Massachusetts Attorney General Certifies Marijuana-Related Ballot Petitions

As announced in September 2025, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has certified 44 ballot initiative petitions including two aimed at rolling back the legalization of recreational marijuana.

Initiative petitions 25-09 and 25-10 are largely similar. As proposed, 25-10 would alter the laws in Massachusetts to allow individuals 21 years or older to possess 1 ounce or less of marijuana and would make possession of 2 ounces or less (for persons 21 years or younger) a civil infraction subject to fines and completion of drug awareness programs. The proposal would retain the state’s Cannabis Control Commission but modify its authority to only regulate the medical marijuana market.

25-09 varies slightly as it would impose a civil penalty on individuals 21 years or older who possess between 1-2 ounces of marijuana. Additionally, 25-09 would impose potency limitations on medical marijuana products in the state. The initiatives would also repeal the right to cultivate marijuana at home. Each proposal has an effective date of January 1, 2028.

In terms of next steps, proponents need to turn in 74,574 valid signatures from registered voters by the December 3rd deadline. If that threshold is cleared, and the signatures are verified, then the proposal(s) is sent to the Massachusetts State Legislature in January 2026 for its consideration of any potential legislation to adopt the proposal by May 2026. If no legislation is adopted, the proponents of the proposal must gather an additional 12,429 signatures from registered voters by July 1, 2026 in order to place the proposal on the November 2026 ballot.

As outlined, this is a lengthy process, which may or may not be successful in terms of convincing the legislature to modify marijuana laws or to get these proposals on the November 2026 ballot. Legislators have advanced legislation that would prohibit discrimination on the basis of the legal use of marijuana, so these proposals may face an uphill battle.