Medford, MA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)

Adult-use and medical marijuana establishments in the City of Medford are governed by Chapter 94, Section 94-7.6 of the Revised Ordinances, adopted to implement M.G.L.A. c. 94G. Under Section 94-7.6.15, marijuana retailers "shall only be permitted in the C2 and Industrial Zoning Districts as specified in the Table of Uses" and cannot exceed 10,000 square feet of retail floor space. The city has capped the number of retail licenses at three, not counting delivery-only licensees, tying the cap to 20 percent of the city's retail package-store liquor licenses under M.G.L.A. c.

138, § 15. Every marijuana establishment needs a special permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, acting as the special permit granting authority, and Section 94-7.6.5 bars issuance of that permit until the applicant has negotiated a host community agreement with the city and received a recommendation from the cannabis advisory committee. Retailers must also sit at least 500 feet from any pre-existing K-12 school, operate entirely within an enclosed building not visible from outside, skip drive-through service, and bar on-site consumption, vending machines and self-service displays.

Applicants file security, emergency response, disposal and odor-control plans with the police chief, fire chief and health director before the Community Development Board issues a certificate of occupancy, and abutters within 750 feet of the site get mailed hearing notice.