National Anti-Marijuana Group Funds Efforts to Recriminalize Recreational Cannabis in Massachusetts and Maine
01/23/2026
A national organization opposed to marijuana legalization is pouring significant funds into campaigns aimed at recriminalizing recreational use in Massachusetts and Maine. SAM Action Inc., a nonprofit group that does not disclose its donors, has provided all the financial support for these efforts so far. In Massachusetts, the group contributed 1.55 million dollars to collect signatures for a 2026 ballot proposal that would dismantle the state's adult-use cannabis market. This initiative seeks to repeal the 2016 legalization law, while preserving access to medical marijuana and introducing stricter penalties for public possession exceeding one ounce.
Similarly, in Maine, SAM Action serves as the sole donor for a parallel measure to overturn the state's recreational marijuana laws, which also date back to 2016.
The organization is closely tied to Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a bipartisan advocacy group founded by former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, policy advisor Kevin Sabet, and writer David Frum. This network emphasizes public health risks associated with cannabis, arguing that commercialization prioritizes profits over safety and leads to increased addiction and mental health issues.
These campaigns have faced controversy, particularly around signature-gathering tactics. In Massachusetts, opponents have accused petitioners of misleading signers by framing the initiative as support for unrelated causes. Maine has seen similar complaints about deceptive representations of the measure's intent. Despite shared funding, representatives insist the state efforts operate independently, driven by local concerns over marijuana's societal impact.
If successful, these ballot questions could shutter multibillion-dollar industries in both states. Massachusetts alone boasts a 1.6 billion dollar adult-use market, supporting thousands of jobs in retail, cultivation, and manufacturing. Maine's program, while smaller, has integrated into the economy since its implementation. Proponents of recriminalization highlight rising youth usage and impaired driving incidents as justification, backed by studies linking high-potency cannabis to health problems. Critics, however, view the moves as regressive, funded by opaque sources possibly linked to pharmaceutical or alcohol interests that stand to benefit from reduced competition.
With signatures certified in Massachusetts and similar progress in Maine, the proposals now head to legislatures for potential enactment or voter decision. The outcomes could reshape cannabis regulation in the Northeast, influencing other states grappling with similar issues.
Reference
Similarly, in Maine, SAM Action serves as the sole donor for a parallel measure to overturn the state's recreational marijuana laws, which also date back to 2016.
The organization is closely tied to Smart Approaches to Marijuana, a bipartisan advocacy group founded by former Congressman Patrick Kennedy, policy advisor Kevin Sabet, and writer David Frum. This network emphasizes public health risks associated with cannabis, arguing that commercialization prioritizes profits over safety and leads to increased addiction and mental health issues.
These campaigns have faced controversy, particularly around signature-gathering tactics. In Massachusetts, opponents have accused petitioners of misleading signers by framing the initiative as support for unrelated causes. Maine has seen similar complaints about deceptive representations of the measure's intent. Despite shared funding, representatives insist the state efforts operate independently, driven by local concerns over marijuana's societal impact.
If successful, these ballot questions could shutter multibillion-dollar industries in both states. Massachusetts alone boasts a 1.6 billion dollar adult-use market, supporting thousands of jobs in retail, cultivation, and manufacturing. Maine's program, while smaller, has integrated into the economy since its implementation. Proponents of recriminalization highlight rising youth usage and impaired driving incidents as justification, backed by studies linking high-potency cannabis to health problems. Critics, however, view the moves as regressive, funded by opaque sources possibly linked to pharmaceutical or alcohol interests that stand to benefit from reduced competition.
With signatures certified in Massachusetts and similar progress in Maine, the proposals now head to legislatures for potential enactment or voter decision. The outcomes could reshape cannabis regulation in the Northeast, influencing other states grappling with similar issues.
Reference
