Dark Money Is Fueling Prohibitionist Campaigns To Repeal Legalization

Out-of-state prohibitionist groups are using misleading tactics and are relying on dark money in their efforts to repeal voter-approved marijuana legalization laws in three states. We can’t let them prevail.

Here are the facts. In Massachusetts, the sole donor behind the petition to repeal legalization is an out of state group that refuses to disclose its funding sources¹. This same political action committee also recently funneled $2 million to support a similar repeal effort in Maine². Another repeal effort is in the works in Arizona.

And what precisely is this dark money paying for? Among other things, it’s paying signature gatherers to purposefully confuse voters³. In Maine, there have been so many public complaints that the Secretary of State recently weighed in, opining that canvassers have a First Amendment right to lie to voters to obtain their signatures⁴. In Massachusetts, a recently released poll determined that nearly half of voters who signed the repeal petition “say they were misled by the anti-cannabis campaign’s signature collectors.⁵“

These are the sort of underhanded tactics we are up against. Why? Because our opponents know they can’t win the debate on merit.

Most Americans are on our side and have been for some time. But in order to keep them there, we need to continue to present the facts and counter prohibitionists’ subterfuge. This is becoming increasingly difficult to do in an environment where shadowy donors are providing our political opponents with millions of dollars to   distort the truth.

But with your help, we can fight back. Your donation to NORML helps us arm voters with the truth. The truth is that adult-use marijuana markets create tens of thousands of jobs, raise millions in tax dollars, provide safe access to lab-tested products, and have led to historic lows in marijuana access by young people. That’s why, to date, no state has ever repealed cannabis legalization.

We can’t let Arizona, Maine, or Massachusetts become the first to do so. 

Help NORML ensure that statewide legalization laws are protected. We as a movement have worked too long and come too far to slide backward. Chip in today so we can mobilize more activists to fight these looming threats. Your help is necessary if we are going to defeat them.

Our movement is at an inflection point. How we respond to these challenges will define us.