Massachusetts Pre-Roll Market Overview

Despite its small size, Massachusetts has quickly become one of the hottest states in the market for pre-rolls, ranking third in pre-roll sales over the past year with more than $317 million in pre-roll revenue.

Since the market opened in November 2018, the state has shown fairly consistent growth and racked up more than $1.2 billion (with a B) in total pre-roll sales. But like every state, the Massachusetts pre-roll market has its own nuances and local trends, some of which even buck the national trends.

So let’s dive into the numbers and trends, as well as the state’s regulatory framework, to make sure you know everything you need to know to compete in the exciting and expanding Massachusetts Pre-Roll market.

*All pre roll data was pulled from Headset.io, which is sourced from consumer transactions.

Table of Contents:

1. Massachusetts Pre-Rolls by the Numbers
2. Massachusetts Pre-Roll Market Share
3. Massachusetts Pre-Roll Price Trends
4. Massachusetts Pre-Roll Segment Trends
5. Top Massachusetts Pre-Roll Package Sizes
6. Top Massachusetts Pre-Roll Brands
7. New Pre Roll Products in Massachusetts
8. Massachusetts Pre Roll Predictions
9. Final Thoughts on the Massachusetts Pre Roll Market

Massachusetts Pre-Rolls by the Numbers

Over the 12 months beginning in December 2023 and ending in November 2024, Massachusetts consumers bought more than 32 million pre-roll units, totaling $317.4 million in sales, ranking third in the nation behind California and Michigan in pre-roll revenue.

Looking at the total number of units sold, pre-rolls take the top spot, accounting for 39% of all unit sales in the Bay State. That equates to a 19.5% market share by revenue, on average, behind only flower and vapes.

Massachusetts pre-roll sales reached an all-time high in August 2024, totaling $29.9 million on more than 3 million units sold. In November 2024, Massachusetts retailers sold 2.7 million pre-roll units, a 29% year-over-year increase over the 2.1 million sold in November 2023, reflecting steady growth in the category.

Massachusetts Pre-Roll Market Share

Massachusetts residents, like those in other states across the union, have embraced pre-rolls as an easy and convenient way to consume cannabis.

Over the past 12 months, pre-rolls have had an average market share (by revenue) of 19.5% in Massachusetts, behind only flower and vapes. And the pre-roll market only continues to grow. For example, in November 2023, pre-rolls had a market share of 18%. By November 2024, that reached 19.5%, with a peak of 20.6% in July 2024. Overall, the market share for pre-rolls has grown about 19% since Massachusetts began recreational sales.

Massachusetts Pre-Roll Price Trends

Pre-roll prices have been falling fairly consistently in Massachusetts since the market opened and the past 12 months were no exception.

The average equalized price per gram of a pre-roll in Massachusetts dropped from $9.24 in November 2024 to $7.95 in November 2024. That’s a 14% drop in the per-gram cost of a pre-roll.

In total, the average equalized price has dropped 49% from the $15.45 consumers were paying when the market opened.

The average item price of a pre-roll product has also dropped $10.99 to $9.31 in a year-over-year comparison.

Massachusetts Pre-Roll Segment Trends

Though similar to other markets in many ways, Massachusetts bucks the national trend when it comes to the state’s top pre-roll segment.

This past year, we noted in our “State of the Pre Roll Market 2024” white paper that the connoisseur/infused segment – which combines flower with a concentrate – became the top-selling one in the country, reflecting the trend among buyers to look for increased potency and flavor as well as the increased price point an infused pre-roll commands.

However, that is not the case in the Bay State.

In Massachusetts, the top-selling segment, by far, is Hybrid – Single Strain, though its dominance has waned over the past year as the infused segment has begun to grow. But for now, the Hybrid – Single Strain remains the top seller. In November 2024, the segment generated $13.8 million in sales, down from $14.5 in November 2023 and a peak of $17.1 million in August 2024.

At the same time, the infused segment more than doubled, from just less than $3 million in revenue in November 2023 to $6.1 million in November 2024, the segment’s best-selling month ever.

Indica – Single Strain and Sativa – Single Strain come in third and fourth place, respectively, each with about $2 million in sales with Mixed Strain pre-rolls rounding out the Top 5.

Top Massachusetts Pre-Roll Package Sizes

The 1-gram pre-roll package size continues to dominate the Massachusetts market, accounting for 63.7% of sales and a whopping 78.6% of units sold in the Bay State over the past year. The 1-gram package has an average price point of $8.09.

The popularity of the 1-gram pre-rolls can be attributed to their affordability and ease of use. They offer a single, pre-measured dose at a good price point that is perfect for individual or on-the go use, making them an ideal choice for both new and experienced users.

But the rising multi-pack trend is also showing life in the state, with the 2.5 gram and 3.5 gram packages coming in second and third in total sales. However, when it comes to total units sold, the half gram pre-roll places second.

A look at the top products in the state reflect the mix of single and multi-pack options we see in the package size numbers, as well as the trend toward infused products.

The top 10 pre-roll products by revenue in Massachusetts in the past 12 months are:

1. House Brand – Single Strain (1g)
2. No.9 Sunflower Collection - Doob Cube – Original Variety Pre-Roll 14 Pack (14g)
3. Happy Valley - Super Lemon Haze Pre-Roll (1g)
4. House Brand – Gators Pre-Roll 7-Pack (3.5g)
5. Baily’s Buds – Blue Dream x Sour Jack Pee-Roll 5-Pack (2.5g)
6. Happy Valley – White Wedding Pre-Roll (1g)
7. Simpler Daze – Fire Styxx – Midnight Berry Infused Pre-Roll (1g)
8. Simpler Daze – Fire Styxx – Unicorn tears THCA Infused Pre-Roll (1g)
9. Simpler Daze – Fire Styxx – Grape Escape THCA Infused Pre-Roll (1g)
10. Simpler Daze – Fire Styxx – Razzberry Diesel Infused Pre-Roll (1g)

Top Massachusetts Pre-Roll Brands

Like in most states that allow vertical integration, House Brands – pre-rolls released by the retailer under their own name – reign over the category in Massachusetts, accounting for 16.4% of revenue and 19% of unit sales. But several other brands have also established a foothold in the market.

Here are the Top 10 Pre-Roll Brands in Massachusetts:

1. House Brand
2. Happy Valley
3. Good Chemistry Nurseries
4. Simply Herb
5. Find.
6. Nature’s Heritage
7. No.9 Sunflower Collection
8. Dogwalkers
9. Fernway
10. Simpler Daze

New Pre Roll Products in Massachusetts

One way to see the strength of the Massachusetts pre-roll market is through the new products released in the category.

Massachusetts pre-roll manufacturers released 572 products at an average price of $8.85 in the 90 days prior to our data pull on Dec. 5. Going back 180 days, producers released a total of 1,194 products with an average price of $9.05.

Of those new products, the vast majority – 1,002 – are single gram (package size), with 2.5-gram packs coming in second at 237 new products. Half gram, 3.5 gram and 2 gram packages round out the Top 5.

Massachusetts Pre Roll Predictions

So what does the future hold for the Massachusetts pre roll segment?

After six full years of sales, the Massachusetts cannabis market is still showing growth, but is beginning to plateau, with total revenue for each of the past three years hovering around $1.5 billion. The stabilization is a sign of a more mature market beginning to reach its full potential.

Pre-roll revenue continues to grow but appears to be slowing as the market levels out and the average price of pre-rolls continues to drop. For example, the pre-roll sector grew 128% from 2020-2021 and 21% from 2021-2022 as the state’s industry continued rolling out licenses and establishing itself. However, 2023 only saw 8.6% growth, and this year, revenue will only increase by about 5-6% (final numbers for 2024 are not yet available).

The category market share also continues to increase. In 2023, pre-roll market share grew to 18.5%, a growth of 4%. This year, however, shows larger growth, with the market share reaching 19.5%, an increase of 5% over last year.

Given the continued overall growth in the pre-roll market, which saw record high market shares in 2024 both nationally and in Massachusetts, we see this trend only continuing. More than 61% of consumers list the joint as their favorite consumption method, and pre rolls are already one of the top add-ons at dispensaries. As pre-roll prices drop and the quality increases (as producers have higher quality flower to use in pre-rolls), we expect more and more consumers will add pre-rolls to their baskets as a convenient way to try new things.

Additionally, Massachusetts is on the verge of finally allowing consumption lounges, which was part of the state’s legalization law approved by voters in 2016. Once that goes into effect, we predict an increase in pre-roll sales as they are a perfect item to sell at consumption lounges.

With all this in mind, we expect to see similar revenue growth of about 5% for the pre-roll category in 2025. We see similar growth for the category’s market share in 2025, approximately 4-5%.

Additionally, we see the Connoisseur/Infused segment, which saw large gains this year in Massachusetts, continue to grow within the market. In 2023, infused pre-rolls surpassed the Hybrid- Single Strain segment to become the no. 1 pre-roll segment in the country by revenue. Though this has not happened yet in the Bay State, we are seeing continuing price drops in the segment consistent with a maturing market that has additional concentrates on hand to use in pre-rolls consistent with a maturing market that has additional concentrates on hand to use in pre-rolls.

According to our consumer survey, potency is still the top thing consumers look for in a pre-roll, followed by price. Because of that, as the price for higher-potency infused pre-rolls drop, we expect to see significant growth in the segment, leading eventually to infused pre-rolls becoming the top-selling segment in Massachusetts within a few years, at the latest.

Final Thoughts on the Massachusetts Pre Roll Market

Despite its small size, Massachusetts’ population ranks at No. 16 among the states with just more than 7 million residents, making it something of a powerhouse among the rec-legal states.

Competing in Massachusetts means not only producing top-quality cannabis, but top-quality pre-roll products as well. Contact the Pre-Roll Experts today to find out how Custom Cones USA can help set up your business for success, including top pre-roll machines like our made-for-cannabis industrial grinder, cone-filling machines, customizable packaging that will make your brand stand out and, of course, the highest-quality pre rolled cones available, always tested to the highest standards in the industry for microbials, pesticides and heavy metals to ensure that your pre-rolls are as clean as the flower you put in them.

Brian Beckley spent 20 years as an award-winning newspaper journalist and editor, covering cities on both coasts before becoming Managing Editor of Marijuana Venture magazine, where he covered all aspects of the cannabis industry for five years. In his role with the magazine, he spoke at numerous cannabis conferences and hosted several media panels. Brian joined Custom Cones USA as lead copywriter in 2023.