Massachusetts’ campaign claims it has “on track” enough signatures for a ballot initiative in 2026 that will rollback key aspects of the legalization of marijuana use by adults. While some cannabis reformers are concerned about the alleged instances in which signature gatherers approached voters and gave them misleading information, before they signed petitions.
Wendy Wakeman told reporters that, about a month and a half after Massachusetts Attorney-General Joy Campbell certified the proposal for recriminalization to allow signature collection, the process “is going well.” They are working hard to gather 100,000 signatures in time for the deadline of December 3.
“It’s on track,” Wakeman told Cannabis Business Times, while acknowledging that the “whole process—the initiative petition process—isn’t easy.”
To be eligible for the ballot the campaign must submit 74,574 valid initial signatures. Interne, advocates of prohibition have calculated that they will need around 100,000 to be able to make the ballot. “There are two different processes for vetting the petitions or signature sheets,” so there is a cushion to cover those who may not qualify.
Wakeman said “the process at each step is politically motivated.” While voters overwhelmingly approved of legalization in 2016 at the polls, Wakeman argues that a large number of educators, health care professionals and parents are pushing for the reversal.
According to her, more and more people “feel the effects of increased marijuana consumption on quality of living, DUIs stops, increases in poisonings of children, pets, etc.” There’s a group who believe that marijuana legalization has been rushed and is not working for Massachusetts.
After the Attorney General’s office reviewed about 50 of the proposed ballot measures for 2026 it approved two versions that the recriminalization campaigns submitted.
The two versions would both eliminate the adult-use commercial market in the state, while maintaining access for patients under the medical marijuana program. Both also allow the lawful possession up to one ounce of recreational cannabis. Version A also contains language to cap the THC level in medical marijuana. Version B omits this policy.
Wakeman says that the campaign has chosen to pursue this initiative without any cap. We’re focused on a campaign that backs recreational pot stores, and homegrown recreational marijuana is legalized,” said Wakeman.
Under initiative—titled “An Act to Restore A Sensible Marijuana Policy”—adults 21 and older could still possess up to an ounce of cannabis, only five grams of which could be a marijuana concentrate product.
In the event that a person is found in possession of more than an ounce, but not two ounces or less, they will be subjected to a fine of $100. Adults may continue to exchange cannabis amongst themselves without payment.
The proposal would repeal provisions of the voter-approved state marijuana law which allow commercial cannabis retailers to operate and adults access to regulated product.
Also, the right for adults to cultivate marijuana at home will be removed.
Meg Sanders of Massachusetts’ Canna Provisions told Cannabis Business Times the legalization question in Massachusetts has been resolved.
She said: “I think the voters came out in 2016 to express exactly what they wanted, which was an adult-regulated market for cannabis.” I hope that we won’t need to answer this question again.
“I consider prohibitions in all their forms a threat. We must keep an eye on things and avoid assuming anything. Our customers will be informed. We will make them aware. Ask them to share it with their friends. It seems like there is no money behind the initiative. “We don’t know exactly who is behind this initiative, but I think that any threat to our freedom should be taken seriously.”
The editor-in-chief of Massachusetts marijuana news website Talking Joints Memo revealed on Tuesday that his friend was approached recently by someone allegedly gathering signatures for a campaign. He said the person mischaracterized the plan by suggesting the idea would “stop criminalizing pot once and for ever.”
Some others in the business responded with the same experiences. One person did mention that they had heard about recent cases where petitioners were collecting signatures to certify a ballot question that wasn’t certified.
MEDCAN24 contacted the campaign to get a comment. However, a representative wasn’t immediately available.
The head of Massachusetts’ marijuana regulatory agency suggested recently that the move to effectively criminalize recreational cannabis could threaten tax revenues that are used to fund substance abuse treatment programs and other public programmes.
If the number of valid signatures is sufficient, then the legislation will be notified. Lawmakers have until 6 May to pass the bill or suggest a different alternative. If not, then organizers need to gather 12,429 more valid voter signatures in order to get the measure onto the ballot.
It remains to be seen if the cannabis-related measures will make it through. In 2016, voters approved the legalization of cannabis, and sales began two years later. In the last decade the cannabis market has evolved and expanded. Massachusetts reported that adult-use cannabis sales exceeded $8 billion as of August.
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Regulators are also working to finalize rules to allow for a new cannabis consumption lounge license type, which they hope to complete by October.
Separately, in May CCC launched an online platform aimed at helping people find jobs, workplace training and networking opportunities in the state’s legal cannabis industry.
In August, the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy of the legislature approved legislation to protect marijuana users from discrimination in the workplace and to expand the medical cannabis program in the state. This was done by including post-traumatic disorder (PTSD), and opioid addiction disorder on the list.
State lawmakers have also been considering setting tighter restrictions on intoxicating hemp-derived products and a plan to allow individual entities to control a larger number of cannabis establishments.
Also in Massachusetts, legislators who were working on a state budget butted heads with CCC officials, who’ve said they can’t make critical technology improvements without more money from the legislature.
Meanwhile, Massachusetts lawmakers recently approved a bill to establish a pilot program for the regulated therapeutic use of psychedelics. Separately, two committees conducted hearings for the discussion of additional measures related to psilocybin.
Side Pocket Images. Photo by Chris Wallis.
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