Suffolk County, MA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)

Suffolk County dispensary zoning is regulated individually by each municipality under MGL c. 94G, §3, which authorizes cities and towns to limit the number of marijuana establishments, adopt reasonable zoning, and require host community agreements. Boston adopted Article 65 of the Boston Zoning Code (Marijuana Establishments), which requires a 500-foot buffer from K-12 schools (reducible to 250 feet by the Zoning Board of Appeal) and concentrates retail in B, I, and certain S districts; the Boston Cannabis Board reviews all applications alongside the standard zoning relief process. Chelsea Zoning Ordinance §34-340 permits marijuana retailers, cultivators, and manufacturers by special permit from the Planning Board in the Business and Industrial districts only. Revere allows marijuana retailers by special permit in the Commercial and Commercial-2 districts per the Revere Zoning Ordinance (as amended 2019) and caps total retail establishments at a number tied to 20% of the town's liquor licenses per MGL c. 94G, §3(a)(1). Winthrop Town Meeting voted in 2018 to prohibit all types 1-4 marijuana establishments under MGL c. 94G, §3(a)(2), confirmed by local ballot — only medical dispensaries are permitted. All operators must hold a Cannabis Control Commission license and a fully executed host community agreement under 935 CMR 500.101.