Registered medical patients can grow a set number of plants at home, and a Hardship Cultivation Registration is meant for patients who need more. The Commission says it has not yet implemented that registration.
The plant limit for every registered patient
The Commission says Massachusetts law allows registered medical marijuana patients to grow up to twelve flowering and twelve vegetative cannabis plants in your home for personal use(masscannabiscontrol.com).
The regulation says a Registered Qualifying Patient may possess up to 12 flowering plants and up to 12 vegetative plants, excluding clones and cuttings(state regulation).
If one or more patients at one residence need more than that to maintain a 60-day supply, the regulation says a Hardship Cultivation Registration is required(state regulation).
The Hardship Cultivation Registration
A Qualifying Patient registered with the Commission may apply for a Hardship Cultivation Registration if the patient can demonstrate that access to an MTC is limited by a listed reason, such as verified financial hardship(state regulation).
One situation the regulation lists is Verified financial hardship(state regulation).
The second is physical incapacity to access reasonable transportation, shown by an inability to use public transportation or drive, no Personal Caregiver with reliable transportation, and no treatment center that will deliver(state regulation).
The third is no treatment center within a reasonable distance of the patient's primary residence, and none that will deliver(state regulation).
The regulation also lists a lack of access to a medicine essential for the Qualifying Patient's treatment plan(state regulation).
What a registration allows
A Hardship Cultivation Registration allows the Registered Qualifying Patient or their Personal Caregiver(s) to cultivate a limited number of plants sufficient to maintain a 60-day supply of marijuana, solely for that patient's use(state regulation).
The regulation prohibits a Registered Qualifying Patient from possessing or cultivating more than 12 flowering plants and 12 vegetative plants, excluding clones, without a Hardship Cultivation Registration(state regulation).
A Registered Qualifying Patient with a Hardship Cultivation Registration, or their Personal Caregiver(s), may cultivate only at the location specified in the application approved by the Commission(state regulation).
Cultivation and storage must be in an enclosed, locked area that only the patient or their caregiver can reach(state regulation).
The patient and caregiver may not sell, barter, give away or distribute the marijuana grown under the registration(state regulation).
Timing and renewal
The regulation says the Commission shall approve or deny an application for a Hardship Cultivation Registration within 30 calendar days of receipt of a completed application(state regulation).
A Hardship Cultivation Registration will be valid for one year from the date of issue(state regulation).
A Hardship Cultivation Registration may be renewed on an annual basis, in a form the Commission determines(state regulation).
Where the program stands
The Commission says it has not yet implemented the Hardship Cultivation Registration program(masscannabiscontrol.com).
So you cannot apply yet. Check the Commission pages for updates.
Local rules
The Commission says employers, landlords, cities and towns may have their own policies governing the use of marijuana(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Short answers
Can I apply for a Hardship Cultivation Registration now?
Not yet. The Commission says it has not yet implemented the program(masscannabiscontrol.com).
Where may a hardship registration holder grow?
Only at the location named in the approved application(state regulation).
How long does a hardship registration last?
A Hardship Cultivation Registration is valid for one year from the date of issue and may be renewed(state regulation).
Can I sell what I grow?
No. The regulation says holders are prohibited from selling, bartering or giving away that marijuana(state regulation).
Advanced Dispensary in Peabody
Advanced Dispensary in Peabody is being built and has no opening date.
Sources
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Know the Laws" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Massachusetts law allows registered medical marijuana patients to grow up to twelve flowering and twelve vegetative cannabis plants in your home for personal use."
- "935 CMR 501.140, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Registered Qualifying Patient may possess up to 12 flowering plants and up to 12 Vegetative plants, excluding Clones and cuttings."
- "935 CMR 501.140, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "If one or more Qualifying Patients collectively require more than this amount at one residence in order to maintain a 60-day supply, then a Hardship Cultivation Registration is required."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Qualifying Patient registered with the Commission pursuant to 935 CMR 501.015 may apply for a Hardship Cultivation Registration if such patient can demonstrate that his or her access to an MTC is limited by:(a) Verified financial hardship"
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "(a) Verified financial hardship;"
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "Physical incapacity to access reasonable transportation, as demonstrated by an inability to use public transportation or drive oneself, lack of a Personal Caregiver with a reliable source of transportation, and lack of an MTC that will deliver Marijuana to the patient's or Personal Caregiver's primary address;"
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "Lack of an MTC within a reasonable distance of the patient's primary residence and lack of an MTC that will deliver Marijuana to the patient's or Personal Caregiver's primary address; or"
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "Lack of access to a medicine essential for the Qualifying Patient's treatment plan."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Hardship Cultivation Registration shall allow the Registered Qualifying Patient or their Personal Caregiver(s) to cultivate a limited number of plants sufficient to maintain a 60-day Supply of Marijuana solely for that patient's use."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Registered Qualifying Patient is prohibited from possessing or cultivating more than 12 Flowering plants and 12 Vegetative plants, excluding Clones, without a Hardship Cultivation Registration."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Registered Qualifying Patient with a Hardship Cultivation Registration, or their Personal Caregiver(s), may cultivate only at the location specified in the application approved by the Commission."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "Cultivation and storage of Marijuana shall be in an enclosed, locked area accessible only to the Registered Qualifying Patient or their Personal Caregiver(s)"
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "are prohibited from selling, bartering, giving away or distributing in any manner Marijuana cultivated pursuant to a Hardship Cultivation Registration."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "The Commission shall review and approve or deny an application for a Hardship Cultivation Registration within 30 calendar days of receipt of a completed application."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Hardship Cultivation Registration will be valid for one year from the date of issue."
- "935 CMR 501.027, Cornell Legal Information Institute" (law.cornell.edu, read November 5, 2026): "A Hardship Cultivation Registration may be renewed, in a form and manner determined by the Commission, on an annual basis"
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Know the Laws" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "The Commission has not yet implemented the Hardship Cultivation Registration program."
- "Cannabis Control Commission, Know the Laws" (masscannabiscontrol.com, read November 5, 2026): "Employers, landlords, cities, and towns may have their own policies governing the use of marijuana."
