Massachusetts’ state election is on Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Question 8 directly pertains to the retail sale of marijuana. This law would take effect on Jan. 1, 2028, and proposes that the legalization, regulation, and taxation of marijuana should be prohibited.
People aged 21 or older would be allowed to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana, and gift 1 ounce or less of marijuana to another person. Possession of 1-2 ounces of marijuana would result in forfeiture of the marijuana and a civil penalty of $100.
Current recreational cannabis dispensaries would have the expedited opportunity to apply for a medical dispensary license and sell their remaining
inventory to medical dispensaries. According to MassCannabis.org, obtaining a medical marijuana card requires patients to see a certifying health-care provider, such as “a Massachusetts-licensed physician, certified nurse practitioner (CNP), or physician assistant (PA),” who will decide whether cannabis therapy is appropriate for treating their specified condition.
Dr. Jeffrey Morgan, MD., is a retired oncologist, physician, and instructor of medicine that wrote the in-favor argument for prohibiting recreational marijuana sales. In his proposal, he noted that, “Since commercial legalization, marijuana is now the most common drug found in fatal car accidents in Massachusetts… Modern concentrates and edibles have been linked to mental health conditions like psychosis, severe anxiety, and schizophrenia, particularly in young adults.”
Ryan Dominguez with the Massachusetts Cannabis Coalition wrote the against argument, and noted in his proposal, “For ten years, Massachusetts has regulated marijuana, ensuring that products are tested for safety, packaged and labelled properly, and sold in licensed businesses to adults 21 and over.
Question 8 would undo that progress, returning marijuana to the illicit market where there are no safeguards in place.
Law enforcement would be forced to waste time and resources on marijuana arrests instead of fighting serious crime. Historically, marijuana arrests have disproportionately impacted communities of color. Recriminalizing marijuana would make Massachusetts less safe.”
In terms of tax dollars, Morgan states, “For every $1 gained in tax revenue, taxpayers spend $4.50 to mitigate the effects of legalization from societal expenses including increased healthcare, lost productivity, and crime (like DUI’s.)”
In contrast, Dominguez states, “Question 8 would shut down hundreds
of small businesses, kill thousands of jobs, and eliminate billions of dollars in state tax revenue.”
Question 8’s summary also includes a Statement of Fiscal Consequences, written by the Executive Office of Administration and Finance, which reads, “…the proposed law would reduce the amount that state and municipal governments receive from the taxation of [adult recreational use marijuana] sales. In fiscal year 2025, taxation of the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana raised approximately $280 million in state revenue and $50 million in local revenue. The state budget, which is supported by tax revenue, funds local aid for schools and municipal budgets.
Public opinion seems varied.
One source gave an insightful perspective on their stance but chose to remain anonymous in fear of backlash for public association with marijuana usage. “It’s tricky. I’ve experienced a lot of bad side effects of using weed so often, like headaches, brain fog, irritability… it can have a really drastic impact on people’s lives. It’s not as fun as it used to be when I was younger, that’s for sure. Now I seem to get really paranoid and aggravated with my buddies for no reason.”
Despite the negative perspective, they seem to be in favor of keeping marijuana legal.
“Making it less accessible to adults would do more harm than good. At the end of the day, adults should have the right to choose whether or not they want to smoke, same way they choose to drink alcohol. It just comes down to responsible usage.”
Another source shared a similar opinion, while also preferring to remain anonymous and not publicly associated with marijuana usage.
“Honestly, I think alcohol is a lot worse than weed. I’ve seen awful sides of my family members and friends while they were drunk. Meanwhile, sometimes I spark up a joint and think about them like, ‘maybe this would chill everybody out!’ I get why people are so against recreational usage, because it can definitely be really harmful, but to me, safe production should be the priority. Right now, we have cannabis being tested and made in environments where safety can be guaranteed. If the dispensaries get shut down, no matter what, people are still going to want their weed. Except, now they’re getting it from strangers off the street, and they have to trust that what they paid for is what they actually got. If you want people to be safer with weed, you emphasize information and studies on harmful impacts. You give them the resources to make an informed decision, not take away the option to make that decision entirely.”