FAQs - Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Card

An adult must be a resident of Massachusetts, at least 18 years old, and have a debilitating medical condition certified by a healthcare provider licensed in Massachusetts and registered with the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC). Minors are also eligible with parental permission and the primary care physician’s signature.

There is no closed list of such conditions in Massachusetts. The most common ones are cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, epilepsy, and chronic pain. Any debilitating condition that a physician deems appropriate can be certified.

It depends. Since the state of Massachusetts allows the certifying provider to approve any condition as debilitating, the conditions of anxiety and insomnia can be approved if your certifying provider considers that you need marijuana to cope with your condition because standard treatment has failed.

The fees to see a doctor vary between $99 and $300, depending on the certifying provider. The Cannabis Control Commission does not charge any fee for registering a patient or caregiver – the only expense is the doctor’s visit.

Yes. Patients in Massachusetts can receive certification for medical marijuana use through the process of telemedicine. It means that everything will be done without leaving your house.

After your physician sends the certification through the CCC portal and you have completed your online registration, you will likely be able to visit a licensed dispensary in just a few days. Some dispensaries may accommodate patients right away by presenting the confirmation of the registration via CCC, together with any government-issued ID.

Yes. After registering online, the CCC will send you a physical Medical Marijuana Card by mail to your address. Until then, patients can visit licensed dispensaries presenting their confirmation of registration online, together with any government-issued ID.

The Massachusetts marijuana registration cards last for one year. It is recommended that patients start the renewal process 60 days before its expiration to make sure there is no disruption in their supply. In case the physician’s certificate has also expired, the patients will need to recertify.

In case the physician certification is still valid, the card may be renewed using the CCC web portal. In case of the expired certification, the patients will need to first schedule an appointment for the recertification. There is no renewal fee charged, only the physician’s consultation fee.

Yes. To become a caregiver for the Massachusetts medical marijuana patients, one needs to be a resident of the state, aged 21 years old or older, cleared from background checks, registered with the CCC, and designated by the patient. The caregiver must have his/her own card along with the patient’s card in order to make purchases.

No. Medical cannabis is completely exempt from the 10.75% recreational excise tax and 6.25% state sales tax. While some cities or towns may impose a local tax, even that will not make it more expensive for medical patients compared to recreational buyers, who can be taxed as much as 20%.

Up to 10 ounces of marijuana can be purchased and possessed by registered patients in any 60-day period. In case a health care provider feels that this is not enough, they can issue a document that will allow patients to get a higher quantity. For recreational use, the limit is just 1 ounce that can be carried at once.

Yes, and at much higher quantities compared to recreational users. They are allowed to cultivate up to 12 flowering plants and 12 vegetative plants in any home, making it 24 in total. Recreational users have only 6 plants (12 plants in case there are two or more adults in one household). All growing should be done in a locked and private area.

Inbound reciprocity is not available in Massachusetts, and out-of-state visitors who are 21 years and older are still able to purchase cannabis from recreational dispensaries but not from medical-only dispensaries or get medical-tier prices without being a Massachusetts patient.

Yes. Registered patients can buy both at MTCs and at recreational dispensaries. But the tax exemption and larger possession amount apply only when buying at an authorized medical marijuana dispensary. When buying at recreational dispensaries, patients will be charged just like regular adult users.

According to the laws of the state of Massachusetts, no employer shall discriminate against employees on the grounds of being a medical marijuana patient. However, they need not provide any accommodation in case of on-duty cannabis consumption. In addition, federal regulations might come into play if the employee is working in safety-sensitive positions.

Yes. Under Section 922(g)(3) of the federal law (18 U.S.C.), users of cannabis are not eligible to possess or purchase firearms since it is illegal under the federal law. Under Massachusetts General Laws, it is not allowed for individuals to carry loaded firearms while under the influence of cannabis.

Sign in to your CCC patient account and order a new card. This will cost you a replacement fee of $10 and require you to provide a new picture. Your patient registration is still valid while waiting – you may continue to shop at dispensaries with your electronic confirmation and a valid form of government identification until your new card comes.

The key advantages include being fully exempt from taxes (up to a savings of 20% on each purchase), 10 ounces of personal use limits (instead of 1 ounce for adults who consume marijuana for recreational purposes), the right to cultivate up to 24 plants, dispensary access at age 18, prioritized treatment at licensed dispensaries, access to stronger medical-only strains, and designation of a caregiver. For any consistent marijuana consumer with a qualifying ailment, the card quickly pays for itself.