The top elected official in Massachusetts told her constituents on Sunday to vote against a Nov. 3, 2026, ballot measure that would repeal the state’s adult-use cannabis laws that voters approved nearly 10 years ago.
Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, who’s up for reelection, told Boston-based WCVB TV’s “On the Record” Oct. 4 that she plans to vote against the prohibitionist proposal and urged her fellow Bay Staters to do the same.
“I’d vote no,” Healey said. “We’ve got to keep recreational marijuana here in Massachusetts. It’s an important industry, the cannabis industry, and I hope the voters keep cannabis.”
Massachusetts was the first state east of Colorado to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2016. Since then, neighboring states Vermont, Maine, New York, Connecticut and Rhode Island have done the same.
Healy’s remarks come as she’s a 54%-38% favorite to win reelection over Republican nominee Michael Minogue, according to a Bay State Poll of likely voters, which the University of New Hampshire conducted Sept. 17-21.
That same poll found that 71% of Massachusetts voters plan to join the governor in opposing the anti-cannabis measure, while 24% plan to support it. The measure will appear as Question 8 on the statewide ballot.
Minogue also commented on Question 8 during his campaign trail, saying it’s “too late to repeal” the state’s legalization laws, the Union-Bulletin reported last week.
The proposed statute, “An Act to Restore Sensible Marijuana Policy,” would outlaw adult-use dispensary sales and further dismantle the state’s entire marketplace for those 21 and older by repealing chapters 94G (regulations) and 64N (taxes) of the state’s General Laws. The former chapter includes the right of adults 21 years and older to cultivate up to six cannabis plants at home for personal use.
The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts Inc., the political committee behind the repeal measure, is primarily funded by the prohibitionist group Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM) Action Inc., which has contributed more than $3.2 million toward the campaign, according to finance disclosure reports.
While the prohibitionist ballot measure wouldn’t recriminalize adults 21 and older for possession up to 1 ounce of cannabis, the proposed statute would make possessing between 1 and 2 ounces a civil penalty. This would backtrack on legislation that Healey signed in April to double the state’s purchase and possession limits to 2 ounces.
“The cannabis industry is an important part of [the] Massachusetts economy – supporting jobs and local businesses and generating revenue for cities and towns,” Healey said in a joint statement with lawmakers at the time. “It’s important that we are doing everything we can to make sure this industry is set up for success and that we remain competitive in this fast-growing market.”
Since Massachusetts commenced adult-use dispensary sales in December 2018, licensed retailers have recorded more than $10 billion in sales, providing roughly $1.7 billion in tax revenue to the state and supporting some 27,000 industry workers.
The main political committee opposing the ballot measure is the “No on 8: Stop the Repeal” campaign, which has drawn endorsements from Belushi’s Farm founder Jim Belushi, the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Massachusetts State Council in recent weeks.
The Stop the Repeal campaign also launched its first two ads aimed at defeating the measure last week.
“Over the last 10 years, legal cannabis has had an immense positive impact on our state and local economies, creating jobs and generating billions in tax revenue. These ads will help voters to understand how repealing highly-regulated adult-use cannabis will have a deep effect on Massachusetts communities and our state economy,” Stop the Repeal Chairperson Ryan Dominguez said. “Massachusetts voters made their voices clear when they chose to legalize marijuana, and we cannot allow out-of-state groups to come into the commonwealth and repeal this law. We are grateful for all the support we have received from our regional leaders, public health officials, law enforcement, small business owners and advocates.”
