Massachusetts Committee Advances Bill to Expand Marijuana Delivery to All Cities and Municipalities

A Massachusetts bill that would significantly expand access to legal, regulated marijuana delivery has cleared a key legislative hurdle, after being reported favorably by the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy and sent to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means for further consideration. The proposal, filed by State Senator Liz Miranda and supported by State Senators Manny Cruz and James B. Eldridge, would prevent state regulators from blocking licensed marijuana delivery operators and couriers from serving any municipality in the commonwealth. Under current law, local restrictions and regulatory barriers have limited where delivery-only businesses can operate, even when those businesses are properly licensed at the state level.

If enacted, the bill would also explicitly allow licensed marijuana delivery services to deliver to establishments that provide overnight lodging to tourists and visitors, including hotels, motels, and resorts. Supporters argue that the change would modernize Massachusetts’ marijuana delivery framework while better aligning it with consumer expectations and practices seen in other regulated markets.

The legislation is framed as an emergency law, with sponsors citing the need to immediately reduce burdens on social equity businesses before the expiration of the state’s delivery license exclusivity period. Delivery licenses were initially created to help small operators and entrepreneurs from communities disproportionately impacted by marijuana prohibition enter the legal market without the high startup costs associated with retail storefronts.

With the bill now before the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, lawmakers will examine its potential fiscal and administrative impacts before deciding whether to advance it to the full Senate. If it continues to move forward, the measure could mark a notable shift in how marijuana delivery is regulated across Massachusetts, expanding access for consumers while strengthening opportunities for licensed delivery operators statewide.