Massachusetts May Roll Back Recreational Marijuana Sales in 2026
The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office has released 47 proposed ballot initiatives for the 2026 election, including two that would effectively recriminalize recreational marijuana sales in the state. The measures, led by Caroline Cunningham, would allow adults to still possess up to an ounce of cannabis, but eliminate the commercial adult-use market and limit access to regulated products.
Under the proposed initiative, adults could still gift cannabis to each other without remuneration, and possession of more than one ounce but less than two ounces would be decriminalized with a $100 fine. However, the state’s voter-approved law allowing commercial cannabis retailers and regulated products would be repealed.
The proposal also includes provisions that would set THC potency limits on medical marijuana and ban certain types of cannabis concentrates. There are two versions of the initiative, with one setting THC potency limits and the other focusing on packaging and labeling requirements.
The attorney general’s office will review the proposed initiatives to determine if they meet constitutional requirements for ballot placement. If certified, proponents will need to gather 74,574 valid signatures from registered voters to initiate a verification process.
The move comes as the Massachusetts cannabis market has grown significantly since legalization in 2016, with over $8 billion in adult-use sales reported as of last month. The state’s Cannabis Control Commission is also working to finalize rules for a new cannabis consumption lounge license type and has launched an online platform to help people find jobs and training opportunities in the industry.
