Massachusetts voters are overwhelmingly opposed to a ballot initiative that would repeal the state's adult-use cannabis market, according to new polling data from the University of New Hampshire.
The survey found 71% of likely voters oppose the repeal measure, with just 18% in favor and 11% undecided. The poll, which surveyed 564 likely Massachusetts voters between September 17-21, suggests the cannabis industry has solidified public support six years after legalization.
Massachusetts voters approved adult-use cannabis in 2016, and sales launched in 2018. The state now has more than 400 licensed cannabis businesses generating over $1.5 billion in annual revenue. The proposed repeal would eliminate this entire market structure, forcing licensed retailers to close and potentially pushing consumers back to the illicit market.
The Numbers
The opposition crosses traditional political lines. The University of New Hampshire survey shows resistance to repeal spans demographic groups, though the poll did not break down support by party affiliation or region.
Massachusetts collected $177 million in cannabis tax revenue in fiscal year 2023. That money funds public health programs, municipal grants, and cannabis industry regulation. A repeal would eliminate this revenue stream while leaving the state to deal with the costs of market dissolution.
The 18% support for repeal represents a small but persistent opposition to legal cannabis. Some Massachusetts communities have maintained local bans on cannabis businesses, exercising their right under state law to opt out of hosting dispensaries or cultivation facilities.
Industry Response
The cannabis industry has mobilized against the repeal effort, though no formal campaign committees have filed significant fundraising reports yet. Industry groups argue that eliminating the legal market would simply shift sales back to unlicensed dealers, removing consumer protections and tax revenue without reducing cannabis use.
Massachusetts cannabis businesses employ roughly 15,000 people statewide. A successful repeal would force mass layoffs and leave operators with valuable inventory they cannot legally sell. The measure does not include provisions for compensating license holders or unwinding existing business operations.
Several neighboring states have also legalized adult-use cannabis, including Maine, Vermont, Rhode Island, and Connecticut. Massachusetts sits in the middle of an increasingly normalized regional market. A repeal would make it an outlier among Northeastern states.
What's Next
The repeal initiative must first qualify for the ballot, a process that requires gathering sufficient signatures and clearing legal challenges. Even if it reaches voters, the polling suggests it faces an uphill battle.
Massachusetts has a history of supporting cannabis reform. Voters approved medical cannabis in 2012 with 63% support, then backed adult-use legalization four years later with 54% approval. The new poll suggests support has only strengthened as the legal market matured.
The survey's 71% opposition also exceeds the vote share needed to defeat a ballot measure. Massachusetts requires only a simple majority to pass or reject initiatives. With less than 20% support, repeal proponents would need to shift opinions dramatically to have any chance of success.
The University of New Hampshire poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. The survey used live telephone interviews with likely voters identified through voter file modeling.
This article is based on original reporting by ganjapreneur.com.
