We made it up to Haverhill last weekend for the “No on Question 8” walk held by all four of the city’s dispensaries. It was a major show of pride, right smack in the middle of town on a brisk busy Saturday. There will be footage from the action in our upcoming short documentary, “Just Say No!”—and below you can find the recap from Stem Haverhill …
The No on 8, Yes on 10 Cannabis Campaign Weekend sponsored by Stem in Haverhill and other local operators proved a major success, with more than 100 marchers participating in the Saturday awareness and canvassing effort and dozens attending Sunday events with NFL star Ricky Williams at Stem and a local restaurant.
The two-day effort urged Haverhill residents to vote no on Question 8, the statewide initiative that would end legal adult-use cannabis, and yes on Question 10, the Haverhill-only question that would pave the way for permitting of social consumption sites in Haverhill.
“I couldn’t be more happy with the great success we saw of getting people involved and helping educate so many voters about the crucial cannabis questions appearing on this year’s ballot. I thank all the volunteers for such a strong showing and Ricky Williams and my fellow retail operators for helping make this a memorable and important effort,” Stem owner Caroline Pineau said.
On Saturday more than 100 marchers gathered at City Hall and embarked on a 2.1-mile walk through downtown Haverhill, stopping at the proposed Stem social consumption site on Washington Street and ending at the Bradford Common at South Main and Salem streets. They then canvassed door-to-door to spread the No on 8, Yes on 10 message to Haverhill voters. Haverhill cannabis retailers Mello, CNA Stores and Full Harvest Moon co-sponsored the walk.
On Sunday, dozens attended a meet-and-greet and signature signing event at Stem with NFL star Ricky Williams. Williams and other former NFL players have launched Project Champion, which advocates nationally for the healing powers of cannabis. Williams then met with a packed house of youth football parents at the Essex Street Grille.
“This weekend was a great example of what happens when a community comes together to protect access, support responsible cannabis businesses and push for sensible reform. Question 8 would take Massachusetts backward by eliminating the regulated adult-use market, while Question 10 offers Haverhill an opportunity to move forward and create a safe, responsible environment where adults can gather and connect,” said Williams, co-founder of Project Champion. “These decisions are about more than cannabis—they’re about personal freedom, local jobs and giving communities the ability to shape their own future. I’m proud to stand with Caroline, the local operators and everyone working to make sure Haverhill voters understand what’s at stake on November 3.”
Pineau said of the weekend effort: “It’s vital that Haverhill voters are fully educated on the questions before them on November 3 because they will have a dramatic impact on local jobs, city tax revenue and whether the cannabis market is controlled by licensed, responsible operators or by street dealers who don’t check IDs and don’t know or care what’s in the product they sell. It’s also about giving cannabis consumers the same rights and access enjoyed by alcohol users.”
