Maine Legalization Initiative Survives Recount, to Take Effect January 15th
A recount effort by opponents of Maine’s Question 1 to legalize cannabis has confirmed that the measure received majority support and will soon become law.
Mainers Protecting Our Youth and Communities announced this afternoon that they’ve abandoned their recount effort after it became clear that the results would end up practically the same as they did election night (November 8th); the measure won by roughly 4,000 votes, or less than 1%. The recount effort cost taxpayers around $15,000.
Now that the measure has survived a recount effort, it will go into effect on January 15th. The imitative allows those 21 and older to possess and use up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. This is the most progressive possession limit among the eight states that have legalized cannabis; they all have a limit of one ounce (Massachusetts and Oregon allow you to have more but only at a private residence). The personal cultivation of up to six plants will be legalized on January 15th as well.
Question 1 also legalizes a regulated system of cannabis cultivation centers and retail outlets; they are expected to be open until sometime in 2018.
The full text of the new law can be found by clicking here.
