Massachusetts AG Approves Ballot Petition to Repeal Adult-Use Cannabis Law

Massachusetts' attorney general has approved a ballot initiative that seeks to repeal the state's adult-use cannabis law, giving supporters the go-ahead to begin collecting signatures. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has approved the ballot petition to repeal the commonwealth’s adult-use cannabis law. The proposal by Caroline Cunningham comes in the form of two proposed laws, which are both titled “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” and would end retail cannabis sales and the right by adults to cultivate cannabis at home.

“I applaud the civic engagement of our residents, who filed a record-breaking 47 ballot initiative petitions this year. My office reviews each petition according to the strict criteria outlined in Article 48 of our state constitution. Our personal opinions and any constitutional considerations outside of Article 48 cannot weigh into our decision-making about certification of a petition.” — Campbell in a press release 

As a proposed law, rather than constitutional amendment, proponents must now gather and file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth the signatures of 74,574 registered voters by December 3, 2025. Once the signatures are verified, the proposal will be sent to the lawmakers in January 2026 for its consideration on or before the first Wednesday of May 2026. If the Legislature does not enact a proposal, proponents must gather 12,429 additional signatures from registered voters by July 1, 2026, to place the proposed law on the November 2026 ballot.

The proposals would decriminalize possession of more than one ounce but less than two ounces, and a violation of the law would be a civil offense with a $100 fine. Adults would still be able to gift cannabis to each other. 

Medical cannabis would also remain legal under the proposals, but “version A” would outlaw flower with THC concentration higher than 30%, concentrates with potency greater than 60%, and edibles with more than 5 milligrams of THC per serving. “Version B” would task the Cannabis Control Commission and the state health department with ensuring “that the production and distribution of medical use marijuana is effectively regulated,” but does not outline product potency limits.