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Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office Is Receiving Complaints About Anti-Marijuana Initiative Petitioners’ Tactics

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6 months ago

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The Massachusetts attorney general’s office has confirmed that it is receiving complaints from the public about applicants for a 2026 ballot initiative aimed at rolling back the state’s marijuana legalization law, with a growing number of people alleging that signature gatherers are selling misleading information about the proposal.

A staffer in Massachusetts Attorney General (D) Andrea Campbell’s office told Marijuana Moment on Friday that while they can confirm they have received those complaints, they are not at liberty to discuss whether the matter is actively being investigated.

The office “has received complaints about this matter, but we cannot confirm, deny or comment on any investigation,” they said.

“Every application has a summary of the Attorney General’s bill printed at the top,” the staffer said. “We strongly encourage voters to read the summary of any bill carefully before deciding whether to sign it.”

Massachusetts Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) David O’Brien on Friday openly accused the campaign behind the repeal initiative, the Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, of hiring paid petitioners to use “trickery tactics” to add signatures.

“These out-of-state groups are collecting signatures from state to state and it’s clear that they’re having trouble here in Massachusetts finding people who want to repeal our very effective cannabis laws and kill our successful cannabis industry,” O’Brien said. “This is voter fraud that people should report to their town hall.”

The Marihuana Moment campaign was reached for comment, but a representative was not immediately available.

According to the MCBA, reports of deceptive signature-gathering tactics are widespread, with paid petitioners using fake letters on other ballot measures, such as affordable housing and same-day voter registration.

A Reddit post earlier this week appeared to show such tactics, with two petitioners sitting at a table with signs about housing and voter registration, but the poster said they were collecting signatures for a marijuana repeal initiative.

Bait and switch signature request
according tou/yanki2del in the yearmassachusetts

MCBA said in a press release that “other fraudulent messages reported by voters claimed the ballot question would strengthen fentanyl testing requirements for marijuana and expand buffer zones between dispensaries and schools.”

Voters in Massachusetts have sounded the alarm about the state of social media, sharing their experiences with applicants who appear to be misrepresenting marijuana initiatives, in some cases as a way to protect young people from being criminalized for possessing cannabis.

“Just wanted to give a heads up to *anyone* interested in the legal status of cannabis in Massachusetts. While shopping this morning I was presented with a ‘legislation to protect minors from arrest with 2oz of cannabis or less’ signature form,” a post on Reddit last week. he says. “I refused to sign after reading the first line that stated that the current laws on cannabis would be repealed.”

Until then, the Prosecutor’s Office has stressed the importance of reading its summary, which should go at the top of the signature form, before signing any request. Chief Prosecutor cleared the signature collection campaign, with a summary of the petition, last month.

Another Reddit post shared on Wednesday was by a user he said “They joined a couple of interns at the grocery store who were gathering signatures for a ballot initiative to end the sale of recreational marijuana,” and “people misrepresenting what the ballot question really is when asking for signatures.”

Another post describes the user’s experience with a petition that said the initiative was “to make sure kids didn’t go to jail for minor marijuana offenses.”

“The big sign behind it read DARE to keep kids off drugs. When I read it, it was clearly a petition to recriminalize marijuana. Be careful and know what you’re signing!” they he said.

There are numerous responses to the posts, with others telling similar stories and sharing tips on how to report illegal election activity.

“Voters heading to the polls on Election Day next Tuesday, November 4th should expect signature gatherers to be at polling places across the state,” said Meg Sanders, CEO of Canna Provisions. “Know what you’re signing! Take your time and read the application language. If the collector doesn’t say what it says, don’t sign.”

The marijuana repeal campaign, for its part, said as much this month They are “on the way” to get enough signatures to put the initiative on the ballot. They are working to send 100,000 signatures by December 3rd.

When the Attorney General’s Office completed its review of 50 proposed ballot measures for 2026, it certified two versions of the proposed recriminalization campaign.

Both would eliminate the state’s adult commercial use market, maintain patient access under the medical cannabis program and continue to allow legal possession of an ounce of recreational marijuana. “Version A” contains language that would also limit THC content for medical marijuana, while “Version B” omits that policy.

The campaign continues this latest initiative without a cap.

Under the initiative, called the “Restoration of Sensible Marijuana Policy Act,” adults over the age of 21 can still possess up to one ounce of cannabis, of which only five grams can be the product of concentrated marijuana.

Possession of more than one ounce but less than two ounces would effectively be decriminalized, with violators facing a $100 fine. Adults can also continue to gift cannabis to each other without payment.

But provisions of the state’s voter-approved marijuana law that allow commercial cannabis sellers and adults to access regulated products would be repealed under the proposal.

The right of adults to cultivate cannabis at home would also be repealed.

Meanwhile, the head of Massachusetts’ marijuana regulatory agency recently suggested measures to effectively recriminalize the sale of recreational cannabis. dangerous tax revenues being used to support substance abuse treatment efforts and other public programs.

If enough signatures are validated from the initial submissions, the proposal will go before the legislature, and lawmakers will have until May 6 to pass the law or propose a replacement. If they don’t, organizers will need to collect an additional 12,429 valid voter signatures to put the measure on the ballot.

Whether the cannabis measures make the cut remains to be seen. Voters approved legalization on the 2016 ballot, and sales began two years later. And in the last decade the market has evolved and expanded. In August, Massachusetts officials reported more than $8 billion in adult marijuana sales.

—
It’s Marijuana Time tracking hundreds of cannabis, psychedelic and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters by pledging at least $25/month, you’ll get access to our interactive maps, charts, and audio calendars so you never miss a development.

Learn more about our marijuana bill tracking and become a Patreon supporter to gain access
—

Regulators are also working to finalize the rules allow a new type of lounge license to consume cannabisthey hope to finish by October.

Separately, in May the CCC launched an online platform helping people find work, on-the-job training and networking opportunities in the state’s legal cannabis industry.

The House Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy approved the bills in August protect employment for marijuana users and expand the state’s medical cannabis programin part by adding post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and opioid use disorder to the list of qualifying conditions.

State legislators have also been pondering imposing stricter restrictions on intoxicating hemp-derived products and a plan allowing individual entities to control a greater number of cannabis establishments.

Also in Massachusetts Legislators working on state budgets butted heads with CCC officialswho said critical technology improvements can’t be made without more money from the legislature.

Meanwhile, Massachusetts lawmakers have just passed a bill establishing a pilot program for the regulated therapeutic use of psychedelics. And two committees have held hearings to discuss additional measures related to psilocybin.

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Missouri cannabis growers file class action against Good Day Farm

Published

22 hours ago

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April 30, 2026

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CPC of Missouri-Smithville, LLC and GF Saint Mary LLC, licensed cannabis growers and manufacturers in Missouri, filed a lawsuit in the Circuit Court of Jackson County on behalf of independent wholesalers, alleging that Good Day Farm (GDF) and its network of conspiring companies and investors were harmed by an intentional, coordinated and unconstitutional scheme. The complaint alleges that the “GDF Cartel” illegally controls or manages the state’s share of dispensary licenses and uses that market power to manipulate Missouri’s $1.52 billion cannabis market for its own profit.

GDF and its co-conspirators allegedly built the cartel by arranging for third parties to invest in limited liability companies (LLCs) that then acquire additional dispensaries, cultivation and processing facilities, all of which are owned, operated or controlled by GDF. The result: The alleged cartel exercises effective control over at least 61 dispensaries, nearly triple the 22 allowed by the Missouri Constitution, with more than 10% of dispensary licenses “under substantially common control, ownership or management.” With 224 dispensaries currently licensed statewide, the alleged GDF Cartel controls more than one in four dispensary licenses in Missouri. But its influence is even greater, with alleged Cartel dispensaries accounting for more than 40% of wholesale cannabis in the state, giving it significant — and illegal — influence over all independent growers and manufacturers forced to sell through its network.

To avoid the Missouri Constitution’s 10% licensing limit and avoid regulatory oversight, the alleged cartel operates under five different brand names:

  • Good Day Farm (21 dispensaries),
  • CODES (20 dispensaries),
  • Green light (10 dispensaries),
  • Fresh Karma (6 dispensaries), and
  • 3 Fifteen Primo (4 medications).

But they’re all part of a single, coordinated operation, the complaint says.

  • Purchase cannabis products from non-Cartel wholesalers at artificially depressed prices;
  • They supply their 61 dispensaries with the same products—mainly those produced by Cartel growers—significantly excluding products from independent wholesalers;
  • Force independent drug wholesalers to purchase the Cartel’s finished products as a condition for their wholesale products to be placed on the Cartel’s drug store shelves; and
  • Boycott non-cartel wholesalers who refuse to agree to anti-cartel demands.

Bob Hoffman, one of the attorneys leading the case, said: “The GDF Cartel is removing competition from the wholesale cannabis market and enriching itself with illegal profits through a counterproductive, clandestine business conspiracy. Missouri growers and manufacturers have been suffering under this scheme for a long time; many of them know something is wrong, but we don’t realize how the cartel has manipulated the market through this manipulation framework. Missourians to approve recreational cannabis in 2022 They voted for a fair and competitive market. Missouri licensed cannabis businesses that have suffered these practices should join us because they may be entitled to substantial damages.”

The complaint alleges the financial toll the Cartel has taken: Since the Cartel began illegal price-fixing, it has used its collective market power to lower wholesale prices by more than 20%, and continues to squeeze wholesalers and threaten the viability of their operations.

The unconstitutional complaint alleges that GDF knew its plan to build cartels could create legal risks for the company under the Constitution’s 10% licensing limit. The complaint quotes from a document provided by GDF to potential investors: “There can be no assurance that the Missouri Department of Cannabis Regulation will not dispute the number of marijuana dispensaries operated or supervised by the operator or its affiliates…”.

This action is brought on behalf of a putative class that includes all licensed independent wholesalers in Missouri that are not members of the alleged GDF Cartel for purposes of injunctive relief. Wholesalers who believe they have been financially harmed by the alleged Cartel’s practices should join the case because they may be entitled to substantial damages. The putative class is represented by the law firms of Feuerstein Kulick LLP and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP.

Source: Feuerstein Kulick LLP and Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner LLP

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State-Licensed Marijuana Businesses Can Now Apply For Federal Protections Using New DEA Form

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22 hours ago

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April 30, 2026

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State licensee Medical marijuana companies can apply for federal protections In line with the Trump administration’s cannabis reprogramming process.

The Drug Enforcement Administration’s “Medical Marijuana Dispensary Registry Portal” went live Wednesday morning.

The move comes after the Justice Department announced that last week Marijuana Schedule I through III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), in stages.

Pursuant to an order signed by Attorney General Blanche, marijuana products regulated by a state medical cannabis license were immediately moved to Title III.

III. State-licensed medical cannabis dispensaries that wish to take advantage of the new legal protections and tax benefits that come with annexation status must first file an application with the DEA requesting information about their processes for storage, ordering, distribution, inventory, record keeping and other aspects of their business.

For each activity below, indicate whether the company has a standard operating procedure (SOP):

    • the order
    • receiving
    • Inventories
    • Marijuana storage
    • security
    • Distribution (including delivery services)
    • to divide
    • Destruction/Disposal
    • Reporting Theft/Loss
    • Due diligence (including provider/patient/professional verification)
    • Corresponding Liability
    • Record keeping”

The application asks about specific details of security measures such as vaults, safes, secure storage, access controls, alarm systems and on-site security personnel.

Applicants can choose whether to apply for administration of marijuana, marijuana extracts, or naturally derived delta-9 THC.

Currently, with only medical marijuana moving to Schedule III, the application asks potential registrants whether their businesses handle or provide recreational marijuana.

According to last week’s DOJ order, an expedited administrative hearing process will be held beginning June 29 to consider the broader cannabis reorganization.

The DEA application, meanwhile, also asks companies to submit information about their state’s cannabis licenses and to answer questions about their criminal and disciplinary history.

It also asks, “Has anyone involved in the ownership or operation of the business previously manufactured, distributed, and/or provided a controlled substance without a DEA registration authorizing such activity?”

Allegedly every illegal cannabis company operating in the state today has key employees who have done so, medical marijuana was a Schedule I substance whose manufacture, distribution and general distribution was not permitted by the DEA until just a few days ago.

Applicants must also list the suppliers from whom they plan to procure marijuana, and report whether they plan to repackage or relabel cannabis products.

They must also provide lists of people whose business they expect to have “access to controlled substances,” including their dates of birth, social security numbers, and drug-related criminal histories.

“Provide the following for each person you plan to acquire controlled substances:

    • The name
    • Title(s)
    • date of birth
    • Social Security number
    • DEA registration numbers, if applicable
    • State/territory permits to manufacture, distribute, dispense, or otherwise handle controlled substances
    • Has this person been subject to one or more federal, state, territorial, or tribal disciplinary actions?
    • Has this person been convicted of federal, state, territorial, tribal, or local offenses related to controlled substances?

There is also $794 per year the application fee, currently only payable through PayPal, although DEA ​​”expects to have additional payment methods in the coming weeks.”

Application fees are non-refundable.

Separately, the DEA has launched a new web page on its website that contains key information about the new federal rescheduling move for cannabis, including copies of Federal Register orders outlining the process for the amendment and the upcoming litigation.

Blanche’s reorganization order last week said that to comply with the international drug control treaty’s “requirement that a government agency act as the exclusive purchaser of cannabis production,” the DOJ is setting in motion a process by which the federal government technically buys from marijuana producers and then sells to them or related entities.

“Registered growers must store the crops in a DEA-accessible facility until that transaction is completed, and each grower’s registration must specify the area in which the grow is allowed,” he said.

“All manufacturers registered under this subsection shall establish a nominal price for the purchase of their marijuana crops. The Administration shall then purchase the entity’s crops at that price and resell the crops to the entity, or a related or supporting entity, at the same price plus the administrative fee calculated in section 1318.06(a)..”

Meanwhile, the US Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they plan to issued new tax guidelines for the marijuana industry after the reorganization announcement.

The reorganization will benefit state-licensed marijuana businesses by allowing them to take federal tax deductions that are currently prohibited under IRS Code Section III, known as Section 280E.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the administration is moving forward with the marijuana overhaul because Cannabis reform is “very popular” with voters and because doing so will help people who need access to the drug for medical purposes.

At the press event held in the Oval Office last week, President Donald Trump spoke about the medical benefits of marijuana.

“A lot of people are facing big problems, and that seems to be the best answer,” he said. “They’re very happy. So the reorganization begins, and that’s a big thing, the reprogramming.”

The president stated that his administration’s rescheduling of cannabis came about after his friend Howard Kessler told him about his use of medical marijuana.

“He had some medical difficulties, and it came about by chance, kind of,” he said. “He had to go through a lot of different medications, and he said this was the one that was so much better than anything else. And so he lived through that. He didn’t benefit from it, because now he lives much better from the perspective.”

“So we hope you don’t have to,” Trump said. “But if you must, I hear it’s the best of all alternatives.”

Separately, the president asked Congress to take action changing the law that threatens to federally recriminalize hemp-derived full-spectrum CBD products later this year

“We need to do this STRAIGHT and FAST, especially for those who have found CBD helping them,” he said in a social media post. “Also, I’m told it will help our BIG FARMERS that we love and will always be around.”

A few days ago, Trump denounced this Federal officials were “slowly” pursuing his cannabis warrant.

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Klasmann-Deilmann announces management changes

Published

2 days ago

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April 29, 2026

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After fifteen years of successful cooperation, managing director Moritz Böcking and the shareholders of Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH have mutually agreed to part ways. As of May 1, 2026, Moritz Böcking will hand over the position of managing director to Jan Astrup, who served as the company’s CEO in 2021/2022. Jan Astrup and Damian Ikemann will form the Board of Directors of the Klasmann-Deilmann Group from now on.

© Klasmann-Deilmann Benelux

Klasmann-Deilmann thanks Moritz Böcking for his cooperation and the progress achieved in the transformation of the Klasmann-Deilmann Group. Moritz Böcking expanded Klasmann-Deilmann beyond the growing media business into new areas of commercial horticulture and promoted innovation and digitalization within the company. In addition, its achievements include the expansion of resources derived from renewable raw materials, as well as the acquisition of a subsidiary in Australia and production facilities in France and Canada, which operate in cooperation with external partners. He also significantly advanced Klasmann-Deilmann’s positioning as a global pioneer of sustainable development in the growing media industry, thereby making a decisive contribution to the company’s economic growth.

With Jan Astrup, Klasmann-Deilmann is getting an internationally experienced manager who has proven himself in the company and has extensive experience in raw materials, production, process optimization and technology. With the new CEO, raw materials and technology-driven areas for the substrate industry are now increasingly important at senior management level. Jan Astrup will strengthen the core commercial horticulture business and help develop the company for the future.

For more information:
Klasmann-Deilmann GmbH
(email protected)
www.klasmann-deilmann.com



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