The Future of Recreational Cannabis in Massachusetts

The Future of Recreational Cannabis: Protecting Our Progress in 2026

As we stagger toward the end of 2025, I wanted to leave you with a warm, fuzzy end-of-year update regarding Recreational/Adult Use Cannabis. Unfortunately, the universe has other plans. Instead, I’m here to tell you that—surprise!—we might have to do the 2016 legalization dance all over again.

As someone who has spent two decades in the trenches for this plant—running campaigns and serving on government committees—I’m not sure whether to laugh, cry, or just go take a very legal gummy and stare at a wall. But here we are.

The Groundhog Day Initiative: The 2026 Ballot

On December 18, 2025, the state certified over 78,000 signatures for an initiative titled “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy.” Don’t let the “sensible” part fool you—it is a polite way of saying “let’s pretend the last eight years of progress didn’t happen.”

The initiative is now headed to the state legislature for the 2026 session. If they don’t sign off on it by May (and let’s be real, politicians rarely like making the hard calls), we are looking at this being on the November 2026 ballot. Get your “I Voted” stickers ready, because we have to prepare for a fight to keep Adult Use (Recreational Cannabis) legal.

The “Legal-ese” Headache: In Massachusetts, ballot questions are often written with enough double negatives to make your head spin. Depending on the final wording, a “Yes” might mean “Yes, keep it legal” or “Yes, please arrest my neighbor for a plant.” Since we don’t know the exact language yet, the plan is simple: Watch. Wait. Don’t let the phrasing trick you.

What’s at Stake: Jobs, Your Rights, and Our Region

This isn’t just about retail stores; it’s a direct shot at the economy and the culture we’ve built.

• Impact on 27,000 Families: The Adult Use (Recreational Cannabis) industry supports over 27,000 full-time equivalent jobs across the Commonwealth. We are talking about tens of thousands of families who rely on this industry to pay mortgages and put food on the table. A repeal would be an economic wrecking ball for our neighbors.

• The $2 Billion Vanishing Act: Since 2018, Adult Use (Recreational Cannabis) has generated nearly $2 billion in total state and local tax revenue.

• Hyper-Local Revenue Loss: Our home turf would feel the sting immediately. Amesbury and Haverhill both utilize the 3% local option sales tax.

  • In Haverhill, this tax revenue is a critical piece of the puzzle for a city managing a massive $338 million unfunded liability for retiree benefits.

  • In Amesbury, these funds contribute directly to the general fund for schools and infrastructure.

  • If this repeal happens, that tax money evaporates, leaving local officials to figure out which schools or road projects to cut next to fill the gap.

• The Death of Philanthropy: I am proud to work for a company with the largest philanthropic mission in Massachusetts cannabis. As of the close of 2025, we have logged over 3,100 community service hours and contributed well over $750,000 to hyper-local charities. From “Snow Angels” shoveling out seniors to supporting food pantries like Our Neighbors’ Table, this work only happens because the industry exists.

• Goodbye, Home Grow: The initiative also wants to strip away your right to grow at home. Because apparently, some people think you can’t handle a few plants in your own basement.

• Halting the Wrongs of the Past: We were finally making progress on clearing the records of those harmed by the “War on Drugs.” A repeal would freeze these restorative programs and halt our efforts to fix the wrongs of the past, risking turning our neighbors back into “criminals” for a plant that is legal in half the country.

The “Big Pharma” Squeeze

While we’re fighting at home, the Feds are doing their own weird dance. The administration is pushing to move cannabis to Schedule III. On paper, it sounds like a win for taxes (goodbye, 280E penalties!).

The Snarky Reality: If you watched the 38-minute Oval Office presentation, you’d notice a theme: “Medicinal is great, Adult Use (Recreational Cannabis) is the devil.” It feels suspiciously like a coordinated effort to clear the board for Big Pharma. By forcing everything into an FDA-style medical framework, they could effectively kick out the independent businesses that did the hard work and hand the keys to massive corporate interests who have been lobbying for this for decades.

Why We Can’t Just “Go Medical”

People ask why we don’t just switch back to a medical-only model. Simple: a medical card often comes with “federal strings” that can mess with your constitutional rights (like firearm ownership), your job, or your federal disability benefits. Adult Use (Recreational Cannabis) is about the freedom to choose without having your name on a government list.

Looking Ahead

I’m a better human with cannabis. My doctors agree, my family agrees, and my PTSD definitely agrees. I’ve fought for this for 20 years, and I’ll be damned if we let a “bait and switch” signature drive take it all away.

Our Pledge at CNA Stores: We will spend 2026 monitoring the legislature, decoding the confusing ballot language, and keeping you informed. Stay tuned, stay diligent, and let’s make sure common sense actually wins this time.