Massachusetts voters are being asked to revisit legal cannabis at the ballot box this fall.

The big picture: The Bay State has become a key battleground state for opponents of adult-use cannabis who want to outlaw recreational sales nationwide.

State of play: The Coalition for a Healthy Massachusetts, the campaign behind the ballot question, proposes returning to a time when recreational cannabis was decriminalized, not legal. (Medical sales would remain legal.)

• The proposal, "An Act to Restore A Sensible Marijuana Policy," aims to reduce the risk of driving under the influence and prevent children from getting their hands on THC gummies, says Wendy Wakeman, the campaign's spokesperson.
• The campaign raised over $1.5 million by late 2025 from SAM Action Inc., an organization that doesn't disclose its donors, WBUR first reported.

What they're saying: "There have been public safety impacts, there have been mental health impacts and there have been quality of life impacts that people really didn't anticipate," she says.

Threat level: Massachusetts saw a spike in underage cannabis consumption between 2020 and 2023, but state health officials attributed it to hemp-derived cannabis products, which were unregulated until recently.

• Recent studies, including one from Mass General Brigham, suggest teen cannabis use has increased as legalization spreads, citing easier access to their parents' stash or poorly monitored websites.

Yes, but: Massachusetts dispensaries and online delivery services require multiple ID checks, cameras and, in brick-and-mortar stores, security guards, per state laws, regulations and business owners.

Go deeper: What dispensary owners are saying

E-bike sales in the U.S. have more than quadrupled over the past five years, but a spike in ownership has meant a spike in injuries, too, especially among young people.

Why it matters: The result has been evident in emergency departments, particularly among teens and younger riders.

• About 41% of all emergency visits for e-bike injuries in 2024 and 2025 involved patients ages 10 to 19, according to National Electronic Injury Surveillance System estimates.
• At Rady Children's Health Orange County, a Southern California hospital, just one trauma visit was related to an e-bike crash in 2021. By 2025, e-bike injuries had become the leading cause of trauma patient visits.

Catch up quick: E-bikes travel faster and weigh more than conventional bicycles, making them more difficult for inexperienced riders to control and increasing the risk of serious injuries.

• E-bikes use electric motors that amplify a rider's pedaling effort. Some models include a throttle that propels the bike without pedaling.

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🎓 Harvard ended its decades-long lobbying retainer with O'Neill, Athy & Casey, part of a shakeup as the firm's other clients also departed and the University ramps up its Washington influence operation. (Harvard Crimson)

A person found dead in a Mattapan rental property owned by Rep. Ayanna Pressley's husband, Conan Harris, died of a gunshot wound, police said. (CBS Boston)

⚽ President Trump made an off-the-cuff jab at Robert Kraft's Revolution during a FIFA reception at Trump Tower, contrasting the club's title-less record with the Patriots' six Super Bowl wins. (Boston.com)

🌊 Boston officials and the Army Corps of Engineers unveiled a draft $9.5-to-$10.5-billion plan to shield the city's coastline from rising tides, including a proposal to turn Moakley Park into a flood-absorbing basin. (Universal Hub)

The Boston dining scene sees a changing of the guard this week, from a long-awaited liquor license in Mattapan Square to bittersweet goodbyes on the waterfront.

🍸 Marabou Café (Mattapan Square) — The neighborhood's first sit-down restaurant just secured an all-alcohol license to pair drinks with its signature griot and diri kole until 1am, reports Sak Pase Boston.

• The milestone stems from a city program reserving 15 licenses specifically for the 02126 ZIP code.

🍦 Life Alive & Salt & Straw — A plant-forward staple and a cult-favorite ice cream shop are both joining the culinary lineup at the revamped Commonwealth Pier.

👋 Chickadee — The award-winning Mediterranean and New American spot at the Innovation and Design Building officially shut its doors on Saturday, July 18.

🍦 Momma's — The North Cambridge food shop just debuted a second outpost at the Charles River Speedway, slinging its famous maple creemees.

🥞 RIP to the Harvard Square IHOP.

• The Cambridge staple slung its last stack of pancakes, closing up shop after roughly 20 years.

Massachusetts voters say they're deeply worried about the impact of artificial intelligence, even as many regularly use it.

Why it matters: 65% say they're more concerned about AI's dangers than excited about its potential to aid humanity.

• Only 16% say they're excited about AI's potential to help humanity.
• Over a quarter say they don't use popular AI tools at all.
• That's according to a new MassINC Polling Group survey of 1,264 registered voters conducted June 23 to July 1 and sponsored by AI giant Anthropic.

By the numbers: Among the nearly two-thirds with concerns about AI, job loss and economic disruption top the list of worries (32%).

• That's followed by loss of skills or overreliance on AI (16%) and the spread of misinformation (16%).
• Environmental impact from data centers (15%) and misuse of AI power (15%) also rank as top concerns.

Yes, but: Usage of AI is split roughly down the middle.

• 39% use AI tools like Claude, ChatGPT, Gemini or Microsoft Copilot every day or a few times a week.
• 27% say they haven't used one at all in the past year.

Go deeper: What Mass. voters want for AI regulations

Thursday, 7/23

Ariana Grande brings her massive The Eternal Sunshine Tour to TD Garden for the first of three huge shows, 8pm.

• She also plays Saturday and Sunday.

Friday, 7/24

Truly Rooftop Summer Kickoff Party at MGM Music Hall at Fenway is a free, public celebration featuring DJs, games and a custom patch bar, 5pm.

Saturday, 7/25

Summer Warehouse Sale by Harvard Book Store is a must-go for bibliophiles.

• Check out the Needham warehouse for a massive weekend-long sale of overstock and remaindered books, 9am–7pm.

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