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In the Massachusetts medical program a patient can be 18 or older, a personal caregiver has to be 21 or older, and a patient under 18 follows extra rules. Adult-use stores sell only to people 21 or older. This page puts the age lines from the Cannabis Control Commission and 935 CMR 501 in one table, and says where they stop.
In the Massachusetts medical program a patient can be 18 or older, a personal caregiver has to be 21 or older, and a patient under 18 follows extra rules. Adult-use stores sell only to people 21 or older. This page puts the age lines from the Cannabis Control Commission and 935 CMR 501 in one table, and says where they stop.
| Who | Age rule | Where it is written |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | 18 years of age or older | Register as a New Patient |
| Patient under 18 | Parent or guardian approves, two certifying providers certify, and the parent or guardian is the Personal Caregiver | Register as a New Patient and 935 CMR 501.015(5) |
| Personal caregiver | 21 years of age or older | Register as a New Caregiver and 935 CMR 501.002 |
| Adult-use buyer | 21 years or older | Know the Laws |
The Commission says you must be 18 years of age or older to register on your own. You need a written recommendation from a certifying provider that identifies your qualifying medical condition, a valid ID and, unless you are in palliative or end of life care or cancer treatment in Massachusetts, proof of Massachusetts residency. The Commission lists no separate rule for patients aged 18 to 20, and it does not ask for a parent.
The Commission page on caregivers says "Appointing a Caregiver is optional for persons over the age of 21." It does not say what applies to a patient aged 18 to 20 who has no caregiver. If that is you, ask the Commission before you rely on a reading of that line.
A patient under 18 is called a pediatric patient. The Commission says the parent or guardian must approve of the medical use, and the child must be certified by two certifying providers, one of them a pediatrician or pediatric specialist. The parent or guardian is also identified as the Personal Caregiver. A patient under 18 does not need a separate government ID to register, and cannot enter a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center without their caregiver. The full process is on the pediatric page.
The Commission pages do not describe a special step for the day a pediatric patient turns 18. Ask the Commission how the registration carries over.
A Personal Caregiver is defined in 935 CMR 501.002 as a person registered by the Commission, 21 years of age or older, who has agreed to assist with a Registered Qualifying Patient's medical use of marijuana and who is not the patient's certifying provider. A 20 year old cannot serve as a caregiver, even for a family member.
The Commission states: "You must be 21 years or older to purchase or grow adult-use marijuana." A medical patient buys at a medical dispensary with a Program registration card and a valid ID. The Peabody store is a medical dispensary.
Advanced Dispensary is a medical dispensary being renovated at 25 Newbury Street, on Route 1 in Peabody. It will serve registered patients and caregivers. It has no opening date yet. Phone: (978) 896-6640.
Yes. The Commission says a patient must be 18 years of age or older. A certifying provider has to certify the patient first.
The Commission asks for a parent or guardian only when the patient is younger than 18. It lists no parent requirement for 18 and older.
A caregiver has to be 21 years of age or older, according to the Commission and 935 CMR 501.002.
No. 935 CMR 501.140 says a Qualifying Patient younger than 18 cannot enter a Medical Marijuana Treatment Center without their caregiver.
Read on October 31, 2026. The state can change its rules, so confirm on its pages before you act.
This page explains how a state program works. It is not medical or legal advice, and it makes no claim about what marijuana does for any health condition. Ask a health professional about your health.
Are you 21 years of age or older?
