A campaign seeking to dismantle Massachusetts’ recreational marijuana program says it’s secured enough signatures to put the issue before voters in November 2026, setting the stage for a major statewide fight over the future of the industry.
The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts began gathering signatures in September after State Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell cleared the measure for circulation. Supporters had until November 19 to collect at least 74,574 signatures from registered voters for local verification ahead of the December deadline.
Coalition spokesperson Wendy Wakeman told Cannabis Business Times “The committee is confident it has submitted enough signatures to put the question on the ballot”.
The campaign has drawn heavy criticism from industry leaders. Last month the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) accused petition circulators of misleading residents, claiming that out-of-state contractors were disguising the repeal petition with unrelated cover sheets to secure signatures.
MCBA President David O’Brien called it “voter fraud” and urged residents to report the activity. Wakeman has denied any wrongdoing, saying the individuals shown in circulated photos were volunteers not tied to the committee. She said paid gatherers are trained to accurately describe the proposal.
The initiative, titled An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy, would eliminate the recreational cannabis program approved by voters in 2016. If approved by voters, the proposal would effectively end home cultivation and shutting down licensed adult-use stores. Adults 21 and older would lose access to regulated marijuana products unless they qualify for the medical program, which would remain unaffected.
Repeal would unwind an industry that has become a major economic driver. Since adult-use sales began in late 2018, Massachusetts consumers have purchased over $10 billion worth of marijuana products, generating nearly $1.5 billion in state tax revenue and supporting tens of thousands of jobs.
Efforts to roll back legalization run directly against strong public sentiment. Polling from last year found overwhelming approval of the current law, with 79% of voters saying legalization has benefited the state. 65% said voters made the right decision in 2016, compared to just 22% who believe it was the wrong choice.
Voters also gave high marks to the state’s regulatory system. Asked how well Massachusetts has managed legal marijuana sales, 20% rated the system as “Excellent,” 39% called it “Good,” and another 20% said it’s “Fair.” Only 9% described the rollout as “Poor,” underscoring how limited the appetite is for a full repeal.
Even if the 2026 measure succeeds, possession of small amounts would remain decriminalized.
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