Boston, MA: Several social equity license holders have filed a lawsuit to strike down a proposed 2026 ballot initiative that seeks to repeal key elements of the state’s voter-approved marijuana legalization law.
Plaintiffs argue that the initiative, ‘An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,’ should not have been certified by state regulators because it addresses too many unrelated subjects to be considered in a single ballot question.
The measure seeks to repeal decade-old laws permitting adults to home-cultivate marijuana and regulating the adult-use retail cannabis market, among other changes. Financing for the campaign has come entirely from a sole out-of-state special interest group. Prohibitionist groups are funding similar repeal efforts in Arizona (for 2026) and Maine (for 2027).
The lawsuit also argues that the Attorney General’s summary of the proposed measure fails to properly inform voters of its policy impacts.
Recent statewide polling finds that 63 percent of Massachusetts’ voters, including strong majorities of Democrats (74 percent) and Independents (69 percent), oppose the ballot question. Just 20 percent of respondents expressed support for the measure.
NORML has several resources and fact sheets opposing the initiative campaign available in Election Central.