Massachusetts First East Coast State To Legalize Recreational Cannabis

Massachusetts First East Coast State To Legalize Recreational Cannabis

Massachusetts is the first East Coast state to legalize recreational marijuana use. Voters passed the legalization initiative,Question 4,by a comfortable margin, according to Politico.

The result comes as a surprise simply because it was hard to tell what to expect from the Bay State based on polling.Some surveys of likely voters pegged support for the initiative as low as 41 percent and as high as 62 percent.

And support for the "yes" and "no" campaigns were both strong.The campaign's official list of endorsementsincluded former Governor Bill Weld, travel writer and PBS host Rick Steves, and many law enforcers, healthcare professionals, academics, businesses and members of the clergy.

Meanwhile current GovernorCharlie Baker (R), Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and Attorney General Maura Healey lead a similarly long list of opponents.

So it's surprising that the initiative ran away with a 7 percent buffer as of 11:45 pm ET, making Massachusetts the 6th U.S. state to legalize recreational marijuana.

Here's a glimpse of what legalization in Massachusetts will look like. And what it means to legalization in general.

Question 4

Question 4 will make it legal for people 21 or older to possess up to 10 ounces of cannabis at home in Massachusetts. So local renovators might want to start marijuanahumidors that complementliquor cabinets. Residents will also be allowed to grow up to six plants, but the limit per household is 12 plants. So even if you have four adults living in your home, you can't grow more than a dozen plants.

Adults will soon be allowed to buy and posses up to one ounce of cannabis in public, but public consumption would remain illegal.

Sales will be restricted to stores licensed by a newly created Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), which will develop and enforce state regulations. They will issue licenses to retailers as well as commercial growers, product testers, marijuanaresearchers and cannabis social clubs. Those clubs, which are like marijuana bars, have become a hot issue because they're currently banned in Colorado and other legal states.

The CCC will also allow marijuana special events through limited-time permits. So you might get invited to a marijuana gala in the near future if you live in Massachusetts.

All retail sales will be charged a 3.75 percent excise tax ...

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