The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission is releasing new educational materials ahead of this year’s 4/20 cannabis holiday – the seventh since the first adult-use stores opened in November 2018 – to help consumers aged 21 and older safely navigate the many regulated products sold by licensed retailers.
The Commission’s 4/20 educational campaign includes a new video illustrating how to read labels found on product packaging, and a flyer that describes the effects of the most common cannabis compounds – like THC, CBD, and CBN – available for sale to adult consumers in Massachusetts, according to a Friday press release.
“April 20 remains the most popular day to buy cannabis in Massachusetts, and so we want to help experienced consumers and newcomers gain a new understanding of the range of cannabis products available for sale,” Acting Chair Bruce Stebbins said. “Through these materials, consumers can make more informed choices while shopping at cannabis retailers in the Commonwealth.”
“April is always a highly anticipated month for cannabis consumers in Massachusetts, especially during the 4/20 holiday. Whether a novice consumer or experienced patron, if folks choose to celebrate and partake, it is critically important they do so safely and responsibly,” Commissioner Kimberly Roy said.
The Commission’s new educational materials on cannabis compounds will be available through the Massachusetts Health Promotion Clearinghouse website alongside other materials like a parents’ guide to marijuana in Massachusetts, a guide to marijuana laws, and a guide to growing and making products at home. Resources ready for digital download are available in a variety of languages, including English, Spanish, Cape Verdean Creole, Traditional Chinese, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Vietnamese, and Yoruba. Licensees can have printed hard copies of rack cards, available in English, shipped to their locations for free.
“4/20 is usually a peak day for our cannabis retailers, and we implore them to use our educational resources to help their customers make informed decisions and understand the safeguards that keep the cannabis supply safe,” Commissioner Nurys Camargo said. “We look forward to celebrating the seventh 4/20 this year since adult-use sales began in Massachusetts – and look forward to keeping it as safe as the previous ones.”
In addition to encouraging licensees to order educational materials and branded MoreAboutMJ.org items, the Commission will also be publishing social media messages to remind Massachusetts residents of ways we can all contribute to a safe holiday.
As of April, 397 Marijuana Retailers, 18 Marijuana Delivery Operators, and 10 Marijuana Couriers had received notices to commence operations in Massachusetts. In total, adult-use Marijuana Establishments have generated $7.36 billion in gross sales since the first two Marijuana Retailers opened in November 2018, including a record-breaking $1.64 billion in 2024.
“The Commission has produced a trove of cannabis educational materials over the years focused on public health and safety, and the new materials available this year highlight some of the most important aspects of consumption,” Commissioner Ava Callender Concepcion said. “For consumers partaking in 4/20 this year, it’s important to take the time to learn about how these products are tested, and what effects they might have.”
All cannabis consumption, especially on April 20, should follow these state laws and practical safety tips:
- It is illegal for anyone under age 21 to purchase, possess, or consume adult-use cannabis.
- Giving or selling adult-use cannabis to minors may be treated as a crime.
- Consuming cannabis in a public place is prohibited, as is smoking it any place where smoking tobacco is prohibited.
- In households with children or pets, be sure to store marijuana and marijuana products locked away and out of reach.
- It is illegal to operate a vehicle while using cannabis or while impaired by cannabis. Like alcohol, you cannot have an open container of adult-use cannabis in the passenger area of your car while on the road or in an area where the passengers have access.
- Use public transportation or a rideshare service instead of risking your life and others’ lives by driving while impaired by cannabis. Adults in Massachusetts may also opt to have cannabis delivered at home.
- The impairment effects of edible marijuana may be delayed by two hours or more. Start low, go slow.
For those visiting Massachusetts from out of state, remember:
- Cannabis is illegal under federal law, and it is unlawful to carry cannabis across state lines or federal borders.
- It is unlawful to consume marijuana in public in Massachusetts, and on federal lands.
- You can neither mail marijuana or marijuana products nor transport them on a plane.
- If you are staying at a hotel or short-term rental, know that many have policies against using cannabis on their property. Check with them before consuming on their premises.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a substance-use disorder, the Massachusetts Substance Use Helpline is available online at https://helplinema.org/ and by phone at 800-327-5050.
Additional consumer health and safety information is available through MoreAboutMJ.org. Contact the agency by emailing [email protected] or calling 774-415-0200.
