The two main campaigns battling over the future of recreational marijuana sales in Massachusetts have collectively raised more than $5 million and spent approximately $4.82 million in 2026, according to newly filed state campaign finance reports. The latest disclosures show spending accelerating dramatically as voters prepare to decide Question 8 on November 3.
Reports filed October 20 with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance bring the campaigns’ combined fundraising total for the year to $5,019,677, with expenditures reaching $4,815,077. More than half of that spending occurred during the most recent two-week reporting period, when the campaigns spent a combined $2,519,512 between October 2 and October 15.
The Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation, which operates the No on 8: Stop the Repeal campaign and is working to preserve legal recreational marijuana sales, has raised approximately $2.79 million in 2026 while spending $2.63 million. The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, which supports Question 8 and seeks to repeal recreational marijuana retail sales, has raised $2.23 million this year and spent $2.19 million.
That gives opponents of repeal a fundraising advantage of approximately $556,000 in 2026, although the repeal campaign maintains an overall fundraising lead when contributions from previous years are included. The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts raised $1.55 million in 2025, bringing its combined fundraising total across both years to approximately $3.78 million.
The most recent reporting period saw particularly aggressive spending by the campaign defending legalization. Between October 2 and October 15, the Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation raised $608,045 while spending $1,592,340, reducing its available cash from $1,153,610 to just $169,314.
The repeal campaign reported $250,210 in contributions and $927,172 in expenditures during the same period. Its cash balance declined from $831,945 to $154,983, leaving the two main campaigns with a combined $324,297 remaining as of October 15.
Together, the committees spent nearly three times as much as they raised during the latest reporting period, which brought in $858,255 in contributions. Their combined expenditures during those 14 days accounted for approximately 52% of everything they have spent in 2026.
The totals do not include contributions or spending by smaller organizations involved in the ballot fight, including the Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Policy, a separate committee opposing repeal that has reported raising $150,100.
Question 8 would eliminate Massachusetts’ regulated recreational marijuana retail market while preserving the state’s medical marijuana program. Adults 21 and older would remain allowed to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, subject to additional restrictions, but businesses would no longer be authorized to sell marijuana for recreational purposes.
If approved by voters on November 3, the repeal would take effect January 1, 2028. A no vote would maintain the state’s existing recreational marijuana legalization framework, which voters originally approved in 2016.
