The Industry Speaks: Massachusetts Cannabis Stakeholders Reflect On 2024

From price compression, market saturation, and closures, to straight prerolls galore and a “massive influx of live rosin”


Though we aren’t looking to dwell too much on the past, we have done the requisite year-end roundups at Talking Joints Memo, including our list of the Biggest Massachusetts Cannabis Stories of 2024. But while the coverage that seeded that compendium relied on input from folks in the commonwealth weed world, we also wanted to ask people directly about what they have seen from their industry vantage points over the past 12 months.

Our specific questions: From your perspective in the industry, what has been the most important Massachusetts cannabis news story of 2024 and why? And, What if any product or retail trends did you see as coming on strong in 2024? And how might that trend grow or expand in the new year and beyond? Below, you’ll find the responses from what was by many means a wild year for Massachusetts marijuana.

There’s just one thing before we proceed—we didn’t get as much feedback as we wanted. Nor did we get nearly as diverse a pool of respondents as we hoped for. Our job isn’t done though, and we’re still wrangling comments for our upcoming look ahead feature. If you’re a direct industry stakeholder or even a consumer who pays close attention and would like to weigh in, then please email us your prediction about Massachusetts cannabis in 2025 to editorial@talkingjointsmemo.com by midnight on New Year’s Eve.

And of course, happy holidays from the crew at Talking Joints Memo.

Jeff Barton of Bountiful Farms 

On biggest stories: Market correction: the impacts of over-supply, along with the density of dispensaries in some areas, has continued to drive prices down to unsustainable levels—driving both producers and retailers out of business. As cash flow has become increasingly strained, the ripple effect of retailers not paying their wholesale bills has snowballed across the industry. This trend of cutbacks and closures is expected to accelerate in 2025.

On product trends: While still a relatively small percentage of the cannabis market, live rosin sales have grown 75% over the past year. That trend will continue and we will see live rosin eclipse sales of all other concentrates in 2025.

Carl Giannone of Trade Roots

On product trends: As price compression continues (due to both industry specific and macroeconomic pressures), retailers and delivery operators should maintain their trend of buying bulk flower and repackaging it, making it more challenging for pre-packaged branded product to earn shelf space. 

Emilie Koza of Good Feels

On biggest stories: The regulatory clarity surrounding tinctures, spearheaded by Jason Reposa. This clarification has been crucial in helping both producers and consumers better understand the legal landscape and how tinctures should be marketed and used. With this increased clarity, we’ve seen a smoother path for product development, marketing, and distribution, which is essential as the market continues to evolve. It’s a game-changer for cannabis companies, like Good Vibes, as it opens up more opportunities to innovate and expand our product offerings.

On product trends: The innovation of 500mg and 1,000mg products is quickly becoming a trend and has revitalized the tincture category for so many stores this year. These higher-dose options are giving consumers more affordable choices and are meeting the needs of those requiring stronger products. As we move into 2025, the tincture category could become the biggest it’s ever been in Massachusetts, with these higher-dose options leading the way. This shift is not just about more potency, but about offering consumers products that fit their specific needs at a better value.

Mike Fantasia of Cannabis Management Solutions

On product trends: We witnessed craft cannabis begin to shift into the number one spot. Though we are still a value market, seeing new craft brands such as Fresh Connection and Cannalive Genetics blow up the way they did leaves me with hope for the future of craft cannabis in Massachusetts.

Nico La Guerre-Mercury of Temple Hill Collective

On biggest stories: Lab testing inflation. I say this because it has impacted every part of the market as it has developed. Growers are looking towards new labs. Buyers are switching sources of product plus what they look for as a standard. Packaging and information is slowly changing—with a bit more terpene information (hopefully not the next issue) being focused on. Consumers are learning about remediation and inaccurate information—which may encourage them to switch their purchasing process. This in turn changes what the market produces based off pure sales statistics. Finally, general trust in the CCC is impacted—isn’t legal cannabis meant to be trustworthy?—and harmed in the long term. I believe this will continue to snowball into all parts of the market throughout 2025.

On product trends: Massive influx of rosin plus “high end / luxury” concentrates and products. After speaking with many retail locations and individuals, it is clear that concentrates are catching on. Lower flower prices and an influx of material has made concentrates far more viable. Furthermore, consumers are more willing to learn and discover new SKUs, which makes room for these products in the market. In my opinion, this influx could have longterm issues similar to the flower market for brands unwilling to stand out / do better in the community. I’m sure we will also see larger brands trying to pump out “low-cost rosin” (or new SKUs under different names) over the next year.

Holly Alberti of Holla Mgmt

On biggest stories: Most important would be the drastic adjustment to the market in the last few years—we continue to see record sales in the state, but yet several cannabis businesses are downsizing, or shutting down their operations in Massachusetts all together. Plus we still have several licenses that are not yet open and operational and more possible licenses to approve in the future. What will happen with continued saturation and how will that oversupply and adjust the demand? A story of basic economics.

On product trends: We did see many brands and retailers repackaging/rebranding to appeal to different or broader demographics. I think we will continue to see brands do this in an effort to appeal to a more specific consumer or adjusting based on market feedback and refinement. I feel like the trend of infused prerolls—flavored up with all sorts of flavors and sprinkled with concentrate—will continue to be a trend from the flower brands, continuing to play into the high THC chasing consumer. 

Additional cannabinoid or ratio’d products, especially in the edibles category, will continue to grow as the consumer learns there is more than just THC. I believe we will see some alternative form function such as dual vaporizer cartridges, mixing multiple strains into one stream or a strain for the day and one for the night contained in the same hardware. As well as the ever expansion of beverages and perhaps more adoption of tinctures as more use this delivery to package their products.

Derek D’Ambrosio of Packs and Erva

On biggest stories: The dip in cannabis sales across Massachusetts, as highlighted in Benzinga’s article “Why Cannabis Sales Are Down in Massachusetts and New Mexico: The Numbers Behind the Dip,” was one of the most significant stories this year. It’s a clear sign that the market is maturing, and with that comes competition and the need for brands to innovate and deliver real value to consumers. For us at Erva, it’s been an opportunity to lean into what we do best—offering high-quality wellness products like our Night Tinctures and Day Capsules, which meet specific customer needs.

On product trends: Wellness continues to drive consumer interest, but I’ve also noticed strong demand for convenience and innovation. One standout has been disposable vape devices, and through Bodell’s Manufacturing—our manufacturing division—we’ve been producing advanced dual- and triple-chamber vapes for several brands here in Massachusetts. These devices have been a hit because they give consumers options and versatility in a sleek package.

Mike Whittaker of The Weedaker Group

On biggest stories: The regulatory reform of the delivery licenses. These changes finally created a financially stable business model for delivery license holders in the commonwealth. 

On product trends: I think we are starting to see the end of cones. Straight prerolls just burn consistently better especially with fresh product.

Nathan Girard of Bloom Brothers, Lit Alerts, and CannaVersions

On biggest stories: The CCC and the dumpster fire they truly are. They can’t seem to get out of their own way and it truly impacts the industry as a whole. They have lawsuits, executive directors not taking jobs, interim directors getting fired, directors getting fired, and worse off, the entire CCC is a reflection of those at the top. I have had direct conversations with my state representatives in the Berkshires and even they are concerned about the agency as a whole and the recommendations are receivership or worse disbandment. The CCC is an agency on fire and if I was part of it I would get as far away as possible before it taints my resume.

On product trends: The retail trends I most often see is that a race to the bottom benefits absolutely no one. Not even the consumers because their expectations are now the cheapest weed and in almost every industry you get what you pay for. Don’t get me wrong, once in a while I enjoyed a Boone’s Farm [cheap fruit wine] when I was in college because it was $2 a bottle, but come on you can’t drink nothing but sugar booze and expect to enjoy your outing. The race to the bottom has done irreparable harm to the Mass industry and I hope the retailers can work their way out of it because margin is what keeps us in business.

Yasha Kahn of MCR Labs

On biggest stories: The sale of contaminated products in the Massachusetts market and the inaction of regulators has been the biggest story. It has been written about in local and national journals and is a problem affecting public health and the health of industry employees, and the profitability of the legal industry. When regulators discuss this problem openly yet do nothing to address it, journalists see clearly that the agency overseeing cannabis is not functional.