Massachusetts has officially put into effect new regulations that will allow the on-site consumption of cannabis at licensed Social Consumption Establishments in the Commonwealth. The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) approved the final regulations at its Dec. 11, 2025 public meeting.
Although the regulations take effect immediately, social consumption licenses are not yet available, and businesses will not be authorized to sell regulated cannabis to consumers for on-site consumption until receiving a state license to do so. Over the next several months, the commission will undertake an implementation plan which will include several working groups with internal and external members. These groups will help create new Social Consumption Establishment license applications in the agency’s online Massachusetts Cannabis Industry Portal, new guidance and staff procedures, new Responsible Vendor Training for Social Consumption Agents, and a public education campaign, among other deliverables.
Separate from the Commission’s internal processes, municipalities must also opt-in to allow social consumption locally by a referendum, ordinance, or bylaw in accordance with G. L. c. 94G, Section 3(b). The commission’s Municipal Zoning Tracker now enables Massachusetts residents and prospective licensees to monitor implementation of social consumption at the local level, in addition to general adult-use cannabis policies and the status of delivery service.
Once available, eligible business owners will be able to apply for three license types:
- Supplemental, for existing Marijuana Establishments (MEs) to incorporate on-site consumption into their business location;
- Hospitality, for qualifying applicants and MEs, including new or established non-cannabis businesses; and
- Event Organizer, for all qualifying applicants and MEs to organize and host temporary consumption events.
As per the Commission’s mandate to encourage full participation in the regulated cannabis industry by people disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement, these licenses will be exclusively available to Social Equity Program Participants, Certified Economic Empowerment Priority Applicants, Microbusinesses, and Craft Marijuana Cooperatives for a period of 60 months from the date the first on-site Hospitality licensee receives notice to commence operations.
