Massachusetts Social Consumption Establishment Regulations are Now in Effect

Review the Commission’s Municipal Zoning Tracker to follow local progress as the state moves forward with implementation  

Today, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026, the Secretary of the Commonwealth promulgated 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, following months of Commission deliberation and stakeholder engagement. Copies of the regulations will be available on MassCannabisControl.com, through the Code of Regulations available via the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website, or by requesting official versions from the State Bookstore.

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. Municipalities are encouraged to update the Commission by emailing GovAffairs@CCCMass.com with the status of adult-use cannabis zoning in their community if they opt-in to hosting any Marijuana Establishment license types.  

Note: Social Consumption Establishments may also be required to enter into host community agreements (HCAs), even if the licensee operates a separate business under an existing HCA. Host communities can also add additional requirements to shape the time, manner, and location of social consumption in their city or town. 

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 36 months, beginning on the date on which at least one licensee in each Social Consumption Establishment license class has received a notice to commence operations.

The Commission will provide further details of its social consumption implementation progress at its upcoming public meetings. Visit the agency’s online calendar at MassCannabisControl.com for a preview of the schedule and more information about how to attend or view each session.

###