Question 8 - Law Proposed by Initiative Petition

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FAILED

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LIBERAL

BALLOT LANGUAGE

Do you approve of a law summarized below, on which no vote was taken by the Senate or the House of Representatives before May 6, 2026? 

The proposed law would change the type and amount of marijuana that may legally be possessed in Massachusetts by repealing the laws that legalize, regulate, and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana in Massachusetts. The proposed law would also permit persons 21 years of age and older to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana including no more than 5 grams in the form of concentrate, and to gift or transfer to another person 21 years of age and older 1 ounce or less of marijuana including no more than 5 grams in the form of concentrate. The proposed law would also impose a civil penalty of $100 and forfeiture of the marijuana for the possession of marijuana between the weight of 1 and 2 ounces. 

For persons 21 years of age and younger, the proposed law would make the possession of 2 ounces or less of marijuana a civil infraction subject to a $100 fine, forfeiture of the marijuana, completion of a drug awareness program and community service, and notification to their parents or legal guardian of the offense and penalties. 

The proposed law would allow currently licensed adult recreational marijuana businesses to apply on an expedited basis to become a licensed medical marijuana dispensary and to sell their remaining inventory of adult recreational marijuana to medical marijuana dispensaries. The proposed law would retain the Cannabis Control Commission but modify its authority so it would regulate only the medical marijuana market. 

The proposed law states that, if any of its parts were declared invalid, the other parts would stay in effect. 

The proposed law would take effect on January 1, 2028. 

A YES VOTE would prohibit the legalization, regulation, and taxation of the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana, and change the penalties for possession of marijuana. 

A NO VOTE would make no change to the law relative to marijuana. 

WHAT IT MEANS

Yes

A “Yes” vote would amend Massachusetts Statute to expand regulations on recreational marijuana.

No

A “No” vote would keep current Massachusetts Statute which establishes regulations on recreational marijuana. 

ARGUMENTS FOR AND AGAINST

Yes

"MEDICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, PARENTS, AND BUSINESS OWNERS URGE YES ON QUESTION 8

  • Question 8 would keep personal possession of marijuana legal, keep medical marijuana legal, and stop commercial marijuana stores
  • Since commercial legalization, marijuana is now the most common drug found in fatal car accidents in Massachusetts
  • 85% of marijuana users admit to driving after and over 50% drive within an hour or less 
  • Business owners have increased costs from higher rates of workplace injuries, increased healthcare costs, and higher turnover
  • For every $1 gained in tax revenue, taxpayers spend $4.50 to mitigate the effects of legalization from societal expenses including increased healthcare, lost productivity, and crime (like DUI's)
  • Modern concentrates and edibles have been linked to mental health conditions like psychosis, severe anxiety, and schizophrenia, particularly in young adults
  • As a result of commercial marijuana, ER visits in Massachusetts have drastically increased for teenagers with psychiatric conditions" - Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts  

No

"Vote NO on 8 to keep regulated recreational marijuana legal in Massachusetts. 

Voting NO on 8 protects: 

  • State and local budgets funding schools, housing, transportation, health care, and more 

  • 20,000 jobs across the Commonwealth 

  • Cannabis safety and consumer protections in our communities 

This November, Massachusetts voters will vote on a ballot question funded by wealthy out-of-state marijuana opponents that would repeal regulated recreational cannabis in Massachusetts and would pose an existential threat to the jobs and local revenue generated by the industry each year. 

The threat is real. The opposition is powerful, politically savvy, and has tens of millions of dollars at their disposal. We cannot take the future of cannabis — and the support it provides to our communities — in Massachusetts for granted. We must mobilize to stop the repeal." - Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation   

ENDORSEMENTS

Yes

Smart Approaches to Marijuana (Other)

American Family Association (Conservative)

Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts (Other)

Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana (Other)

No

National Association of Social Workers NASW (Liberal)

Ayanna Pressley (Liberal)

Marijuana Policy Project (Liberal)

Progressive Massachusetts (Liberal)

SEIU Massachusetts State Council (Liberal)

FINANCIAL BACKING

The following information provides insight into the money being spent to pass or defeat the ballot measure.

Yes

MASSACHUSETTS QUESTION 8, ELIMINATE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SALES AND ALLOW LIMITED POSSESSION INITIATIVE (2026)

This question is on the ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2026. As of October 6, 2026 the committees formed to support Massachusetts Question 8, Eliminate Recreational Marijuana Sales and Allow Limited Possession Initiative (2026) are:

COALITION FOR A HEALTHY MASSACHUSETTS, INC.

Selected contributions to: "Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, Inc." include:

  • Sam Action Inc.
  • Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana
  • Jeffrey Freudberg
  • Alexander Breen
  • Brian Kelly
  • James Hoffman
  • Thomas Connors

No

MASSACHUSETTS QUESTION 8, ELIMINATE RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA SALES AND ALLOW LIMITED POSSESSION INITIATIVE (2026)

This question is on the ballot in Massachusetts as an indirect initiated state statute on November 3, 2026. As of October 6, 2026 the committees formed to oppose Massachusetts Question 8, Eliminate Recreational Marijuana Sales and Allow Limited Possession Initiative (2026) are:

COMMITTEE TO PROTECT CANNABIS REGULATION

Selected contributions to: "Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation" include:

  • INSA
  • Ascend Wellness Holdings, LLC
  • Vireo Health
  • Evergreen Strategies, LLC
  • Retailers Association of Massachusetts
  • Theory Wellness
  • Green Tech Enterprises, Inc.
  • CFG Community Bank
  • Fernway Holdings, LLC
  • Jam Packaging

COMMITTEE FOR KEEP CANNABIS LEGAL, VOTE NO ON 8

Selected contributions to: "Committee for Keep Cannabis Legal, Vote No on 8" include:

  • New England Cannabis Convention
  • Numerical, Inc.
  • Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition
  • Kristin Rogers
  • The Shirt Factory
  • Custom Bag Distributing Company, Inc.
  • Lit Alerts
  • Kyle Crossley
  • Wyld
  • Alex Porter

COALITION FOR RESPONSIBLE CANNABIS POLICY

Selected contributions to: "Coalition for Responsible Cannabis Policy" include:

  • Diane Goldstein
  • Law Enforcement Action Partnership

DEMOCRATIC SOCIALISTS AGAINST REACTIONARY ROLLBACKS

Selected contributions to: "Democratic Socialists Against Reactionary Rollbacks" include:

  • James Del Bonis

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