History of Cannabis Legalization
From prohibition to equity-focused legalization, cannabis laws have changed dramatically over the last century. Massachusetts and Boston in particular have led the way in reform and equity. This timeline highlights key milestones that shaped today’s cannabis landscape.
The U.S. government has historically taken diverse actions with cannabis legalization. from prohibition to reform, each era has reshaped how cannabis is understood and regulated.
Massachusetts and Boston have played a leading role in this national movement, from decriminalization to equity-focused legalization. This timeline highlights key milestones and points toward an inevitable future: federal legalization.
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Still have questions? Contact:
Economic Opportunity and Inclusion
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1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
Timeline of the History
| Year | What Happened: |
|---|---|
| 1900 | Early recreational use of marijuana was introduced in the U.S. by Mexican immigrants. |
| 1930s | After the Great Depression, alcohol prohibition was lifted to encourage economic growth. Racist attitudes associated with crime, lewd behavior, immorality, and cannabis. |
| 1937 | First federal regulation came to life with The Marijuana Tax Act, prohibiting its recreational use but allowing its medical use. |
| 1950s | The Boggs Act and Narcotics Control Act were enacted, setting mandatory sentences for drug-related offenses including marijuana. |
| 1970s | Medical use was prohibited after the Controlled Substances Act came into effect classifying cannabis as a Schedule I Drug - the same category as heroin. Later on, possessing marijuana was still illegal but eleven states decriminalized it, and most others reduced their penalties. |
| 1980s | The War on Drugs intensified. The "three strikes you're out" policy and other mandatory sentences were re-enacted by President Reagan. |
| 1990s | Five states passed laws to allow its medical use - California, Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Main, and DC. |
| 2000 | Seven states increase legalization for medical use - Colorado, Nevada, Vermont, Montana, New Mexico, Hawaii and Rhode Island. |
| 2008 | Massachusetts voters approve a ballot decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Possession of less than an ounce is now a $100 fine with no criminal record. |
| 2016 | Recreational use was legalized in MA, with nearly 54% voting in favor. |
| 2017 | The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) is set ip to regulate the legal cannabis industry of the Bay State. |
| 2018 |
Applications open up for cannabis licenses in MA and the first retail stores open making it the first state on the East Coast to allow purchase for recreational use. The first state-wide Social Equity Program in the nation is introduced from MA, and the CCC also authorizes the first two independent testing laboratories. The Farm Bill federally legalized hemp. |
| 2019 | Boston passes an Ordinance Establishing Equitable Regulation of the Cannabis Industry. This created the Boston Cannabis Board, the Boston Cannabis Equity Program, and the Boston Equity Fund, making Boston a national model for equity-focused legalization. |
| 2020 | Boston's first adult use dispensary officially opens. the State's first Social Equity Business. |
| 2021 | The MORE Act was introduced in the House of Representatives. Five more states increased its legalization for recreational use - New York, Montana, Virginia, New Mexico and Connecticut. |
| 2022 | Exclusivity periods for both delivery and social consumption licenses apply to equity groups in MA. |
| 2025 |
Massachusetts passes $8 Billion in gross adult-use sales. New Social Consumption Regulations Approved. Projection: The American cannabis market is expected to grow to $41.5 Billion. |
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Still have questions? Contact:
Economic Opportunity and Inclusion
-
1 City Hall Square
Boston, MA 02201
