Alison Kuznitz | SHNS

The coalition looking to dismantle the recreational cannabis industry in Massachusetts through a voter referendum feels “cautiously optimistic” about clearing a hurdle this week as it eyes a spot on the November 2026 ballot.

Petitioners behind “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy,” which would end adult-use recreational marijuana but preserve medical usage, are aiming to file well above the 74,574 signatures that are due to local election officials Wednesday as part of the initiative petition process, spokesperson Wendy Wakeman said.

“That’s the goal, but again, these races go right up to the wire — it goes right to the wire with the signatures,” Wakeman told the News Service Monday. “I would say we’re cautiously optimistic about submitting enough signatures that the question will be on the ballot.”

She said that “most” signatures have been collected by professional signature gatherers, who are often hired by the campaigns that want to enact new state laws without going through the Legislature.

Attorney General Andrea Campbell’s office in September certified as ballot eligible the proposed question that would roll back recreational cannabis and enable retailers to apply “on an expedited basis” to become licensed as medical marijuana dispensaries. It would keep the Cannabis Control Commission in place while “adjusting its authority so it would regulate only the medical marijuana market.”

“A group of parents and medical professionals, mental health professionals, educators, church leaders got together, and there are ways in which the rollout of recreational marijuana just hasn’t worked for people,” Wakeman said. “That has to do with — it’s unregulated levels of THC in marijuana products. Some of the gummies seemed to be geared toward children.”

The CCC has regulations that deal with potency limits for marijuana product manufacturers and retailers. For example, a single package of edibles cannot contain more than 110 milligrams of active THC. The THC must also be “evenly distributed” throughout the edible,” according to the regulations.

Supporters are also concerned that legalized cannabis has led to a rise in impaired driving, Wakeman said.

The CCC has been plagued by internal turmoil and marked by Treasurer Deb Goldberg’s illegal firing of Chairwoman Shannon O’Brien, who has since returned to the agency. The CCC has also faced scrutiny over the integrity of cannabis product testing done at independent labs.

“There has really been quite a bit of political corruption that surrounds the whole brand new cannabis industry, whether it’s the Shannon O’Brien-Deb Goldberg feud that’s resulting in taxpayers being on the hook to pay some pretty steep legal bills or the sheriff of whichever county it was who’s under indictment,” Wakeman said, referencing Suffolk County Sheriff Steve Tompkins’ indictment in August for allegedly extorting a cannabis company.

Massachusetts voters legalized recreational cannabis through a 2016 ballot measure. A MassINC poll from April 2024 found that 65% of respondents said legalizing marijuana was the “right decision,” while 22% said it was the “wrong decision.”

The House in June passed legislation that would reshape the conflict-riddled agency. The Senate plans to take up its version of the bill on Wednesday. Both bills double the amount of marijuana that adults can possess.

The adult-use cannabis industry has generated more than $8 billion in gross sales, the CCC said in July.

Executive Director Travis Ahern had said the agency was looking forward to “increasing economic growth for Massachusetts” with the rollout of social consumption businesses. The CCC could vote on regulations for that license type by Christmas.

In a recent interview on GBH’s “Boston Public Radio,” a caller asked Gov. Maura Healey about “what is being done to address the fraudulent ballot initiative to recriminalize marijuana.”

“Look, cannabis is here in Massachusetts, and I want the cannabis industry to work well – to work well for our state, to work well for our economy,” Healey said. “And my administration stands ready to work with the cannabis commission.”

Healey did not address the caller’s “fraudulent” claim.

MJBizDaily, which covers the cannabis industry, this month reported on misleading signature-gathering activity surrounding the Massachusetts ballot campaign. The article linked to a Reddit user who accused “bait and switch signature beggers” in Waltham of claiming to be collecting signatures for affordable housing and same-day voter voter registration “but in fact the paper you would sign was for prohibiting marijuana in MA.” Those signatures gatherers are not affiliated with the campaign, Wakeman told the publication.

Wakeman, who told the News Service this marijuana push is her fifth signature-gathering effort, said she’s received “more hostile phone calls” this cycle compared to past ballot questions.

“There have been allegations that our signature gatherers are using tactics that are unsavory, which have been completely off the mark,” Wakeman said.

The CCC, asked about the impact the potential referendum would have on residents and businesses, said it cannot comment on the ballot question.