Buying Recreational Cannabis in the Northeast

Last Updated on October 16, 2020 by Bharat Saini

With the legalization of medicinal and recreational marijuana use in some U.S. states, the cannabis industry has boomed, producing at least 211,000 full-time jobs as of 2019. Moreover, some experts believe that legalization could be the key to economic recovery and an opportunity for the unemployed masses during the turmoil following the COVID-19 pandemic.

There’s currently a global growing demand for marijuana. If you’re one of the many people in the Northeast looking to try cannabis products, you’ll first want to understand the rules and regulations or purchasing, possessing, and using weed.

Recreational Cannabis Laws by Locality

• Canada– Cannabis laws in Canada require a person to be above the age of 18. According to the Cannabis Act, adults over 18 (or 19 or 21 in some provinces) can use recreational marijuana. You can possess 30 grams of legal dried cannabis or the equivalent amount in other forms. (One gram of dried cannabis equates to five grams of fresh bud, 15 grams of edibles, 70 grams of liquid, .25 grams of concentrates, and one cannabis plant seed.)

If you’re looking for a cannabis dispensary in Canada, you can purchase legal marijuana online or find physical retailers in most provinces, including Ontario. Keep in mind that you cannot use cannabis in most public spaces in Canada.

• Maine– Marijuana is wholly legalized in Maine for adults above the age of 21. According to state laws, adults can possess up to “2.5 ounces of marijuana or up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana and marijuana concentrate, including no more than five grams of marijuana concentrate.” You cannot smoke marijuana, medicinal or recreational, in public.

• Massachusetts– Massachusetts marijuana laws state that any adult of 21 years or older can possess one ounce of cannabis, no more than five grams of which can be in concentrate form. You can have up to 10 ounces of marijuana at your residence, but you must lock it up if you have more than one ounce. In general, you can’t use marijuana in public, and open container laws apply.

You can do your research online to find local dispensaries in your area, or you can place your order online and have it delivered to you. Also, you can learn how to buy weed online via this guide.

• Vermont– Adults of 21 and above can possess up to one ounce of marijuana or five grams of hash. However, the state bill regulating recreational cannabis sales has yet to pass, so you can’t purchase it for recreational use within the state. In Vermont, it is illegal to consume or smoke cannabis in public.

What Products Are Available?

• Flowers– The flower or the plant’s bud is cultivated, harvested, dried, and then cured. It is a popular choice for cannabis lovers who can use it in a pipe, bong, joint, or blunt.

• Pre-rolls– These often consist of joints, stiffs, or blunts prepared by cannabis vendors or retailer stores. They are quick to smoke, and you can skip the hassle of making them yourself. Pre-rolls contain “shake,” small bits of the marijuana flower.

• Vapes– Vaping devices heat dry herbs or concentrate and activate the THC that gives you a happy high. There are plenty of vape devices available that utilize concentration or herbs and smart technology. If you’re new to vaping and/or cannabis, you may wish to start with a THC vape from somewhere like Area 52 and get used to that before going to vape full-strength marijuana.

• Concentrates– Vendors or retailers make cannabis concentrates from the plant and retain the desirable THC compounds while removing impurities. Concentrates, as the name suggests, have high THC content and should only be dabbed by experienced users.

• Edibles– You can purchase premade edibles, such as weed gummies and candies, or make your own cannabutter to bake with. Just remember that edibles take a while to kick in, so you should wait an hour or so after consumption before taking any more.

• Topicals– These consist of cannabis-infused balms, lotions, and creams that provide pain relief. These are often chosen by people who want to experience the plant’s benefits without the high. You can find a plethora of choices for headaches, pain, and dermatitis, among others.

• Tinctures– Tinctures are cannabis extracts mixed with alcohol. They may be the right choice for those who want to experience cannabis without smoking. To use a tincture, you simply place a small drop of the liquid under your tongue.

Research and Purchase

Now that you know the local laws about marijuana and the many product forms available, you can start researching a physical or online dispensary near you and enjoy the medicinal and euphoric effects of cannabis.