Recreational Marijuana Law Takes Effect Today

HYANNIS – Recreational marijuana is now legal in Massachusetts.

The law, which passed by voters in November takes effect today, and while legal to possess and consume the drug, it’s still illegal to sell.

Residents over the age of 21 can possess up to 10 ounces of marijuana, and grow up to 12 plants per household.

What residents can’t do is consume or smoke marijuana in public, or drive under the influence, and for law enforcement officials, a rough patch is expected as many people are still unfamiliar with aspects of the law.

“I think we’re going to go through a period of changes that’s probably going to take a couple of years to iron out,” said Bourne Police Chief Dennis Woodside. “I do think what we’ll see is there’s going to be an uptick as we go forward on people driving under the influence of marijuana, I think those are arrests you’re going to start seeing them increase.”

Lawmakers still need to establish a regulatory framework for the legal selling of marijuana, and don’t expect to see the first legal sales of the drug until sometime in 2018.