Massachusetts dispensaries: 454 licensed cannabis stores

Where the stores are, and what Question 8 would change

Boston has 45 of our listings, Worcester 15, Cambridge 13, and Pittsfield and Brockton 11 each, with Northampton at 10. A yes vote would end licensed retail sales and the related tax rules on January 1, 2028, leave adult possession of up to one ounce without a criminal penalty and keep the medical program, according to CommonWealth Beacon's ballot guide; NORML says home cultivation would end too. A UMass/WCVB poll found 55% opposed to repeal and 33% in favour; read the Secretary of the Commonwealth's voter guide before you vote.

• Tax: 10.75% excise, 6.25% sales tax and up to 3% local tax on adult-use purchases; registered medical patients are exempt.
• Licence check: retailers hold MR numbers, such as MR283011 for BOUTIQ, and the Commission publishes its licence list as open data.
• Deals: a September 25, 2026 Commission bulletin says stores still may not advertise discounts on online menus, so expect promotions at the counter or by opt-in email.
• Lounges: rules have applied since January 2, 2026, but no social consumption licence had been issued by September.

Each city or town sets its own conditions through host community agreements, so store density varies between Greater Boston and the Berkshires. Home delivery has its own listing on our Massachusetts delivery page. The rules and limits guide covers the 2-ounce change in detail.