Massachusetts has built a billion-dollar recreational cannabis industry since voters approved legalization in 2016. The market has generated nearly $1.5 billion in state tax revenue and supports over 27,000 jobs. But a new ballot initiative, “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” threatens to dismantle this entire Massachusetts cannabis industry, and reports are surfacing that its supporters are using deceptive tactics to gather the necessary signatures.
This effort, led by the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, aims to get a question on the 2026 ballot that would effectively end legal, adult-use cannabis sales in the state. While the act would still decriminalize possessing small amounts of cannabis, it would eliminate the commercial dispensaries, cultivators, and manufacturers that residents have come to rely on.
As petitioners work to meet their signature deadline, more voters allege the campaign misled them, raising serious questions about its integrity.
A “Sensible” Policy or a Step Backward?
The proposed act seeks to reverse the will of the 54% of voters who legalized recreational marijuana eight years ago. If passed, the act would outlaw the state’s licensed commercial marketplace, including all cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensary sales.
While the state’s medical cannabis program would remain, the recreational market, which accounts for over 90% of sales and generated $1.6 billion in 2023, would vanish.
The economic impact would be immediate. The state’s 10.75% cannabis excise tax, which funds substance abuse treatment programs and regulatory oversight, would disappear. Tens of thousands of jobs would be lost, and the state would forfeit a significant stream of revenue.
Proponents of the initiative, like spokesperson Wendy Wakeman, argue that legalization has failed to eliminate the illicit market. However, opponents contend that dismantling the regulated system would only strengthen the underground market, exposing consumers to untested and potentially unsafe products.
A 2024 MassINC Polling Group survey found that 65% of Massachusetts residents believe legalizing recreational marijuana was a good decision, suggesting the petition is out of step with public opinion.
Widespread Reports of Deceptive Tactics Against Massachusetts Cannabis Industry
As the December 3rd deadline to collect 74,574 valid signatures approaches, reports of misleading and fraudulent behavior by signature gatherers have emerged across the state. Signature gatherers tricked voters from Medford to Wilmington and beyond into signing the anti-cannabis petition.
The Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) has accused the campaign of committing “organized voter fraud,” pointing to numerous personal accounts on social media and independent reporting.
According to these reports, signature gatherers are using “bait-and-switch” tactics, often approaching voters with petitions for popular issues like affordable housing or same-day voter registration, only to have them unknowingly sign the cannabis repeal petition.
Janice Hagerman, a voter from Somerville, told Boston.com that a petitioner simply asked her to sign a petition “to put marijuana on the ballot,” without explaining that it was an effort to end legalization. In other instances, the deception has been more elaborate. For example, one Reddit user reported a signature gatherer in Wilmington claiming the petition was to prevent kids from going to jail for minor marijuana offenses.
Josh Wallis, a Boston-area tattoo artist, told MJBizDaily that he encountered a petitioner outside a supermarket in Medford who claimed the initiative was to “get fentanyl off the streets.” After realizing the petition’s true purpose, Wallis filed complaints with local law enforcement and the state’s Election Division. These tactics have been reported in numerous towns, including Burlington, Waltham, Chicopee, and Brockton.
A Coordinated Campaign of Misinformation
The petitioners’ alleged strategy appears designed to confuse and mislead voters. David O’Brien, president and CEO of the MCBA, has been vocal in his condemnation, stating that “unscrupulous signature contractors” are lying to people to get them to sign. “This is voter fraud that people should report to their local town hall,” O’Brien said.
When confronted with these allegations, campaign spokesperson Wendy Wakeman has dismissed them as “baseless charges” and attributed them to the initiative’s success.
However, she claimed that the signature gatherers are volunteers not affiliated with the official campaign and insisted the committee does not support misrepresenting the petition. “When you sign a petition, you should read what you’re signing,” Wakeman stated.
However, O’Brien and other critics argue the campaign is responsible for ensuring its representatives, whether paid or volunteer, are not lying to voters.
The state Election Division notes that signature gathering is a protected free speech activity, but the widespread and consistent nature of these reports suggests a troubling pattern that undermines the democratic process.
Protecting Your Signature and the Legal Market
The effort to repeal recreational cannabis in Massachusetts is facing serious accusations of voter manipulation. By misrepresenting the petition’s true intent, campaigners are not just threatening a thriving industry; they are eroding the public’s trust.
The legal cannabis market provides regulated, tested products, creates jobs, and generates essential tax revenue that benefits the entire state. Forcing consumers back to an unregulated illicit market is a significant step backward.
Fortunately, voters who feel misled into signing the petition can take action. The MCBA urges anyone who believes they were deceived to contact their local town clerk and ask to have their signature excluded from certification.
Therefore, as this campaign continues, it is crucial for voters to remain vigilant, read what they are signing, and report any deceptive practices they encounter. The future of the Massachusetts cannabis industry depends on it.
