Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Receives Complaints Over Alleged Deceptive Tactics by Anti-Marijuana Petitioners

Public Alleges Signature Collectors Misled Voters About 2026 Marijuana Ballot Initiative

The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has confirmed that it has received multiple public complaints regarding petitioners gathering signatures for a 2026 ballot initiative that seeks to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law.

According to a staffer for Attorney General Andrea Campbell (D), while the office can confirm receipt of these complaints, it cannot discuss the existence or progress of any potential investigations.

“The Office has received complaints regarding this issue, but we cannot confirm, deny, or comment upon any investigations,” the spokesperson told Marijuana Moment on Friday.

Officials further reminded voters that every petition must include the Attorney General’s official summary of the proposed law at the top of the signature sheet.

“We strongly encourage voters to carefully read the summary of any proposed law before deciding whether to sign,” the office advised.

Cannabis Industry Leaders Accuse Petitioners of Using “Deceptive Tactics”

David O’Brien, CEO of the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), publicly accused the campaign behind the repeal initiative—the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts of employing paid signature gatherers who allegedly use misleading tactics to solicit voter support.

The campaign behind the repeal effort did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Reports Describe Petitioners Misrepresenting Ballot Purpose

Reports collected by MCBA describe a range of allegedly deceptive practices, including the use of fake cover letters and misleading signage promoting unrelated causes such as affordable housing and same-day voter registration.

One Reddit post showed petitioners sitting at a table advertising voter registration while actually collecting signatures for the marijuana repeal initiative.

Other alleged misrepresentations include claims that the measure would expand fentanyl testing requirements, increase dispensary buffer zones, or protect minors from criminalization—when, in fact, the initiative seeks to recriminalize recreational cannabis sales.

Voters Warned to “Read Before Signing” Amid Social Media Uproar

Several voters have taken to social media to warn others about the misleading tactics. One Reddit user wrote:

“I was told the petition would protect minors from being arrested for cannabis possession, but when I read the first line, it clearly said the current laws would be repealed. I refused to sign.”

Another user shared that petitioners near a grocery store misrepresented the initiative as one “to make sure kids didn’t go to jail for minor marijuana offenses.”

“Big sign behind him that read D.A.R.E. to keep kids off drugs,” the post said. “When I read it, it was clearly the petition to criminalize marijuana again. Stay sharp and know what you’re signing!”

Officials Urge Caution as Petitioners Target Polling Places

As Election Day approaches, industry leaders expect petitioners to be active outside polling locations across Massachusetts.

Ballot Initiative Details: Rolling Back Recreational Marijuana

The repeal campaign is working to collect 100,000 valid signatures by December 3 to qualify for the 2026 ballot.

The Attorney General’s Office has already approved two versions of the measure:

• Version A would eliminate recreational sales and cap THC content in medical cannabis.
  
• Version B would remove commercial sales but omit the THC limit—the version the campaign is now pursuing.
  

The proposal, titled “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” would:

• Allow adults 21+ to possess up to one ounce of cannabis.
  
• Decriminalize possession of one to two ounces with a $100 civil fine.
  
• Repeal home cultivation rights and all commercial cannabis sales.
  
• Maintain medical cannabis access for registered patients.
  

Economic and Public Health Concerns Emerge

The Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) has warned that repealing the commercial marijuana system could jeopardize tax revenues that currently support substance misuse programs and community development.

Since the first sales launched in 2018, Massachusetts has generated over $8 billion in adult-use marijuana sales as of August 2025.

Legislative Review and Potential Ballot Placement

If enough signatures are validated, the measure will go to the state legislature by May 6, where lawmakers can:

1. Enact the proposal as law,
   
2. Offer an alternative, or
   
3. Decline action, forcing organizers to gather an additional 12,429 signatures to place it on the 2026 ballot.
   

The outcome could dramatically reshape Massachusetts’s cannabis landscape, potentially undoing nearly a decade of legalization progress.

Broader Cannabis Policy Landscape in Massachusetts

While the repeal effort stirs controversy, state regulators continue working on new consumption lounge rules, employment protections for cannabis users, and expanded medical access for conditions like PTSD and opioid use disorder.

Lawmakers are also debating measures to regulate intoxicating hemp-derived products and fund technological upgrades for the Cannabis Control Commission.

In parallel, Massachusetts is exploring psychedelics policy reform, with a newly approved pilot program for therapeutic psilocybin use and multiple bills under committee review.