Signature Drive for Marijuana Repeal Draws Fire Over Deceptive Practices
11/14/2025
A grassroots campaign in Massachusetts is intensifying efforts to roll back recreational marijuana laws through a voter referendum, but the initiative has sparked controversy over alleged deceptive tactics in collecting signatures. The group behind the push, the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, seeks to amend state law by criminalizing possession of more than one ounce of cannabis, effectively dismantling the framework for adult-use sales and consumption established years ago.
Reports of misleading approaches have surfaced across the state, with signature gatherers accused of using bait-and-switch methods to secure support. At locations like grocery store parking lots, tables have displayed signage promoting petitions on unrelated issues such as affordable housing, voter identification requirements, or relocating cannabis dispensaries away from schools. However, the actual documents presented for signing target marijuana legalization exclusively, leaving many signers unaware of the true focus. Observers note that some collectors have obscured petition details, discouraged close reading, or offered misleading explanations about the content, prompting widespread frustration among residents.
Industry advocates, including David O’Brien of the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association, have decried these practices as systematic deception, pointing to a flood of complaints from shoppers in towns like Burlington, Waltham, Raynham, and Brookline. Individuals from Gloucester, the Berkshires, and Somerville have shared accounts of confusion after affixing their names, often discovering the marijuana angle only later through bill number cross-checks or social media discussions. Online forums buzz with similar stories, amplifying calls for accountability.
The Coalition maintains that its volunteers adhere strictly to the single-issue petition, with clear language at the top of each form allowing for review. Spokespeople attribute the uproar to tactics by legalization supporters aiming to derail progress, insisting no incentives exist for misrepresentation. They highlight the drive's momentum as evidence of genuine public backing for stricter controls.
State election officials have fielded numerous grievances about improperly obtained signatures, outlining processes for voters to contest certifications through local offices. The Attorney General’s team acknowledges the influx of reports but offers no updates on potential probes. Meanwhile, the firm contracted for collections, Impact Advocacy Group, has not addressed the allegations.
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Reports of misleading approaches have surfaced across the state, with signature gatherers accused of using bait-and-switch methods to secure support. At locations like grocery store parking lots, tables have displayed signage promoting petitions on unrelated issues such as affordable housing, voter identification requirements, or relocating cannabis dispensaries away from schools. However, the actual documents presented for signing target marijuana legalization exclusively, leaving many signers unaware of the true focus. Observers note that some collectors have obscured petition details, discouraged close reading, or offered misleading explanations about the content, prompting widespread frustration among residents.
Industry advocates, including David O’Brien of the Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association, have decried these practices as systematic deception, pointing to a flood of complaints from shoppers in towns like Burlington, Waltham, Raynham, and Brookline. Individuals from Gloucester, the Berkshires, and Somerville have shared accounts of confusion after affixing their names, often discovering the marijuana angle only later through bill number cross-checks or social media discussions. Online forums buzz with similar stories, amplifying calls for accountability.
The Coalition maintains that its volunteers adhere strictly to the single-issue petition, with clear language at the top of each form allowing for review. Spokespeople attribute the uproar to tactics by legalization supporters aiming to derail progress, insisting no incentives exist for misrepresentation. They highlight the drive's momentum as evidence of genuine public backing for stricter controls.
State election officials have fielded numerous grievances about improperly obtained signatures, outlining processes for voters to contest certifications through local offices. The Attorney General’s team acknowledges the influx of reports but offers no updates on potential probes. Meanwhile, the firm contracted for collections, Impact Advocacy Group, has not addressed the allegations.
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