Last verified: March 2026
Possession Limits at a Glance
| Category | Recreational (21+) | Medical Patient |
|---|---|---|
| On-Person (Flower) | 1 ounce | Up to 10 oz (60-day supply) |
| On-Person (Concentrate) | 5 grams | Included in 60-day supply |
| At Home | 10 ounces | 10 ounces + harvest from legal plants |
| Daily Purchase (Flower) | 1 ounce | No daily cap (60-day rolling supply) |
| Daily Purchase (THC Concentrate) | 5 grams | No daily cap |
| Daily Purchase (Edibles) | 500mg THC | No daily cap |
Recreational Limits (21+)
Under MGL Chapter 94G, adults 21 and older may possess up to one ounce of flower or five grams of concentrate on their person while in public. At home, the limit increases to 10 ounces, which must be stored in a locked container or secure area.
Massachusetts also imposes daily purchase limits at dispensaries, which are enforced through the CCC's seed-to-sale tracking system:
- 1 ounce of flower per day
- 5 grams of THC concentrate per day
- 500 milligrams of THC in edible form per day
These are per-dispensary limits in practice, as the tracking system has known gaps across different retailers, though purchasing beyond legal limits remains illegal regardless.
Medical Patient Limits
Registered medical patients have significantly higher limits. The medical program allows a 60-day supply of up to 10 ounces, determined in consultation with the certifying physician. Medical patients also face no daily purchase caps and are exempt from ALL state taxes (10.75% excise, 6.25% sales, and local option).
Gifting Rules
Adults 21 and older may gift up to one ounce of cannabis to another person who is 21 or older. The transfer must be a genuine gift — no payment, barter, or exchange of value is permitted. Gifting to anyone under 21 is a criminal offense subject to penalties under MGL Ch. 94C.
At-Home Storage
The 10-ounce home limit must be stored securely. If you also grow cannabis at home, the harvest from your legal plants (up to 6 per adult, 12 per household) can be stored at home in excess of 10 ounces, provided it remains in a locked area and was produced from legally cultivated plants.
Pending Legislation: Doubling the Limit
Bills H.4187 and S.2722, currently in committee, would double the on-person possession limit from 1 ounce to 2 ounces. The bills have bipartisan support and align with a broader national trend toward higher possession thresholds. As of March 2026, no vote has been scheduled.
What Happens If You Exceed Limits
Possessing between 1 and 2 ounces in public is a misdemeanor punishable by up to 6 months and a $500 fine. Larger amounts trigger escalating penalties. See our penalties page for the full breakdown including trafficking mandatory minimums.
For in-depth cannabis education, dosing guides, safety information, and research summaries, visit our partner site TryCannabis.org