Cannabis in Massachusetts: A Historical Overview

Like the other 49 states in the US, Massachusetts has a complicated relationship with cannabis. The beginning of Massachusetts' modern cannabis history began in 2008, with voters passing to decriminalize the plant on the November ballot. However, the state has a much earlier history than that, and much deeper roots. 

Cannabis’ early Massachusetts history

In 1619, Virginia’s legislative body, the Virginia Assembly, passed a law that required every farmer in the colonies to grow hemp. The crop was used for various parts of the early settlers’ daily lives, and they needed a lot of it to meet their needs. 

This means at one point, growing cannabis in Massachusetts was a requirement. Interestingly enough, this law was enacted just one year after the Virginia Assembly was formed in 1618. It’s amazing to think that one of the first orders of business was to require hemp on every farm in the area. Imagine what could be accomplished if we did that today! 

The requirement to grow cannabis in Massachusetts 

According to current data, Massachusetts has 7,241 farms spanning over 491,653 acres. If every single farm were required to grow just one acre of hemp, there would be over 7,000 acres of cannabis grown in Massachusetts alone. Cannabis was one of the first crops introduced to the Massachusetts Colony, and there was great hope that it would become a staple crop. According to the Drug Library, the General Court of Massachusetts was particularly interested in using hemp to make fiber for clothes, because, without clothes, the colony would potentially freeze to death in the winter. 

A quote from the early court reads...

[It] desired and expected that all masters of families should see that their children and servants should bee industriously implied, so as the mornings and evenings and other seasons may not bee lost, as formerly they have beene, but that the honest and profitable custome of England may be practiced amongst us; so as all hands may be implied for the working of hemp and flaxe and other needful things for clothing, without abridging any such servants of their dewe times for foode and rest and other needful refreshings.

During the early 1600s, the cannabis in Massachusetts (and the surrounding areas) was not the same as today. It had very little THC, and wasn’t used for smoking. Like we mentioned above, it was mainly used for making important items like rope, sails for boats, and other fabrics like clothing. In addition to producing textiles, hemp was often exchanged as a legal form of currency throughout the colonies. It held a lot of value. Domestic hemp production did flourish until after the Civil War, when imports and other materials began to replace it. 

George Washington, the hemp farmer

Massachusetts’ cannabis didn’t start forming its own identity until recently. In America’s early days, the colonies were all involved with cannabis in the same way. Some have even claimed that the Declaration of Independence was written on hemp, though that is refuted by the National Constitution Center. However, George Washington did grow hemp at Mount Vernon in Virginia. Hemp was a major part of his life.

In 2018, Mount Vernon actually began planting four-acres of an industrial hemp cultivar. The hemp is harvested and dried every summer, and Mount Vernon does fiber-making demonstrations for those visiting the historic site. 

Cannabis in the United States, 1900s

It wasn’t until the late nineteenth century that cannabis started to be used for medicinal purposes in the United States. In 1906, the Food and Drug Act went into effect, and misbranded and adulterated food and drugs became a thing of the past. This required cannabis to be listed on all ingredients lists, so those bothered could avoid it. Just seven years later, in 1913, a few states began prohibiting cannabis altogether.

The beginning of cannabis prohibition in America

Why you might ask? After all, cannabis was seen as prosperous and helpful in the United States. It was once a requirement to grow it, even! Cannabis use played a huge part in Mexican culture, so they introduced the concept to Americans. 

After the Mexican Revolution in 1910, Mexican immigrants began coming to the United States. The United States government quickly shut that down. Cannabis became associated with immigrants in a terrible way. Though cannabis in Massachusetts was an asset just a few hundred years prior, it was the first state to place a restriction by requiring a prescription for Indian hemp sales in 1911.

People in the US began to fear Spanish-speakers, wondering if they were taking part in the “Menace Marijuana” that was claimed to damage society. The word “marijuana” itself actually has racist undertones and needs to be avoided to change the cannabis narrative. 

The 1930s

The tension between cannabis advocates and prohibitionists started to ramp up in the 1930s, per good ol’ government propaganda. By 1931, 29 states had banned cannabis. Henry J. Anslinger, aka the man who essentially demonized cannabis in America single-handedly, became the first commissioner of the Federal Bureau of Narcotics in 1930. He remained in this position for three more decades until 1962. The FBN criminalized cannabis in 1937 through the Marijuana Tax Act. This was a Federal move. At the same time Reefer Madness gained notoriety and convinced people that cannabis was something to be feared. 

The American’s view on cannabis becomes more lenient, and the beginning of state legalization begins

As the 1900s progressed, the fight to use cannabis was on. The American people especially pushed back in the 60s, when cannabis became seen as less serious than just thirty years before. It wasn’t until 1996, though, when cannabis was legalized in California for medical purposes that the perception of cannabis began to dramatically change in the United States. In 1998, Oregon, Washington, and Alaska followed suit, as did Nevada but they required a second approval in 2000 before it became law. Almost every year since 1996, at least one state has legalized cannabis in some form or fashion. 

Massachusetts legalizes

Massachusetts voters said yes to medical cannabis in 2012, and in 2016 voted to establish an adult-use market in the state. However, in 2017, the legislature voted to delay the change by six months, which pushed adult-use sales from a January 1st, 2018 start date to July 1st, 2018. After some back and forth, Massachusetts’ first two cannabis retail stores opened to the public on November 20th, 2018. The market exploded, and one year later the state reported $393 million in retail sales for the year. By this time, 33 recreational cannabis dispensaries were open for business in Massachusetts. It is projected to have over 500 dispensaries in 5 years.

Good Feels’ commitment to the industry 

Good Feels is honored to be part of the movement to normalize cannabis in Massachusetts. We will do our part to educate those residing in Massachusetts and beyond. Our goal is to make an impact where it matters most, the health of our communities and our environment. Our hope is that we will show people there’s a better beverage option in our discrete and casual cannabis solution. Good Feels sparkling beverages are for those who want to remember all the good times they have drinking together.