They want to erase
what Massachusetts built.
Don’t let them.
It’s official. The State Ballot Law Commission confirmed the cannabis repeal will appear on the November 3 ballot as Question 8. Out-of-state prohibitionists spent millions to get here. Now Massachusetts voters decide. We built this industry. We protect it.
The 37th Annual Boston Freedom Rally
Two days on Boston Common, and the first overtly political Rally since the fight to legalize in 2016. This year the theme is Sow the Seeds of Reform, and the message from the stage is Vote NO on Question 8.
Bring your voice, bring your friends, and bring anyone who does not know Question 8 is on their ballot. Every person who sets foot on the Common should leave knowing what a YES vote would take away.
Show up. Speak up. Stand together.
Keep It Legal Party: Worcester Burn & Learn
NECANN presents an evening of education and community action, hosted by Talking Joints Memo and Canna G.E.M.S. Budtenders, industry workers, consumers and the general public, learning exactly what the repeal would mean for jobs and businesses. Free food, raffles and gift bags.
RSVP on Partiful →More Walks Are Coming
Our September 3 Boston and Cambridge walk was the first in the series. More are being planned across the state between now and November 3, with dates, routes and host cities announced as they lock in.
Get notified →Bring a Walk to Your City
If you want one of these in your community, tell us. Walks work best where local people organize them, and we will help with signs, materials and turnout.
Get in Touch →Pick what your money buys
We are not matching SAM Action dollar for dollar. We do not need to. They bought signatures. We have neighbors, budtenders, patients, and 27,000 workers who can put a sign on every lawn between Pittsfield and Provincetown.
But signs, stickers, and gas money are not free, and we are asking you to fund specific things rather than a vague pot. Choose what you want to pay for and you will know exactly where it went.
Sponsor a Yard Sign
We print it and a volunteer places it somewhere with real traffic. You fund a sign without us spending your money on a shipping box.
Ship Me a Yard Sign
An 18x24 sign with a stake, mailed to your door for your own lawn. Signs are bulky to ship, which is why this runs higher than sponsoring one.
One Bumper Sticker
Mailed to you. Every car on Route 128 is a moving billboard for the next eleven weeks.
25 Bumper Stickers
The right quantity for a shop counter, a staff room, or a weekend of tabling. Works out to $3.40 each.
100 Bumper Stickers
Built for dispensaries and businesses. Put one at every register and hand them to every customer through November. $3 each.
One Volunteer Route Day
Gas and mileage for a volunteer to spend a full day driving stickers and signs out to dispensaries across their region. This is how the material actually reaches people.
Wherever It Is Needed Most
Unrestricted, so we can move fast when a region runs out of signs or a press opportunity appears with two days notice.
Vote NO on 8 Shirt
Puts a shirt on you or on a volunteer at the Boston Freedom Rally, our upcoming walks, and every tabling event through November. Printed by our shirt sponsor, The Shirt Factory. Pick as many sizes as you need.
Become a Community Supporter or Sponsor
Two levels for people and businesses who want to do more than fund a box of stickers. Both can be combined with anything above.
Community Supporter
- ✓ A thank you and shoutout on MassCann social media
- ✓ Funds five yard signs placed across the state, or a full volunteer route day with stickers to hand out
- ✓ Open to individuals and businesses alike
Community Sponsor
- ✓ Named event sponsor of our Community Action Series walks between now and Election Day
- ✓ Your logo on printed and digital materials for both events
- ✓ Your logo under Community Sponsors on KeepCannabisLegal.com and the MassCann.org homepage through Election Day
- ✓ Everything in Community Supporter
Sponsorship covers these two events only and does not include the Boston Freedom Rally. Logo placement runs through November 3, 2026. Sponsors are recognized at every walk held after they join, and online for the full run. We will email you for your logo file after you give. Sponsorships are subject to approval and space is limited.
Use the plus and minus buttons above. Your total updates as you go.
It opens our secure donation page with your amount and your item list already filled in.
Confirm the amount and the list look right, add or change anything you want, then complete your gift. You will get a receipt by email.
Contributions go to the Committee for Keep Cannabis Legal, Vote No on 8, a ballot question committee registered with the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance. Every item you pick is money we spend on that item, and we code it that way in our books. Prefer to give without picking? Give any amount here. Contributions to a ballot question committee are not tax deductible.
The four dates that decide this
There are nine statewide questions on the Massachusetts ballot this year, the most since 1994. Ours is Question 8. Find the number 8 and vote NO.
Saturday, October 24 is the last day to register or update your address. Ten days before the election, no exceptions.
Register or check status →5:00 PM on Tuesday, October 27 is the deadline to apply for a vote by mail ballot. Massachusetts mails applications to every registered voter.
In person early voting runs Saturday, October 17 through Friday, October 30. Hours are set by each city and town.
Tuesday, November 3. Polls in most communities open 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM. A NO vote on Question 8 protects the law we passed in 2016.
What can I do as one person?
A repeal campaign funded by $1.55M of out-of-state money is betting that ordinary people will not pay attention until it is too late. Here is how you prove them wrong. None of this takes a title, a budget, or a free weekend.
Check your own registration
Before anything else. If you moved, changed your name, or have not voted in a while, verify it now rather than in the parking lot on November 3. The deadline is October 24. Check in 60 seconds.
Tell five people it is on the ballot
Most Massachusetts voters still have no idea Question 8 exists. Five conversations from you, then five from each of them, moves more votes than any ad we could afford. Start with the people who assume this is settled.
Post it, and keep posting it
One post is a whisper. A post a week until November is a presence. Share this page, share the numbers, share why it matters to you specifically. Use #VoteNoOn8 and tag @masscannorg so we can amplify you.
Put it where strangers see it
A yard sign, a bumper sticker, a shirt at the grocery store. Merch is not swag here, it is a conversation starter that works while you are doing something else. Order signs, stickers and shirts.
Knock doors or make calls
The single highest-impact hour you can give. Direct voter contact moves people that advertising never reaches, and we will train you before you talk to anyone. Volunteer to canvass or phone bank.
Show up somewhere in person
The Freedom Rally on September 18 and 19, the Worcester Burn & Learn on the 11th, or a walk in your city. Crowds are what press photographs and what legislators notice. See what is coming up.
Correct the record when you hear it
You will hear that youth use exploded, that this is a grassroots health campaign, that voters regret 2016. None of that survives contact with the data. Take the facts with you.
Fund something specific
Twenty dollars puts a sign on a lawn where a hundred cars pass daily. Sixty sends a volunteer out for a full day of deliveries. You are not filling a general pot, you are buying a thing that exists. Pick what your money buys.
What the ballot initiative actually says
Formally titled “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” this initiative has officially qualified for the November 3, 2026 ballot as Question 8. The State Ballot Law Commission overruled every legal challenge and ordered Secretary of State Galvin to print the question on ballots. There are no more procedural hurdles. The vote is November 3, 2026.
The purpose of this initiative is to modify the criteria for the legal possession, distribution, and use of marijuana by:
(a) Continuing the medical use of marijuana program, subject to new potency limitations;
(b) Ensuring that simple possession of 1 ounce or less of marijuana by those 21 and over isn't punishable by civil or criminal penalties, and possession of over 1 ounce to no more than 2 ounces punishable only by a civil penalty; and
(c) Repealing Chapter 94G and Chapter 64N of the Massachusetts General Laws, which govern the possession, use, distribution, cultivation, and taxation of marijuana not medically prescribed.
Officially confirmed as Question 8 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. If passed: implementation takes effect January 1, 2028. A YES vote supports repeal. A NO vote protects the existing regulated market.
What a YES vote would destroy
- All licensed adult-use dispensaries, cultivators, and manufacturers forced to close or convert to medical-only
- Home cultivation of up to 6 plants, a legal right for adults 21+, banned entirely
- $272M+ in annual tax revenue for public health, social equity, and state services: gone
- The Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund, which has distributed $28.9M in grants: defunded
- 27,000+ Massachusetts workers lose their livelihoods with almost no wind-down time
- Consumers pushed back into the unregulated illicit market: untested, unsafe, zero age verification
What would survive under YES:
- Medical cannabis program (with new, untested potency restrictions)
- Possession of up to 1 oz without penalty for adults 21+
Who is really behind this
This isn't a grassroots Massachusetts campaign. This is a nationally funded, out-of-state prohibition operation, and the receipts are public record.
SAM Action Inc.: 100% of Campaign Funding
Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national prohibitionist organization, single-handedly funded the entire signature drive. Every dollar came from one out-of-state source.
Kevin Sabet & William Barr
SAM's CEO publicly announced the Massachusetts campaign alongside former U.S. Attorney General William Barr, whom SAM hired to fight federal cannabis rescheduling. This is a coordinated national strategy to roll back legal cannabis state by state.
GOP Leadership & Outside Interests
Campaign leaders Caroline Cunningham and spokesperson Wendy Wakeman are both Massachusetts Republican State Committee figures. Advocates testified that this effort is backed by alcohol and gambling billionaires protecting their own market share.
Fraudulent Signature Gathering
Hundreds of residents reported being told they were signing for affordable housing, fentanyl prevention, or public schools, not a cannabis repeal. A survey of 2,300+ signers found 1,163 who said they never would have signed if told the true purpose.
Only 20% of Voters Support This
A February 2026 UNH Survey Center poll found only 20% of likely Massachusetts voters support repeal, while 63% actively oppose it. This initiative reflects the will of outside money, not Massachusetts residents.
Legislature Rejected It
After March 2026 hearings, lawmakers grilled the campaign spokesperson on funding, data, and the fate of 27,000+ workers. The Legislature passed its deadline without acting. The fight now goes to November voters.
How We Got Here
The State Ballot Law Commission has officially confirmed Question 8 will appear on the November 3 ballot. Every procedural hurdle has been cleared. Here's the complete timeline of how we got here.
Petition filed and certified Complete
AG Andrea Campbell certified the petition in September. SAM Action Inc. bankrolled the entire signature drive, 100% of campaign funds from one out-of-state organization.
First round of signatures submitted Complete
79,420 signatures submitted; 78,301 certified, surpassing the 74,574 threshold. Widespread reports of deceptive petition-gathering emerged immediately.
State Ballot Law Commission rejects first challenge Complete
The Commission overruled the first objection, ruling there was “no admissible evidence” that canvassers used deceptive tactics, despite hundreds of documented complaints. The petition advanced to the Legislature.
Legislative hearings Complete
The Special Joint Committee on Initiative Petitions gave the campaign spokesperson a tough grilling on funding, data, and the fate of 27,000+ workers. Lawmakers weren't persuaded.
Legislature passes its deadline without action Complete
As expected, the Legislature did not pass the initiative. The petition moved to the final signature collection phase.
Supreme Judicial Court upholds petition Complete
The SJC ruled that AG Campbell did not err in certifying the petition, rejecting a constitutional challenge to the initiative’s subject matter and language.
Second round of signatures submitted Complete
The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts submitted 12,889 signatures by the July 1 deadline. On July 9, the state Elections Division certified 12,551 of them, surpassing the 12,429 required.
Our side files a final challenge Complete
Kevin Gilnack of Equitable Opportunities Now, one of the organizations fighting to stop this repeal, filed an objection on July 10 arguing that numerous signatures should be disqualified. The State Ballot Law Commission held hearings July 15–17 in Boston.
IT’S OFFICIAL: Question 8 is on the November 3 ballot Confirmed
The Commission overruled our objection, finding that the burden of proof had not been met. Secretary Galvin was ordered to print the question on the ballot. Only four signatures were disqualified, far short of the 123 needed to block it. The repeal campaign survived every challenge. The fight is now entirely with Massachusetts voters.
Massachusetts voters decide everything Vote NO on Question 8
Question 8 will appear on the Massachusetts ballot. A YES vote triggers repeal effective January 1, 2028. Massachusetts would be the first state in history to undo a regulated cannabis program through a voter referendum. Vote NO to protect what we built.
Their Claims vs. the Facts
Prohibitionists rely on distortion. Here's how to push back.
"Legalization caused youth cannabis use to skyrocket."
Youth cannabis use hasn't surged since legalization, per Massachusetts' own public health surveys. Legal sales require strict ID verification. The illicit market they want to restore has zero age checks.
"Massachusetts voters want this gone."
65% of Bay Staters say legalization was the right decision. Only 20% of likely voters support this repeal. Over $9 billion in total sales and 27,000+ jobs tell the real story.
"This is a grassroots public health campaign."
100% of the $1.55M raised came from Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a national out-of-state organization. Campaign leaders are MA Republican State Committee figures. This is astroturf with a national agenda.
"Repealing legalization would protect public health."
Repeal sends consumers back to an unregulated illicit market with zero testing, zero potency labeling, and zero age verification. Experts agree: prohibition fuels black market growth and reduces public safety.
"Medical cannabis will survive, so it's fine."
Medical cannabis also faces new potency restrictions. And 27,000+ workers in the adult-use supply chain have no medical market to pivot to. These are real Massachusetts families, not a footnote.
"The 78,000 signatures show real voter demand."
A survey of 2,300+ signers found 1,163 who said they were told they were signing for affordable housing or fentanyl prevention, not cannabis repeal. This petition was built on documented deception.
How to Fight Back
You don't need a law degree or a lobbyist. Start here.
Donate to the Committee
Give directly to the Committee for Keep Cannabis Legal, Vote No on 8, the registered ballot question committee running this fight. Every dollar funds signs, stickers, and outreach through November.
Donate Now →Donate to the Official "No" Campaign
The Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation is the official opposition. They are asking operators to contribute one day's sales. Every dollar funds ads and voter mobilization.
StopTheRepealMA.com →Follow Talking Joints Memo
The sharpest cannabis news coverage in Massachusetts. Talking Joints Memo has been tracking this ballot fight closely. Stay informed and subscribe to their newsletter to get the latest directly in your inbox.
Register to Vote & Verify Your Address
November 3, 2026 is when everything is decided. Make sure you and everyone you know is registered with the correct address on file. YES = repeal. NO = protect cannabis.
Check Your Registration →Contact Your State Legislators
Tell your State Rep and State Senator to go on the record opposing this repeal. Find them, call them, email them. See the sample script below.
Find Your Legislator →Talk to Five People You Know
Not everyone is following this fight. Tell five people in your circle what is at stake. Make sure they know to look for Question 8 on a nine-question ballot and vote NO.
Share This Page →Become a MassCann Member
Membership includes voter guides, action alerts, rally info, and access to our advocacy network. The fight intensifies as November approaches. Be ready to act.
Join MassCann →Call Your Legislators
Massachusetts voters approved adult-use cannabis in 2016 by a margin of 53.7% to 46.3%. Question 8 is now officially on the November 3 ballot. Your legislators need to hear from you that they should be publicly opposing this repeal and helping voters understand what is truly at stake.
You don't need to be a cannabis consumer to make this call. Oppose this because you believe in voter rights and direct democracy. Because you care about $272M in annual tax revenue for public services. Because you value social equity programs that have distributed nearly $28.9M to communities harmed by the drug war. Because you know prohibition doesn't work. Because 27,000 Massachusetts workers deserve better.
Find your legislators at malegislature.gov/Search/FindMyLegislator and use the sample script on the right.
Sample Script: Call or Email Your Legislator
Find your State Rep and Senator at malegislature.gov
Call their office or email through their legislator page
Use or adapt this message:
Who is fighting alongside us
This fight takes a whole coalition. These organizations and media outlets are essential voices in the effort to protect legal cannabis in Massachusetts. Follow them, support them, and stay connected.
Talking Joints Memo
Massachusetts’ sharpest cannabis news outlet. TJM has covered this ballot fight from day one with the reporting depth and local knowledge it deserves. If you are only following one cannabis media outlet in Massachusetts right now, make it Talking Joints Memo.
- Breaking MA cannabis news
- Ballot fight coverage & analysis
- Dispensary & product news
- Policy & regulatory updates
- Local industry spotlight
Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation
The official opposition campaign for November 2026. Led by Ryan Dominguez (MCC) and David O'Brien (MassCBA). Donate one day’s sales. Show up.
StopTheRepealMA.com →Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition
Ryan Dominguez’s coalition representing 90+ Massachusetts cannabis businesses of all license types. A key anchor of the fight to protect the regulated market.
MassCannabisCoalition.org →Equitable Opportunities Now (EON)
Massachusetts’ leading Black- and woman-run cannabis equity nonprofit. EON fought to create the Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund. A repeal would wipe that out. Led by co-founder Shanel Lindsay.
MassEON.com →Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association
Led by David O’Brien, MassCBA represents cannabis businesses across the Commonwealth and is co-anchoring the Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation’s defense campaign.
MassCBA.info →Marijuana Policy Project: Massachusetts
MPP is one of the nation’s most effective cannabis policy organizations and has been tracking the Massachusetts repeal fight with regular updates and national context.
MPP Massachusetts →Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
MassBudget provided expert legislative testimony on the full economic impact of repeal, including $9B+ in sales, $2B in state and local revenue, and the social equity funding at stake.
MassBudget.org →Go deeper: read the research
The research, the organizations, and the tools you need to stay informed and stay active through November.
Committee to Protect Cannabis Regulation
The official NO campaign. Donate, volunteer, and stay updated at StopTheRepealMA.com
MassBudget: Full Economic Impact Testimony
Expert data on $9B+ in total sales, $2B in state/local revenue, and social equity funding since 2018.
Marijuana Policy Project: Massachusetts
National advocacy resources and ongoing state-level updates on the repeal fight.
Find Your Massachusetts Legislator
Look up your State Rep and State Senator by address and contact them directly.
Register to Vote in Massachusetts
Register, check your status, and confirm your address before November 3, 2026.
Ballotpedia: Full Initiative Text and Timeline
Complete ballot initiative language, procedural timeline, and signature requirements.
Foley Hoag: Legislative Hearing Recap
Detailed legal analysis of the March 2026 committee hearing and its implications.
MassCann: Massachusetts State House
MassCann's state house advocacy hub with tools and resources for contacting your representatives.
Massachusetts voted for legal cannabis in 2016.
Massachusetts built this industry.
Massachusetts will protect it.
Join a walk near you
We are planning more walks across Massachusetts between now and November 3. Leave your details and we will tell you as soon as one is scheduled near you, or if you want to help organize one in your city.
RSVP so we can count you in and prepare for the correct numbers. Not required - just helpful. Feel free to show up last minute, bring extra people, and spread the word!