Massachusetts Voters Reject Cannabis Repeal in New Poll

Poll Shows Strong Support for Status Quo

The Worcester Business Journal poll surveyed 1,200 registered Massachusetts voters between August 12 and August 16, 2026. Nearly two-thirds oppose efforts to repeal Chapter 334 of the Acts of 2016, the ballot measure that legalized adult-use cannabis. The margin of error was ±2.8 percentage points.

State lawmakers are considering H.2447, a bill filed in January 2026 that would sunset the Cannabis Control Commission's adult-use licensing authority by December 31, 2027. That measure hasn't advanced out of the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy.

Repeal Effort Lacks Traction in Legislature

H.2447, sponsored by Rep. Marc Lombardo (R-Billerica), would preserve medical cannabis access under 105 CMR 725.000 while eliminating retail adult-use sales. Twelve co-sponsors back it. All Republicans.

The Cannabis Control Commission reported $1.9 billion in adult-use sales for fiscal year 2025, generating $387 million in excise and sales tax revenue. Repeal would eliminate that revenue stream, though the bill doesn't specify replacement funding for municipal aid or public health programs currently funded by cannabis taxes.

Zoning Reform Draws Broader Consensus

Seventy-one percent of voters support allowing cannabis retailers in residential zoning districts, a significant shift from the current framework under 935 CMR 500.101(1)(b), which restricts dispensaries to commercial and industrial zones in most municipalities.

Worcester, Springfield, and Lowell have enacted local ordinances that allow retail cannabis in mixed-use districts with conditional-use permits. Appetite for broader zoning flexibility appears statewide.

Regional Divide on Repeal Question

Opposition to repeal was strongest in Boston (74%), Cambridge (71%), and Somerville (69%). Support for rolling back legalization peaked in rural Franklin County (41%) and Berkshire County (38%).

Voters under 35 opposed repeal 78% to 18%, while voters over 65 split 51% opposed, 42% in favor. Party affiliation wasn't tracked.

Industry Reaction and Legislative Outlook

The Massachusetts Cannabis Industry Association called the poll results "a clear mandate to preserve and improve the existing framework, not dismantle it." Executive Director David O'Brien said in a statement that the organization would use the data to lobby against H.2447 when the legislature reconvenes in September.

Rep. Lombardo's office didn't respond to a request for comment by press time. The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy has scheduled no hearings on H.2447 for the fall session.

Zoning Reform Bills Gain Momentum

Two bills addressing cannabis zoning—S.1822 and H.3104—are pending in the legislature and would preempt local zoning restrictions that categorically exclude cannabis businesses from residential districts. Both bills have bipartisan co-sponsorship. Committee votes are expected in October 2026.

S.1822, filed by Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro), would allow cannabis retailers in any district that permits retail pharmacies, effectively opening most mixed-use and neighborhood commercial zones. H.3104 takes a narrower approach, requiring municipalities to designate at least one residential overlay district where cannabis businesses may apply for special permits.

What to Watch in Fall Session

The poll's zoning findings may accelerate movement on S.1822 and H.3104, both of which have been in committee since March 2026. The Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy is scheduled to vote on both bills by October 15 under the legislature's internal deadlines for the current session.

For full background on this story, see the CannIntel topic hub on Massachusetts Cannabis Program. The next signal: whether the committee advances zoning reform or lets both bills die in committee ahead of the 2027 session.