Worcester Marijuana Defense Lawyers
Serving Worcester, Middlesex and Hampden Counties
Massachusetts law around marijuana has changed substantially over the past two decades, but charges involving larger quantities, distribution, or trafficking still carry real legal consequences. A marijuana crime defense lawyer at Rudolf, Griffis, Ruggieri & Murray keeps current on both state and federal law to help clients understand exactly what they’re facing.
Massachusetts Marijuana Law Timeline
Marijuana was decriminalized in Massachusetts in 2008, medical marijuana became legal in 2012, and possession of one ounce or less by adults 21 and older became legal in 2016. Possession of one ounce or less carries only a $100 fine with no criminal record. Amounts exceeding one ounce, or any case involving intent to distribute or trafficking, still carry real legal exposure.
Trafficking penalties scale sharply with quantity, from 2.5 to 15 years and a $25,000 fine for 50 pounds or more, up to 8 to 15 years and fines as high as $200,000 for 10,000 pounds or more.