Legislation to reform Massachusetts’ cannabis laws cleared a key hurdle today in the Massachusetts Legislature, gaining approval from the House Ways and Means Committee.
The measure, House Bill 4160—titled An Act Modernizing the Commonwealth’s Cannabis Laws—is now scheduled for a full vote on the House floor tomorrow, June 4.
The legislation represents one of the most ambitious efforts to date to overhaul and unify the state’s marijuana and hemp regulations. Among its central provisions is altering the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission to be a three-member board, appointed by the governor, which would oversee both marijuana and hemp industries. It would also establish a Cannabis Advisory Board made up of experts from public health, law enforcement, social equity, agriculture, and industry.
The bill would expand marijuana possession limits from one ounce to two ounces, increase the cap on marijuana retailer licenses, and allow for employee stock ownership programs in the cannabis sector. It also replaces the term “medical marijuana treatment centers” with “medical marijuana establishments” to broaden applicability.
Additionally, the bill imposes a 5.35% retail tax on consumable CBD products, restricts sales of intoxicating hemp products to regulated marijuana retailers, strengthens packaging rules for topicals, and enhances enforcement tools for local health departments.
If approved by the full House tomorrow, H 4160 would move to the Senate, bringing Massachusetts one step closer to a major modernization of its cannabis laws.
