IT WAS CANCELED DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS. IN PORTLAND IM CATE MCCUSKER FOR MAINES TOTAL COVERAGE YOU ASK … 8 INVESTIGATES … GETTING ANSWERS – SOME OF YOU WROTE IN ASKING ABOUT A PETITION FOR A CITIZEN’S INITIATIVE THAT SOME VOTERS HAVE CALLED MISLEADING. PEOPLE OUT THERE — COLLECTING SIGNATURES FOR A REFERENDUM THAT WOULD END THE SALE OF RECREATIONAL CANNABIS AND ADD TESTING REQUIREMENTS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA. INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER NORAH HOGAN JOINS US LIVE IN STUDIO – SO NORAH YOU’VE BEEN DIGGING INTO THIS – WHAT’S THE CONCERN HERE? SOME RESIDENTS SAY THEY REGRET SIGNING THIS PETITION – CLAIMING THEY WERE MISLEAD BY CANVASSERS WHO TOLD THEM THE BILL WOULD IMPROVE MEDICAL MARIJUANA BY ADDING NEW TESTING REQUIREMENTS — AND FAILED TO MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE FACT THAT IT WOULD ALSO END RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA. IF PASSED – THIS REFERENDUM WOULD COMPLETELY CHANGE THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY EFFECTIVE JANUARY 1, 2028. IT WAS PUT FORTH BY THE GROUP – MAINERS FOR A SAFE AND HEALTHY FUTURE. SOME BACKGROUND ABOUT THESE CANVASSERS – IT’S COMMON FOR CAMPAIGNS TO HIRE OUTSIDE GROUPS TO HELP WITH PETITIONS – WHETHER IT’S TO GET A CANDIDATE OR A REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT. THIS CAMPAIGN HIRED 7 DIFFERENT PETITION ORGANIZATIONS WHICH HAVE COLLECTIVELY HIRED 58 PAID CANVASSERS – MOST OF THE GROUPS ARE FROM OUT OF STATE – WITH ONLY ONE OF COMPANIES BASED IN MAINE. SO, WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU SIGN A PETITION YOU DON’T ACTUAL BELIEVE IN – NOTHING. THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE SAYS SHE’S GOTTEN COMPLAINTS BUT HER HANDS ARE TIED – LYING IS PROTECTED SPEECH. WHILE YOU MAY HAVE ETHICAL QUALMS – CANVASSERS ARE ALLOWED TO DO IT. WE CALLED THE PERSON BEHIND THIS INITIATIVE TO LEARN MORE. çááNATáá — “I PRETTY MUCH JUST SIGNED IT IN AND HAD VERY LITTLE TO IT TURNS OUT THE POINT PERSON IS JUST A LOCAL SPONSOR HE DIDN’T WRITE THE INITIATIVE – HE SAYS HE HIMSELF DIDN’T REALIZE IT WOULD END RECREATIONAL CANNABIS WHEN HE SUBMITTED IT – BUT IT’S A MEASURE HE DOES SUPPORT. AS FOR VOTERS — ONCE YOU SIGN IT’S TOO LATE – YOUR SIGNATURE CANNOT BE REMOVED. THAT’S WHY YOU SHOULD ALWAYS ASK TO READ THE PROPOSAL BEFORE YOU SIGN — CANVASSERS MUST GIVE YOU THAT OPPORTUNITY. IF YOU WANT TO DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH — ALL OF THESE REFERENDUMS ARE AVAILABLE ON THE SECRETARY OF STATE’S WEBSITE – SOME OF THEM ARE LONG – AND THERE’S SOME COMPLICATED LEGAL TEXT – YOU CAN SKIP TO THE LAST PAGE TO READ AN ACCURATE SUMMARY. A MASSACHUSETTS-BASED SPOKESPERSON FOR THE CAMPAIGN SAYS THEY STAND BEHIND THE INTEGRITY OF THE SIGNATURES. WHEN I ASKED WHY THE PERSON WHO WROTE THE PROPOSAL DIDN’T SUBMIT IT THEMSELVES – SHE DIDN’T RESPOND. THE GOOD NEWS IS – THIS IS JUST THE FIRST STEP – IF A REFERENDUM MEETS THE SIGNATURE REQUIREMENTS – YOU’LL STILL GET A CHANCE TO VOTE AGAINST IT ON ELECTION DAY – EVEN IF YOU SIGNED THIS PETITION WITHOUT GETTING ALL THE FACTS. IN STUDIO I’M NORAH HOGAN FOR 8 INVESTIGATES. IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT YOU WANT US TO INVESTIGA