The Massachusetts attorney general’s office has confirmed it has been receiving complaints from the public about petitioners for a 2026 ballot initiative aimed at rolling back the state’s marijuana legalization law–with a growing number of people alleging that signature collectors are peddling misleading information about the proposal.
An employee in the Massachusetts Attorney-General Andrea Campbell’s(D) office said to MEDCAN24 Friday they were unable to comment on whether or not an investigation is underway.
They said that the office has received “complaints regarding this matter, but cannot confirm or deny any investigation.”
Staffer: “All petitions include the Attorney-General’s summary on the proposed law at the very top.” We strongly urge voters to read carefully the summary before signing any petition.
David O’Brien (CEO of Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association – MCBA), accused Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts – the group behind the repeal campaign – on Friday that they hired paid petitioners who used “deceptive methods to trick people into signing” their petitions.
O’Brien stated that “these out-of-state crews travel from state to State collecting signatures, but they are having difficulty finding Massachusetts residents who wish to repeal Massachusetts’ highly effective marijuana laws and destroy our successful cannabis industries.” It’s voter fraud and the people involved should be reporting it to their local council.
MEDCAN24 contacted a campaign representative for comment but he was not available immediately.
MCBA has received a wide range of reports about deceptive tactics used by paid petitioners to gather signatures, such as the use of fake cover letters and ballot measures in relation to affordable housing, same-day voting registration, etc.
Reddit posts from this week appear to demonstrate such tactics in action. Two petitioners sat at a desk with signs about voter registration and housing, but the poster said they were actually collecting signatures for a marijuana repeal initiative.
Signature baiters
byu/yanki2del inmassachusetts
In a statement, MCBA claimed that voters had reported “other misleading messages” including claims that the question would strengthen fentanyl-testing requirements for cannabis and increase buffer zones between schools and dispensaries.
Massachusetts voters have sounded the alarm about the situation on social media, sharing their own experiences with petitioners who seems to be misrepresenting the marijuana initiatives—in some cases spinning it as a way to protect youth from being criminalized over cannabis possession.
“Just wanted to give a heads up to *anyone* with any interest in the legal status of cannabis in Massachusetts. Earlier today while shopping I was presented with a signature form for ‘legislation to protect minors from being arrested while in position of 2 oz of cannabis or less,'” one Reddit post from last week says. I refused to sign the form after reading the line that stated the existing laws regarding cannabis were repealed.
The Attorney General’s office has emphasized that it is important to read the summary of their petition before signing, as this must be placed at the top. With her summary, she cleared last month the signature-gathering campaign.
One Reddit user posted on Wednesday that “they had a run-in with some fellows in the grocery store collecting signatures” for a ballot initiative “to end recreational marijuana sale.” They were “grossly misunderstanding what the ballot issue actually is, when they solicit people’s signatures.”
Another post described the experience of a user who was approached by an initiative that was designed to ensure “kids didn’t get sent to prison for minor marijuana offences.”
D.A.R.E. was displayed on a large sign. To keep children off drugs. It was clear to me that I had read the petition for marijuana criminalization again. “Be careful and read what you are signing.” They said.
The posts have received many replies, with people sharing their stories as well as advice about how to report this alleged illegal activity.
Meg Sanders CEO of Canna Provisions said that voters going to polls next Tuesday on Election Day, November 4, can expect to see signature gatherers at all polling stations in the state. Be aware of what you sign! Please take your time to read through the entire petition. Sign it only if the petition says what it claims.
This month, the marijuana repeal campaign said that it was “on track” in securing signatures needed to put the initiative on ballots. By December 3, they must submit at least 100,000 signatures.
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 keeping the patient’s access to the program for medical marijuana and continuing the lawful possession up to one ounce of recreational cannabis. Version A also contains language to cap the THC levels in medical marijuana. Version B omits this policy.
The campaign pursues the second initiative, but without a limit.
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 can continue to give cannabis without compensation.
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.
The right of adults to grow cannabis in their homes would be abolished.
Meanwhile, the head of Massachusetts’s marijuana regulatory agency recently suggested that the measure to effectively recriminalize recreational cannabis sales could imperil tax revenue that’s being used to support substance misuse treatment efforts and other public programs.
The proposal goes to the Legislature if enough initial signatures are valid. They have until 6 May to either enact the measure into law, or come up with a replacement. They must then collect 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. The legalization was approved by voters in 2016 and the sales started two years after. Over the last decade, the marijuana market has grown and evolved. As of August, Massachusetts officials reported more than $8 billion in adult-use marijuana sales.
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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.
The legislature’s Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy in August approved bills to provide employment protections for marijuana consumers and expand the state’s medical cannabis program, in part by adding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.
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. Two committees held separate hearings on psilocybin related measures.
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