Massachusetts Senate Approves Cannabis Reform Bill in 30 to 7 Vote

The bill mirrors many components of the House plan approved unanimously in June, including doubling the legal possession limit for adults 21 and older. The proposal will now go back to the House to concur with Senate changes before it can move to Governor Maura Healey. Under both versions, the public limit would rise from one ounce to two ounces, while the in-home limit would increase from ten ounces to 20 ounces. Although possession provisions remain aligned, lawmakers split on several structural, regulatory, and oversight details.

One of the most consequential differences involves the Cannabis Control Commission. The House plan would restructure the agency into a three-member panel appointed by the governor, with one full-time chair and two part-time commissioners. The Senate version also retains three commissioners but ties the chair’s term to the governor and layers in more rigorous oversight, including additional auditing, reporting requirements, and compliance reviews.

Ownership and licensing rules are another major point of divergence. The House bill raises the definition of ownership from 10% equity to 35% to reduce regulatory bottlenecks. The Senate keeps the six-license cap for retailers but favors a lower ownership-equity threshold to maintain tighter scrutiny and transparency.

Both chambers have agreed to extend regulation to consumable CBD products and hemp-derived beverages, subjecting infused drinks to a 5.35% sales tax and a $4.05 per-gallon excise tax. The Senate adds narrower manufacturing requirements and strengthened enforcement language intended to ensure clearer compliance across the fast-growing hemp-derived sector.

Municipal rules differ as well. The House would require standardized host community agreements intended to support social equity applicants. The Senate version keeps that framework but reinforces local inspection authority and directs the commission to audit ownership structures, laboratory practices, and out-of-state involvement.

With today’s 30 to 7 vote, the Senate’s changes now return to the House, which must sign off on the amendments before the bill can proceed to the governor. If enacted, the legislation would represent the most significant update to Massachusetts marijuana policy since legalization, expanding possession limits, reshaping regulatory oversight, and bringing hemp-derived products under a more defined statewide structure.