Massachusetts Pot Repeal Question Awaits Signature Verification

I make no judgment about people who smoke marijuana, although I believe that there are many more productive ways to spend your time and money. It is your time and money, and recreational pot is legal in Massachusetts, so knock yourself out.

I was on the losing end of the 54 percent to 46 percent vote for legalization in 2016, and would vote to repeal in a heartbeat. I may get that opportunity.

Massachusetts Could Repeal Cannabis Legalization

Springfield-based WWLP 22News reported, "A proposed ballot question would undo cannabis legalization in the Bay State."

The ballot initiative, An Act to Restore Sensible Marijuana Policy, "seeks to end non-medical cannabis use in Massachusetts, effectively terminating the $1.6 billion industry and around 22,000 jobs," according to the station.

The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, the group behind the prohibition proposal, filed more than 76,000 signatures with Secretary of the Commonwealth William Galvin's office by the December 3 deadline.

Cannabus Business Times reported, "The campaign needed to submit at least 74,574 signatures that were certified by local election officials, with no more than 18,643 coming from an individual county."

"This means the campaign is cutting it close," according to CBT.

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The Coalition's Wendy Wakeman told 22News, "Massachusetts currently has a wild west culture with regard to marijuana use."

"We've seen an increase in motor vehicle accidents, we've seen an increase in mental health problems, we've seen an increase in addiction. All of them seem to stem from marijuana," Wakeman told the station.

Marijuana Health Benefits Questioned

The move to repeal comes as Fox News reported on a new UCLA study that says there is little proof to back claims of the health benefits of medical marijuana. Fox stated the report also raises safety concerns about the use of the drug.

"Daily inhaled cannabis use was also linked to increased risks of coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and stroke when compared with non-daily use," Fox reported.

What's Next

Galvin's office continues to review petition signatures to see if the repeal question can appear on the 2026 Massachusetts statewide ballot.

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