Massachusetts is poised for a contentious debate over an initiative that seeks to repeal the state’s recreational marijuana legalization, with significant funding from an out-of-state anti-cannabis group fueling the effort.

The proposed repeal would impose a $100 fine for adults aged 21 and over found in possession of small amounts of marijuana. Those under 21 could face the same fine along with mandatory drug awareness programs. Public consumption of marijuana, currently prohibited, would remain illegal under the repeal. The issue has sparked a fierce campaign battle ahead of the November ballot.

The primary financial backer of the repeal drive is Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), an Illinois-based nonprofit that had contributed approximately $1.5 million as of January, with continued funding expected. SAM has also allocated resources toward similar efforts in other states, including a $2 million commitment to a Maine initiative that did not qualify for this year’s ballot, and was involved in an unsuccessful rollback campaign in Arizona.

Opponents of the repeal have criticized SAM as an example of “dark money” influence, accusing the group of representing out-of-state interests trying to sway Massachusetts voters. Adam Smith, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project, which helped pass the state’s original 2016 legalization measure, expressed concern that repeal foes’ deep pockets could present an uphill challenge. “We’re going to have to win because we’re right,” Smith said.

On the other side, SAM’s representative Tim Sabet, who lived in Massachusetts until 2017, described the fight as a David-and-Goliath conflict between a small coalition of concerned citizens and a well-funded industry with substantial political connections. Sabet challenged critics’ accusations of outsized out-of-state influence by pointing to the significant role played by Washington, D.C.-based groups in the original legalization campaign.

The initiative’s appearance comes amid a broader trend of cannabis rollback efforts nationwide, surprising many given legalization’s steady expansion. Recreational marijuana is now legal in 24 states and Washington D.C., with Massachusetts reporting over $1.65 billion in sales last year. Industry representatives view the repeal campaign as an existential threat. Alex Gonzalez, president of Calyx Containers, a cannabis packaging firm founded in Massachusetts, described the situation as “absolutely insane.”

Polling data presents mixed signals. A University of New Hampshire survey conducted earlier this year suggested strong public opposition to the repeal, with 63 percent of respondents against it. However, critics question the poll’s methodology. Another recent poll by the Retailers Association of Massachusetts indicated a closer race, with 41 percent of voters leaning toward repeal, 48 percent opposed, and 11 percent undecided. Notably, the association itself, which opposed legalization in 2016, voted recently against supporting the repeal, citing the integration of cannabis businesses into the state’s retail landscape.

The repeal campaign has faced allegations of deceptive petition practices intended to qualify the measure for the ballot, though state officials have dismissed claims of fraud due to insufficient evidence. A recent video surfaced showing a signature collector allegedly encouraging voters to support the ballot drive to ultimately defeat it. Campaign organizers said the individual was hired through a vendor and has been dismissed. They condemned any misleading tactics and reiterated their commitment to ethical petitioning.

With Massachusetts voters set to decide on the repeal this fall, both sides are intensifying efforts to influence public opinion on the future of recreational cannabis in the state.