Massachusetts Retail Cannabis Launch: Question & Answer

Today is fucking historic! Two years after the people of Massachusetts voted for the right to possess and purchase legal cannabis, the first dispensaries opened their doors to a veteran, a Mayor, and hundreds of enthusiastic consumers. We couldn’t be happier, especially since we spent some of our earlier years trying to figure out where to buy good weed in Boston. We still remember stuffing ourselves into Green B Line trains, taking the 66 Bus to learn secret things about Jesus, but having a hard time finding quality medicine and recreation. But no more!

We always get a lot of questions around the holidays about what’s cool where, so for this edition of the Q & A we’re keeping the focus on The Old Cod state, even though no member of the Splimm team ever heard it called that when they lived there.  

 

Where and when can I buy weed in Massachusetts?

Today! In two places! As of November 20, 2018 adult use cannabis is legal and on sale at Cultivate in Leicester, about an hour west of Boston, and New England Treatment Access in Northampton, about half an hour north of Springfield.

 

I’m going to Massachusetts for Thanksgiving. Will I be able to purchase legal cannabis if I’m not officially a Masshole?

Anyone over the age of 21 with a valid state-issued ID or a passport can purchase legal cannabis at one of the two dispensaries currently open.

 

What’s for sale?

Both stores currently offer a robust menu. If you’ve never been in a legal weed shop before, you might even be a little overwhelmed! The Boston Globe has a breakdown of the offerings at each dispensary. Expect to find not only flower and concentrate but a wide selection of edibles, topicals, tinctures, and even pills.

 

How much can I buy?

Technically you can buy up to one ounce of flower and five grams of concentrate, though there will be more limits imposed by the shops to avoid selling out. Edibles cannot exceed 5 mg of THC per serving and a package can have up to 20 servings. Which means it’s possible to buy 100 milligram edibles, a dosage far too high for any beginner. So, as always, start low and go slow. And if you eat too much we suggest finding a quiet bathroom and watching a Thanksgiving episodes of Bob’s Burgers on your phone. Tell everyone you drank too much and you need to throw up, which is a more socially acceptable reason to spend time away from your family on Thanksgiving.

 

I’m visiting my relatives for Thanksgiving and they’re great! Where can I smoke this weed I just bought?

Just as in every other state that has legalized adult use cannabis, this can be tricky in Massachusetts. Public consumption is not allowed and can result in a $100 fine. You can consume in a private residence or outside on private property. Hotels don’t allow any kind of smoking and some may even have no-cannabis policies, so if you’re staying in a hotel be careful to read the fine print. A cannabis-friendly Airbnb is the best option for having a safe place to consume if you’re visiting for a holiday weekend.

If you’re only driving up for the day, Splimm strongly recommends you have a conversation with your host about your totally conscientious cannabis consumption habits and ask if there is a place to discreetly enjoy some of the legal weed you just paid a bunch of tax money for. It’s our job to demonstrate responsible use and spread the word that cannabis is just as good as super sweet wine with your Thanksgiving turkey.

 

I plan on going to Vermont after Mass and weed is legal there too. So I can bring my stash right?

No, and they don’t sell weed in Vermont, so unless you get a marijuana-friendly Airbnb that straddles the border you’re out of luck. And even then you’d have to draw one of those chalk lines down the center and you couldn’t walk over the line with your Massachusetts weed without violating Federal law even more. Transporting cannabis across state lines is a major no-no right now – and one of the things that authorities will likely be monitoring more closely in the coming months. So while it might seem harmless and a little bit fun to pick up an ounce of Black Triangle Kush from NETA and drive it to your friends house in Burlington, we don’t think it’s worth the risk.