Press Release: 3/11/2026
Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission 2027 Budget Request Focuses on Testing, Public Awareness, Technology
March 10, 2026
Contact
Maryalice Curley
Director of Communications
857-292-4891
Neal McNamara
Press Secretary
857-507-0885
Commission shows how revenue from its regulation of the cannabis industry benefits taxpayers
WORCESTER—The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (Commission) has requested a $32.9 million appropriation for fiscal year 2027 to fund initiatives to enhance its regulation of the adult- and medical-use cannabis industries, which generate hundreds of millions in tax and fee revenue each year that funds programs ranging from substance abuse treatment to public school construction.
The Commission’s FY2027 request focuses on priorities including the rollout of social consumption licenses, establishing a standards laboratory to strengthen marijuana product testing, and upgrading software infrastructure to keep pace with the state’s fast-growing industry.
“Cannabis is now the largest agricultural commodity in Massachusetts and the adult-use cannabis market alone generated approximately $308 million in revenues for the Commonwealth in FY25,” Chair Shannon O’Brien said. “The industry is one of the largest and most complex in the Commonwealth with over 600 active adult-use Marijuana Establishments and 91 Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers operating across the state. That is why we are asking the Legislature to invest in our ability to meet growing regulatory challenges and help us educate consumers, improve quality testing of all products while protecting the nearly 15,000 jobs and broad economic impact of this industry.”
“As Commission Treasurer, I’m deeply committed to ensuring that every dollar entrusted to the Cannabis Control Commission strengthens public health, safety, and consumer trust,” said Commissioner Kimberly Roy. “To uphold these priorities, sustained and adequate funding is essential—not only to continue important initiatives like the Secret Shopper program, which tests products to confirm label accuracy, but also to expand open data access, modernize our IT infrastructure, and establish a state-run reference laboratory for confirmatory testing. Together, these investments will reinforce transparency, accountability, and consumer protection for Massachusetts residents.”
The Commission’s FY2027 request is about $13 million higher than the agency’s request in FY2026. More than half of that increase will go toward these top-line initiatives:
- $2.8 million to replace and upgrade IT outdated infrastructure, as recommended by the State Auditor and Office of the Inspector General
- $2.3 million to implement Social Consumption, including the addition of staff, staff training, and licensing IT improvements
- $1.5 million to fund a public awareness campaign about new Social Consumption businesses coming soon to Massachusetts
- $700,000 for a Standards Laboratory cannabis testing, which includes leasing lab space, equipment, and additional staffing
Commissioners and staff presented the FY2027 request to the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means at a hearing in Barnstable on Monday.
The funding increase would also pay for financial audits of licensees, third-party contracts to review and store background checks of licensees and registered agents, administrative costs related to ADA compliance, and a study of the Commission’s equity programs.
“The Commission’s budget has been flat over the past three fiscal years although our mandate and mission have continued to grow,” Executive Director Travis Ahern said. “We are hopeful that fiscal year 2027 will mark the end of deferring investment in our IT infrastructure and other critical initiatives to support the Commonwealth’s expanding cannabis market, which over the past three fiscal years has seen businesses increase 35 percent while tax and fee revenue has increased 17 percent.”
The Commission does not keep the tax, fee, and fine revenues generated by Marijuana Establishments. Excise tax revenue goes directly into the segregated Marijuana Relief Fund (MRF), which is allocated by the Governor and State Legislature as part of the annual state budget process, and cannabis sales tax revenue goes into the General Fund. Learn more about how adult-use cannabis tax revenue supports state and local government by reviewing the Commission’s “Cannabis Revenue Flow in Massachusetts” guide available on MassCannabisControl.com.
In FY2025, the industry generated nearly $300 million in sales and excise taxes, plus more than $20 million in licensing fees and fines with an operating budget of $19.8 million. Although the cannabis industry generates millions in revenue each year the Commission neither collects nor keeps any of it.
About 85 percent of the MRF is available for appropriation by the Legislature each fiscal year to support a range of programs. In FY2026, 76 percent of the fund went to the Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. The Commission typically receives about 9 percent of the MRF each fiscal year for its budget, with another 2 percent for the oversight of the Medical Use of Marijuana Program. The other 15 percent of the MRF supports the Executive Office of Economic Development’s Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, which offers grants to eligible businesses that have been disproportionately harmed by the War on Drugs.
Additional information is available by visiting MassCannabisControl.com, by contacting the Commission by phone (774-415-0200) or email (Commission@CCCMass.com), or following the agency on Facebook, X, and LinkedIn.