Vote “No” On Question 8 to Stop the Cannabis Repeal in Massachusetts

The adult-use cannabis industry’s very existence is under threat in Massachusetts this election. On the ballot on November 3rd, 2026, Question 8 will let voters decide whether to repeal recreational marijuana sales. 

You may think that sounds too far-fetched to ever happen. But the campaign against recreational cannabis is backed by millions of dollars from out-of-state organizations like SAM Action Inc. and Americans Against Legalizing Marijuana. 

This is not the election to ignore or assume will turn out in our favor. My clients’ businesses, my own CPA consulting business, and hundreds of other cannabis businesses in the state are at risk of disappearing if Massachusetts repeals the law. If you run a cannabis business that operates in Massachusetts, here is what you need to know about the cannabis repeal. 

What Is Question 8 in Massachusetts? 

Also known as the “Prohibit Retail Sale of Adult Recreational Use Marijuana,” Question 8 is a citizen-initiated ballot measure that would amend the legalization of adult-use marijuana. 

If the initiative passes, it would ban the sale, regulation, and taxation of recreational marijuana, and would repeal the permit allowing personal cultivation at home. Never mind the $2 billion in tax revenue collected since 2016 and the 20,000 jobs the industry has created. 

It is puzzling to those of us involved in the industry, knowing that cannabis excise tax now brings in nearly double what alcohol taxes do. If Question 8 passes, Massachusetts will become the first state in the U.S. to reverse recreational cannabis legalization. 

Why Are People Trying to Repeal Cannabis in MA? 

Some people may not see the benefits the industry has brought to our state. But misinformation and dishonest campaigning are also abundant this election cycle. Anti-cannabis organizations claim that adult-use marijuana has led to increases in adolescent use. In actuality, teenage use fell by nearly half between 2019 and 2023 in Massachusetts. 

The repeal’s primary funder, SAM Inc., has opposed legalization in numerous states and helped block it in Ohio in 2015. SAM is also staging similar campaigns in Maine and Arizona. This is not a local grassroots movement against cannabis, and the organization has allegedly paid signature-gatherers, telling them that the petition concerned fentanyl, affordable housing, or public parks. 

Concerns about driving under the influence and adolescent use are understandable. But these issues should (and can) be addressed by expanding legalization and initiatives, not eliminating it. Shifting production and distribution underground will lead to dangerous, untested products and disputes often resolved with violence. We need to protect safe, legal jobs and productive tax revenue that the cannabis industry creates. 

Should I Vote “No” or “Yes” to Keep Cannabis Sales Legal?  

The ballot question is a little confusing. If you are pro-cannabis sales, you want to vote no against the repeal. While you may say “Yes” to cannabis in your mind and heart, a “No” on the ballot is how you can save the industry in Massachusetts. 

This is an unprecedented election in Massachusetts with nine questions on the ballot. There is a lot of information to parse through before getting to the polls, and the questions are often wordy and full of double negatives. 

What Will Happen If Question 8 Passes? 

If the repeal passes, existing dispensaries in Massachusetts would have a two-year window to either close their doors or apply for an expedited medical marijuana license. 

But Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers pay a $50,000 annual license fee, which is five times the $10,000 annual fee charged for common adult-use licenses, including brick-and-mortar retailers, product manufacturers, delivery operators, and independent testing laboratories.

Massachusetts’ medical cannabis market is less than 10 percent of the recreational cannabis market. Even if some dispensaries can pivot, the current number of businesses cannot be sustained by medical sales alone. 

Moreover, the repeal would revoke social equity programs designed to help people harmed by prohibition before 2016. The repeal would disproportionately harm equity-owned businesses, many of which lack a viable route into the medical market. It would also remove the adult-use tax and licensing revenue that funds the Cannabis Social Equity Trust, eliminating grants, loans, and technical support pathways. 

Would Cannabis Businesses Lose Their Licenses? 

Yes, adult-use licenses would lose their legal basis if the statute is repealed. If that happens, operators should speak to counsel about conversion options. 

What Can I Do to Help? 

We cannot assume that the repeal will never happen. If people do not show up to the polls, there is a very real chance our industry in Massachusetts could be extinguished. 

We need to show these organizations that Massachusetts does not want to criminalize cannabis sales. Even if you vote in another state, forward this to anyone you know who does. 

I am urging my clients and colleagues to do the following: 

• Make sure you are registered to vote in your town or city, especially if you have moved in the past year. 

• Mark your calendar to vote on November 3rd, 2026. 

• Read the packet of questions before heading to the polls. 

• Spread the word to friends, family, and neighbors.  

• If you manage a cannabis storefront, hang signage and display information to inform customers.  

This is a very real threat, and our opposition is flush with millions of dollars. Let’s spread the word to “Vote No” on Question 8. 

And if you are a cannabis business in Massachusetts or New England that is looking for financial guidance? Let’s talk.