The Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association has made accusations of “organized voter fraud” in relation to potential cannabis ballot initiatives for the state.
Massachusetts residents voted in favor of a ballot question that decriminalized the possession, sale, use, and cultivation of recreational cannabis in 2016.
But the Massachusetts Alter Marijuana Regulation Laws Initiative (2026) in relation to the “Act To Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy” seeks to repeal laws permitting sale of recreational marijuana and home growing cannabis.
According to the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association there have been reports instances of fraudulent activity on related petitions such as fake cover sheets for unrelated petitions and misrepresenting the nature of ballot questions.
David O’Brien, President and CEO of Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association, pointed his finger at for-hire, out-of-state “signature crews”.
“These out of state crews go from state to state collecting signatures and clearly they’re having trouble here in Massachusetts finding people who want to repeal our highly effective cannabis laws and kill our successful cannabis industry,” he said. “This is voter fraud that people should report to their local town hall.”
The Association says that since recreational marijuana sales began in Massachusetts in 2018, close to $2 billion in revenue has been generated for the state by taxes. This provides funding for a range of programs across the state, including programs related to public health, education, law and public safety.
Massachusetts’ Attorney General announced in September that the initiative to repeal the laws had been cleared; meaning gathering signatures could begin.
Petitioners must collect 74,574 signatures, which need to be filed with the Secretary of State’s Office by the first Wednesday in December. The measure is then sent to the Legislature in January next year, which can pass the measure, propose a substitute, or take no action.
In the case of the latter, the petitioner must then collect 12,429 more signatures. Assuming that’s achieved and verified, the measure is then placed on the ballot for the next statewide general election.
If the issue should make it to the ballot, a simple majority vote is required for voter approval; but affirmative votes cast for the measure need to be greater than 30% of the votes cast in the election.
