Quick answer: Adults 21 and older can grow up to 6 plants each at their primary residence, with a hard cap of 12 plants on the premises at once. So one adult gets 6, and two or more adults share 12. Plants must be in an area with a lock or other security device and can’t be visible from a public place.

Last verified: November 9, 2026, against M.G.L. c. 94G, § 7 and the Cannabis Control Commission’s Know the Laws page. Laws change, so check the official site before you plant.

How the limit works

The rule sits in M.G.L. c. 94G, § 7(a)(2). Inside your primary residence, an adult 21+ can possess, cultivate or process “not more than 6 marijuana plants for personal use,” as long as no more than 12 plants are cultivated on the premises at once.

Picture a two-adult home: each person can grow 6, for 12 total. Add a third adult and the premises cap is still 12.

The law doesn’t separate mature from immature plants for adult-use growers, so count every plant, including seedlings and clones waiting their turn.

Good news if you were watching the election: home growing is still legal after November 3, 2026. Voters rejected Question 8 by roughly 76% No in unofficial results, with certification expected in early December. Our Question 8 results recap has the details.

The April 2026 reform law (Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2026) didn’t change the plant numbers. It did change the lockup and gifting amounts covered below.

One federal note: home growing remains illegal under federal law even though Massachusetts allows it. Recreational marijuana is still Schedule I.

Where you can grow

M.G.L. c. 94G, § 13(a) sets two rules for every home grow. You can’t cultivate or process plants:

• That are visible from a public place without the use of binoculars, aircraft or other optical aids
• Outside of an area that is equipped with a lock or other security device

Indoors, a locked room or lockable grow tent fits the idea. Outdoors, the area still needs a lock or security device, and plants can’t be seen from the street or another public place.

Renters, landlords and local rules

Read your lease first. Under M.G.L. c. 94G, § 2(d)(1), anyone who owns, occupies or manages property can prohibit or regulate marijuana production there. That means your landlord can ban growing. A lease can’t ban consuming by means other than smoking, but that doesn’t extend to growing.

Local rules are less settled. M.G.L. c. 94G, § 3 lets cities and towns regulate marijuana businesses, but it’s aimed at licensed establishments and doesn’t spell out limits on home grows. It doesn’t mention homeowners associations either. Ask your city or town, and read any HOA or condo documents.

How much of your harvest can you keep?

At home, M.G.L. c. 94G, § 7(a)(2) lets you possess up to 10 ounces, plus any marijuana produced by plants cultivated on the premises.

The lockup rule is the one to remember. Since April 19, 2026, anything over 2 ounces at home must be secured by a lock under § 13(b). Skipping it carries a civil penalty of up to $100 plus forfeiture.

Away from home, the limit is 2 ounces.

Can you give it away?

Yes. Under § 7(a)(4), you can give up to 2 ounces, or the equivalent in products, to an adult 21 or older. No payment, and the transfer can’t be advertised or promoted to the public. Selling requires a state license. Furnishing marijuana to anyone under 21 is a crime under § 13(i), punishable by up to a $2,000 fine, up to a year in jail, or both.

Where do you get seeds or clones?

We couldn’t confirm a specific Massachusetts rule on buying seeds or clones, so check the Cannabis Control Commission and ask a licensed retailer what it can sell. Don’t bring plants or seeds across state lines.

What if you go over the limit?

Penalties are in M.G.L. c. 94G, § 13:

• Within the limit but breaking a grow rule (visible or unsecured): civil penalty up to $300, plus forfeiture.
• One adult growing 7 to 12 plants: civil penalty up to $100, plus forfeiture of the extra plants (§ 13(e)).
• More than 12 plants: the civil tier stops at 12, so the extra growing falls back under the state’s controlled substances law. Cultivating a Class D substance like marijuana can bring up to 2 years in jail or a fine of $500 to $5,000, or both, under M.G.L. c. 94C, § 32C.
• Under 21, up to 12 plants (unless a registered patient): civil penalty up to $100 and a drug awareness program, with parents notified for anyone under 18 (§ 13(h)).

Growing as a medical patient

Under M.G.L. c. 94I, § 2(d), registered patients can get a hardship cultivation registration if verified financial hardship, lack of transportation or distance limits their access to a medical dispensary. It allows enough plants for a 60-day supply, grown and stored only in an enclosed, locked area. The CCC’s consumer page also says registered patients can grow up to 12 flowering and 12 vegetative plants at home, so ask the CCC which rules fit your registration.

Massachusetts home grow FAQ

Can two adults grow 12 plants in Massachusetts?

Yes. Each Massachusetts adult 21+ can grow up to 6 plants, and the household cap is 12 plants on the premises at once. A home with three or more adults is still limited to 12.

Does a Massachusetts home grow have to be locked?

Yes. Massachusetts plants must be grown in an area equipped with a lock or other security device, and they can’t be visible from a public place without binoculars, aircraft or other optical aids.

Can my Massachusetts landlord ban growing marijuana?

Yes. Massachusetts law lets anyone who owns, occupies or manages property prohibit or regulate marijuana production there. A lease can’t ban a tenant from consuming marijuana by means other than smoking, but it can ban growing.

Is home growing still legal in Massachusetts after Question 8?

Yes. Massachusetts voters rejected Question 8 on November 3, 2026, in unofficial results, so the home-grow rules of 6 plants per adult and 12 per household still apply.

Want the bigger picture? Read our Massachusetts marijuana law guide and marijuana cultivation for beginners.

Setting up indoors? See our guides to grow lights and grow tents.