By Governor and Challenger Both Oppose Repeal
The Democratic governor of Massachusetts and her Republican opponent in next week’s election both oppose an initiative on the ballot to roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law. Gov. Maura Healey (D) told NBC 10 Boston that she will be voting against the measure because “the cannabis industry is important.”
The governor similarly said recently that she opposes the anti-cannabis initiative. “We’ve got to keep recreational marijuana here in Massachusetts,” she said earlier this month.
“It’s an important industry, the cannabis industry. And I hope the voters keep cannabis.”
Her Republican challenger, Mike Minogue, told NBC 10 that while he initially opposed recreational marijuana legalization in the state, he doesn’t want to roll the law back now. “I didn’t vote for it early on. Now with cats out of the bag, it’s regulated,” he said.
“There’s a lot of businesses and employees, so I’m not in favor of repealing it.”
What Question 8 Would Do
The candidates’ views are in line with those of most voters in the state, according to recent polls that consistently show a majority of respondents oppose Question 8 which would repeal laws allowing the regulated commercial sales of recreational cannabis and home cultivation while maintaining legal possession and continuing the medical marijuana system.
Polls Show Voters Rejecting the Measure
A survey from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and WCVB-TV last week found that the anti-cannabis proposal has support from just 31 percent of voters, including 16 percent who say they will definitely vote yes and 15 percent who say they will probably vote yes.
That’s compared to 47 percent who say they will definitely vote no and 14 percent who say they will probably vote no, according to the University of Massachusetts Amherst and WCVB-TV survey.
Recent polls consistently show a majority of respondents in the state oppose Question 8, the ballot initiative that would roll back the state’s marijuana legalization law.
