
• All money or proceeds that can be traced to a sale of cannabis are subject to forfeiture.
• Conspiring with another person to commit any cannabis related offense is punishable by up to the maximum punishment for the crime which was the object of the conspiracy.

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 31
• Mass Gen. Laws ch. 94G §8 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32I(b)
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 47(a)(1) 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 47(a)(5)
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 40

• You may possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis and 5 grams of concentrate outside of your home
• Using cannabis in public is prohibited, if an area bans tobacco smoking that means it also bans cannabis
• You may use cannabis only in your home, There may be limits if you're a renter
• A landlord may prohibit or regulate cannabis smoking in the lease agreement. But a lease agreement cannot ban a tenant from consuming cannabis in other ways
• State law allows you to give up to one ounce to another person
• You can have a max of 10 ounces plus plants at your residence
• Over a ounce must be secured in a locked place
• Possession of more than one ounce of cannabis 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 cannabis may be subject to a fine of $2000 and/or up to 2 years of imprisonment.

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 34 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94G, § 7 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94G § 13(b) 

• You can possess up to 1 ounce outside of your home. That includes a motor vehicle, but the cannabis must be in a sealed container or secured in a locked compartment
• You can not cross state lines with it
• You can't mail it
• Every state criminalizes driving under the influence of a controlled substance. 
• 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.
• Vehicles are subject to forfeiture if they are used to distribute cannabis or possess cannabis that a person intends to distribute.
• Simple possession of one ounce or less of cannabis cannot result in the suspension of driving privileges.

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 47(a)(3)
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32L

• Up to 6 plants per person at a residence with 12 being the totally limit for 2 or more adults.
• You can apply for a hardship cultivation to grow a 60 day supply.
• Landlord can restrict you from growing, check lease and ask landlord. 
• Grow area must be locked and secure and not visible from a public place.
• A violation of this is punishable as a civil offense with a penalty not to exceed $300 and forfeiture of the cannabis.

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94G, § 7 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94G, § 13

• You may possess up to five grams of cannabis concentrate
• Massachusetts statute defines cannabis 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 cannabis. 
• The Massachusetts Controlled Substances Schedule classifies cannabis 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.
• Massachusetts defines cannabis products to include concentrates, edible products, beverages, topical products, ointments, oils and tinctures.
• The Massachusetts decriminalization law explicitly reduced penalties for the possession of less than one ounce of either Tetrahydrocannabinols or cannabis, though it does not modify any other penalties relating to Hashish.
• Possession of more than five grams but less than two ounces is subject to a $100 civil penalty. 
• Possession of any amount of Hashish greater than two ounces 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94G, § 7
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, §1 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, §31 
• Commonwealth v. Weeks, 431 N.E.2d 586 (Mass. App. Ct. 1982). 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94G, §5 
• Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 94G §7(a)(1)
• Mass. Gen Laws. ch. 94C §34, 34L
• Mass. Gen. Laws ch 94C §32B
• Mass Gen Laws. ch. 94C § 32F
• Mass Gen Laws. ch. 94C § 36
• Mass Gen. Laws ch. 94C §32K 

• For first offenders, possessing less than 50 pounds of cannabis 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.
• Possessing 50 – less than 100 pounds of cannabis 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 cannabis 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 cannabis 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 cannabis 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• Mass. Gen. Laws, ch. 94C, § 32C
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32E
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32J
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32K

• For first offenders, selling less than 50 pounds of cannabis 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.
• Selling or cultivating 50 – less than 100 pounds of cannabis 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 cannabis 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 cannabis 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 cannabis 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.
• 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.
• 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.

• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32C 
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32E
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32J
• Mass. Gen. Laws. ch. 94C, § 32K