MA high court hears marijuana ballot measure challenges

Did you miss the webinar “Women Leaders in Cannabis: Shattering the Grass Ceiling?” Head to MJBiz YouTube to watch it now!


Opponents of a ballot measure legalizing adult-use marijuana in Massachusetts made their arguments in the state’s Supreme Court Wednesday, hoping to prevent the initiative from making it on to next November’s ballot.

Lawyers for 59 voters behind one of two lawsuits asserted that the language used in the summary of the ballot measure, which was approved by the state and shown to petition signers, is not specific enough, and therefore voters were not fully aware of what the measure would legalize, local broadcaster WBZ reported.

“The voters were significantly misled when they were told that this was going to legalize marijuana,” attorney John Scheft told the justices. “What people are being asked to legalize is marijuana, hashish, marijuana concentrates and also food products.”

The summary simply refers to “marijuana products.”

The measure is backed by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol.

Representing the state, which wants the measure to stay on the ballot, attorney Robert Toone countered that it would have been impossible to note every type of THC-infused food or drink product the new law would have permitted.

“Using the term marijuana products is clear and people understand what that means,” Toone said.

Another lawsuit against the measure says the title, “Marijuana Legalization,” is misleading because it does not specify that it would legalize marijuana for people 21 years of age or older.