By This week brought developments across the country, from a high-stakes ballot fight in Massachusetts to new zoning rules in Maryland and new attention on cannabis and menopause. Meanwhile, researchers and clinicians discussed what women in midlife should know about cannabis.
Massachusetts Congresswoman Urges Rejection of Anti-Marijuana Ballot Question
Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) on Tuesday urged voters to defeat a November ballot initiative that would roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law. “Cannabis legalization and regulation is positive for small businesses, local communities and restorative justice,” Pressley said. “And keeping marijuana legal in Massachusetts is both economic justice and racial justice policy.” She said legalization was designed in part to address the legacy of the War on Drugs through social equity programs, economic opportunities and investments in harmed communities, and that repeal “would undo this progress and have devastating impacts on the livelihoods of those who have invested their life savings into their businesses, communities and supporting thousands of jobs.”
Gov. Maura Healey (D) also said this weekend that she opposes the initiative, saying “we’ve got to keep recreational marijuana here in Massachusetts” and “I hope the voters keep cannabis.” A CommonWealth Beacon poll conducted by MassINC Polling Group shows 61 percent of likely voters oppose the initiative, which would repeal laws allowing regulated commercial sales of recreational cannabis and home cultivation while maintaining legal possession and the medical marijuana system. Just 27 percent favor it, 11 percent are undecided and 1 percent preferred not to state an opinion.
A University of New Hampshire poll showed 71 percent plan to vote against the measure, while an August survey found 55 percent opposition to 33 percent support. Ryan Dominguez, chair of the Stop the Repeal campaign, noted Massachusetts became the first state to create a social equity program directly supporting entrepreneurs impacted by the war on drugs.
Charles County Approves One-Year Cannabis Growing Moratorium
The Charles County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Sept. 29, approved Resolution 2026-13, a temporary moratorium on cannabis growing in most county zoning districts through Sept.
The resolution prohibits growing cannabis indoors or outdoors and establishing grow facilities in all base zoning areas except general industrial and heavy industrial zones. County Attorney Wes Adams explained that state law limits what the county can restrict, noting the Maryland Cannabis Act permits small-scale personal growing that the county cannot contradict.
The resolution exempts personal recreational growing of two plants per residence and personal medical growing of four plants per residence. Adams said five plants would constitute larger-scale growing under that framework. The board based the moratorium on its authority under Section 36-405 of Maryland’s Alcoholic Beverages and Cannabis Article, and stated it does not believe the moratorium would unduly burden cannabis licensees in the county.
