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S 96

Clerk of Court Requirements

2025-2026 Regular Session Introduced by Margie Bright Matthews

Imposes fixed THC limits: flower max 10% THC; inhalables capped at 5 mg per serving and 100 mg per package; bans added sweeteners, flavors, non-cannabis additives.

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Bill Summary · S 96

Summary — S.96 (194th Gen. Court, 2025‑2026): THC potency limits for types of marijuana

Overview / Purpose

S.96 is a Massachusetts state bill, introduced Jan 15, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 2434) by Sen. Patrick M. O’Connor (with John F. Keenan listed on the petition), titled in-text “An Act relative to THC potency limits for types of marijuana.” The bill amends chapter 94G (Massachusetts cannabis law), directing that the statutory list of regulatory duties include specific, minimum THC‑potency, dosing, formulation, packaging and ingredient prohibitions for licensed marijuana products. The bill is presented under the short title “Fostering Autonomy in Independent Returns by Prohibiting Redundant and Extralegal Programs (FAIR PREP) Act of 2025” in the header, but its substantive text addresses THC potency regulation.

Note: the supplied metadata contains conflicting or unrelated items (an initial, different bill title about MTA reports and a separate list of federal sponsors). This summary is based on the text of the bill amending chapter 94G.

Key provisions (what the bill would change)

The bill replaces clause (xxv) of subsection (a1/2) of section 4, chapter 94G, requiring regulators to adopt at‑minimum the following limits and prohibitions:

  • Marijuana flower: prohibition on flower products with potency exceeding 10% THC.
  • Inhalable marijuana concentrates (intended for vaporization/combustion):
    • Prohibited if a metered serving > 5 mg THC; or if the product’s potency exceeds 10%.
    • Concentrates must clearly provide metered or measured standard delivered servings of 5 mg THC.
    • Packages of concentrates may not exceed 20 metered/measured servings of 5 mg (i.e., max 100 mg THC per package under the package limit).
  • Prohibits any marijuana product with added sweeteners.
  • Prohibits marijuana products with a characterizing flavor where the primary use is human inhalation of gases/particles/vapors produced by combustion, electrical ignition, or vaporization.
  • Prohibits any inhalable cannabinoid product containing non‑cannabis‑derived substances, including non‑cannabis flavors, non‑cannabis terpenes, or chemicals that alter consistency/texture/viscosity.
  • Prohibits liquid marijuana products intended for oral consumption, except tinctures.
  • Prohibits components designed to strengthen the intoxicating psychological effects of any marijuana product.

Who would be affected

  • Licensed cannabis cultivators, processors, manufacturers, and retailers in Massachusetts (product formulations, packaging, and labeling would need to comply).
  • Consumers: availability of high‑potency flower and concentrates would be restricted; per‑serving dosing rules would change consumption options.
  • Massachusetts cannabis regulators (the agency implementing chapter 94G) must adopt regulations and enforce the statutory minimums.
  • Public health, enforcement, and testing labs (for potency verification and compliance testing).

Procedural status and timeline (as provided)

  • Introduced in Senate: Jan 15, 2025 (Senate Docket No. 2434).
  • Referred to committee(s): entries in the materials show referral to Cannabis Policy (2/27/2025) and other committee entries (Finance; Transportation) in the record that appear inconsistent.
  • Hearing scheduled (per supplied actions): May 7, 2025, 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM in B‑1.
  • Other actions noted: “Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance” (1/15/2025); “House concurred” (2/27/2025); accompanied a study order S2677 (10/30/2025). (These entries reflect the provided record but contain inconsistencies.)

Implementation and likely impacts

  • Regulators would need to promulgate rules aligning licensing and product standards to the statutory minima; enforcement would require testing protocols and labeling/packaging verification.
  • Market effects may include reformulation of concentrates/edibles, reduced availability of high‑potency flower and inhalable products, and potential economic impacts for licensees producing products now prohibited.
  • Public health outcomes could include reduced per‑serving THC exposure and narrower product types (particularly for inhalables), though impacts depend on regulator implementation and enforcement.

Notes / Caveats

  • The supplied file contains metadata and sponsor lists inconsistent with the bill text (e.g., a separate MTA reporting title and a list of federal sponsors). This summary is limited to and based on the Massachusetts bill text (chapter 94G amendment) filed as Senate No. 96 (Docket 2434) in the 194th General Court.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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