Please consume responsibly. This section is for adults 21 and older. Adult-use cannabis is legal in Massachusetts for adults 21 and older, and it is illegal to consume it in public places, including bars, streets, parks and in cars. Keep all cannabis products locked up and out of reach of children and pets. Do not drive after using cannabis, and do not combine it with alcohol. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.
A good night in comes down to three things: who is in the room, where you are and how everyone gets home. Get those right and the rest is food and a playlist. Here is the checklist.
Rules first
- Age. The state says you must be 21 to purchase or grow adult-use marijuana. Its tip sheet says only adults 21 or older may buy, consume or grow it. Check every guest. No exceptions.
- Place. Using it in public is illegal. So this happens indoors at a private home, never a porch, a street or a car.
- Lease. Landlords, employers, cities and towns can have their own policies, so read yours before you invite anyone.
Before guests arrive
- Tell people the house rules in advance. Not everyone wants to use, and nobody should feel pushed.
- Put out water, non-alcoholic drinks and real food.
- Keep products put away until you decide to bring them out. The state's advice is a closed, locked container, out of reach of children and pets.
- Keep edibles in their own labeled package, never in the snack bowl. They look like food, and that is how the wrong person ends up eating one.
- Read labels together. An edible has to state each serving's size in milligrams. It also carries a notice that effects can run two hours or longer behind. Read our edible timing basics before anyone takes one.
Decide the ride first
The state's responsible-use page tells you to plan your dosage, timing and ride. Do the ride part before the first serving.
- Nobody drives. The state calls driving under the influence illegal and dangerous.
- Offer a rideshare, a sober driver or the couch. Settle it early, not at the door.
- Edibles can take one to four hours, so the night may still be changing when people leave. Say so up front.
One thing per night
Leave the alcohol out. The state says combining it with cannabis means greater impairment than either alone. Tea, seltzer and a good pot of coffee do the job.
Food and music
Make food people can eat before and after: popcorn, soup, fruit, cheese and crackers. Build the playlist ahead of time so nobody is hunting for songs at midnight.
If something goes wrong
Keep the Poison Control Hotline (800-222-1222) where you can find it. For a serious reaction, call 911.