Massachusetts could become the first state to repeal legal weed Tuesday — and give up roughly $330M a year in taxes

The bill would not impact medical marijuana sales. And adults who possess one ounce or less wouldn’t face criminal penalties, under the legislation.

What’s driving the vote?

Massachusetts’ vote to legalize recreational marijuana a decade ago was hardly a landslide victory for weed enthusiasts. In 2016, roughly 54% of voters said yes to the proposal. In 2008, the state decriminalized small amounts of marijuana.

Last year, a petition called “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy” gathered enough signatures to make it onto the ballot. Cannabis proponents have tried several times to block the measure in court, but have not found success.

Supporters of the movement point to a study from Mass General Brigham that found cannabis use and cannabis-related disorders had increased among 12- to 17-year-olds since recreational sales began in 2018. They also argue the tax revenue doesn’t cover things like lost productivity, increased health care costs and criminal activity.

Opponents point out that marijuana has become a $1.6 billion industry that supports 20,000 jobs. They also argue that ending legalized sales for recreational users will not curb usage, but instead drive people to non-regulated markets.

To date, no state that has approved the sale of recreational marijuana has repealed that legislation.