Maine Secretary Of State Notes Complaints About Anti-Marijuana Ballot Petitioners’ Tactics

OG article by Marijuana Moment

January 13, 2026

Maine Secretary Of State Notes Complaints About Anti-Marijuana Ballot Petitioners’ Tactics. Maine's Secretary of State Shenna Bellows has received multiple complaints about signature gatherers for a citizen-initiated referendum to repeal recreational marijuana legalization, who allegedly misrepresent the petition's intent. Petitioners reportedly framed it as focused on cannabis testing rather than its true aim: ending commercial cultivation, sale, purchase, and manufacture starting in 2028, while allowing personal possession up to 2.5 ounces and adding medical testing rules. Legislators raised concerns over deceptive tactics seen statewide and in past efforts. Bellows noted petitioners' First Amendment rights protect even misleading speech, but she lacks enforcement power beyond validating petition text and requires circulators to witness signatures under oath. She urged careful reading before signing and plans to notify organizers of complaints. Similar deception occurred in 2024 petitions and in other states like Massachusetts. The process relies largely on an honor system with limited oversight.