Page 6 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FRiDAy, OCTObER 30, 2026 State Election 2026 Tuesday’s election ballot features nine questions – one that would ban the retail sale of adult recreational use pot By Mark E. Vogler I t was a decade ago that Massachusetts voters approved an election ballot question by a 54 percent margin which allowed the possession, use, distribution and cultivation of limited amounts of marijuana by people age 21 and older. Saugus residents voted against the measure by a 53 percent margin in the 2016 state election. Two years later, the Annual Town Meeting voted unanimously to ban the operation of any marijuana retail establishments in town. Town Meeting members softened their stance on pot establishments in 2022 by passing an amendment to the town’s Zoning Bylaws on a 31-13 vote MEANEY | FROM PAGE 4 before this year, forcing her to pay for her child’s schooling. “I think that’s huge,” she said of expanding access to universal pre-K, which she believes could spare other families the preschool expenses others have faced. Campaign manager Damon Mitchum estimated that statewide expansion of current pre-K to allow for marijuana establishments in town. The Board of Selectmen later issued two special (S-2) permits to companies which allowed them to locate retail marijuana dispensaries in Saugus. One of the companies, Sanctuary Medicinals, was scheduled to host the grand opening of its dispensary today (Friday, Oct. 30). But one of the nine ballot questions that voters in Saugus and across the Commonwealth will consider in next Tuesday’s (Nov. 3) State Election is a proposal (Question 8) to prohibit the sale of adult recreational use marijuana. The proposed law would allow currently licensed adult recreational marijuana businesses to apply to become licensed medical marijuana dispensaries and to sell their availability could take approximately 18 months to two years, accounting for legislative negotiations and budget approval and pending support from other lawmakers. Beyond childcare, Meaney’s campaign is exploring restrictions on housing-pricing algorithms, which analyze rental data based on demand and from competing properties to help landlords determine what remaining inventory of adult recreational marijuana to medical marijuana dispensaries. Proponents of Question 8 say marijuana is now the most common drug found in fatal car accidents in Massachusetts since commercial legalization. They say that for every dollar gained in tax revenue, taxpayers spend $4.50 to mitigate the effects of legalization from societal expenses, including increased healthcare, lost productivity and crime (like DUIs). Opponents argue that repealing the laws that legalize and tax the retail sale of adult recreational use marijuana has financial implications, reducing the amount that state and municipal governments received during the 2025 fiscal year: $280 million in state revenue and $50 they should charge. Mitchum argues that restricting certain pricing algorithms could help curb rising rents, although the campaign has not specified which specific practices it would prohibit. While affordability dominates his statewide agenda, Meaney also faces questions about longstanding concerns closer to home. In Saugus, Route 1 congestion TOWN OF SAUGUS MERCURY RECOVERY PROGRAM Thermometers Thermostats Mercury Switches Elemental Mercury Blood Pressure Units PLEASE BRING THESE PRODUCTS CONTAINING MERCURY TO: HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE DAY SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31, 2026 9:00 am – 12:00 pm (Noon) 25 Dow Street Saugus AD SPONSORED BY million in local revenue. Here is a summary of the other ballot questions that voters will consider next Tuesday: ● QUESTION 1 would make most records held by the state Legislature and the Office of the Governor public records under the state Public Records Law. In 2024, voters approved auditing of the Legislature by a 72 percent margin. But the Legislature continues to fight that vote. There is no organized group opposing this proposal. ● QUESTION 2 will give employees of the Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services the right to organize a union and collectively bargain with their employer. There is no organized group opposing this proposal. ● QUESTION 3 would elimiremains a persistent frustration. “I don’t have a specific plan off the top of my head that would fix that,” Meaney said about the traffic around the jughandle, a loop where drivers can change direction without making a direct left turn across traffic. “That’s a very complex problem.” He pointed to discussions about a traffic study and potentially closing the jughandle, pledging to work on the issue if elected. For seniors on fixed incomes, Meaney supports property tax relief aimed at helping longtime residents remain in their homes despite rising expenses. “We need people to age in their house with dignity,” he said. As a Navy veteran himself, Meaney also wants additional property tax relief for veterans, particularly those with disabilities, though he has not outlined specific legislation. Alongside his policy agenda, Meaney has made government responsiveness a central argument for replacing Wong. He has criticized the lack of access to the incumbent, citing difficulty contacting Wong during a dispute over road repairs on Route 129. Wong has previously disputed Meaney’s account, saying he contacted transportation officials and attempted to reach Meaney. If elected, Meaney said, he would hold office hours twice a month in each of the district’s three communities, totaling six days monthly. At the same nate separate party primaries for state election and require a single primary in which all candidates appear on one ballot, with the top two candidates advancing to the general election. Supporters say this will make elections more competitive. Opponents say this would limit voter choice by allowing the possibility that two candidates in the same party could advance to the general election. ● QUESTION 4 would permit eligible citizens to register to vote or to update their voter registration addresses at their polling places on Election Day. Supporters argue this proposal will provide voters the same opportunity that the rest of New EnNINE QUESTIONS | SEE PAGE 7 time, “You have an issue, call me,” Meaney, who continues to share his personal cellphone number with constituents, said. “You don’t necessarily need office hours.” Wong has also offered district office hours in the past, including monthly sessions announced in 2011, though his current schedule could not be independently confirmed. Campaign finance records from the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance suggest that something about Meaney’s message is attractive in his effort to unseat the longtime incumbent. As of earlier this week, Meaney has raised $95,534.84, compared with Wong’s $14,968.28. Still, unseating an established incumbent presents challenges beyond policy disagreements. “The biggest challenge has really been breaking through to a lot of voters,” Mitchum said. Whether the encounters from Saturday’s trunk-or-treat translate into votes remains uncertain. But Meaney said his reason for seeking office has not changed. “I choose to be here because I believe in these causes,” Meaney said. “We need to make Massachusetts more affordable, and we need to make our representatives more responsive.” This story is part of a partnership between the Saugus Advocate and the Boston University Department of Journalism’s Newsroom program.
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