MA voters reject ballot question 8, preserving legal cannabis sales and 30,000 jobs

Massachusetts voters overwhelmingly rejected question eight, keeping recreational marijuana sales legal. 22 News reporter Sarah Bien-Aimé joins us live in the studio with the relief from two local dispensaries and what's next for those businesses. Claire, the businesses were definitely worried about a ban because some were locked into leases and loans and even gave their workers heads up notices in case they had to shut down. More than 75% of Massachusetts voters rejected Question 8 on the midterm election ballots. Everybody's kind of like giving each other the high five. Before Election Day, INSA Cannabis Dispensary was warning residents about the financial and safety crisis for Massachusetts if Question 8 passed. But along the way, they found some misleading information. And the reality is it was a $300 million tax on consumers. So what it was effectively doing is forcing people back into the illicit market. With the election now over, there's a sense For consumers. There's a lot of people who are in the adult use market that consume for more than just those social aspects. I talk to people all the time. They come in and they confide in me and some of their personal health issues that they struggle with. And for workers. The overwhelming rejection on banning recreational marijuana sales has several benefits for local dispensaries. And one includes helping the local economy. There's huge economic benefits as you've seen in Massachusetts, $300 million in tax revenue generated annually, $40 million of which go directly into cities and towns. This industry employs almost 30,000 people, so it's a very strong economic driver and hopefully other states will take notice. Now that Question 8 is off the table, both INSA and Days Cannabis in Holyoke are shifting their focus to the future. INSA is looking to expand. Meanwhile, Day's Cannabis has been operating under a new extended hours pilot program for about two weeks. But for Holyoke, the big question is whether those extended hours are here to stay. And both businesses also have or are planning customer promotions. Working for you, Sarah Bien-Aimé, 22 News.