maine legalization Archives

Is Marijuana Legal in Maine

October 9, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

Is marijuana legal in Maine?

Maine is one of nine states that have legalized marijuana. Here’s some more details.

Maine voters legalized marijuana

In 2016 Maine voters passed Question 1, legalizing marijuana for everyone 21 and older. 50.26% voted in favor.

Portions of the law took effect on January 30, 2017, allowing for the possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana.

Is growing marijuana legal in Maine?

It is legal in Maine for anyone 21+ to grow marijuana for personal use. They may grow up to six plants at a private residence. As with the provision of the initiative allowing marijuana possession, this took effect on January 30, 2017.

Are marijuana stores legal in Maine?

Question 1 authorizes marijuana retail outlets. However, the state’s legal marijuana system isn’t expected to be up and running until spring or summer of next year. Once up and running, the state will have a system of licensed and regulated marijuana retail outlets.

Is marijuana legal for minors in Maine?

Question 1 legalized marijuana for everyone 21 and older. However, it did not legalize marijuana for those under 21. Possessing, growing or buying marijuana remains illegal for minors as well as those 18 to 20. The penalties remain the same as they were prior to Prop 1’s passage.

Is it legal to smoke marijuana in public in Maine?

Smoking marijuana in public remains illegal in Maine. Those caught smoking marijuana in public as well as holding marijuana in the open, can be given a civil infraction (ticket). The ticket is a maximum of $100.

What other states have legalized marijuana?

Eight other states besides Maine have legalized marijuana for all uses. These are:

Colorado
Washington
Alaska
Oregon
California
Massachusetts
Nevada
Vermont

Of these states, including Maine, only Vermont legalized marijuana through the legislature. They are also the only state to not allow marijuana stores.

Washington is the only state that doesn’t allow marijuana to be grown for personal use.

Maine Governor Vetoes Bill to Establish Legal Marijuana System

April 27, 2018 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation that would have allowed for the implemenation of a marijuana legalization law passed by voters in 2016 has been vetoed by Maine Governor Paul LePage.

Governor LePage’s veto is the second time he’s vetoed legislation that would have established a regulated system for legal marijuana cultivation and sales.

In his veto letter for LD 1719 (published by Marijuana Business Daily), Governor LePage wrote that he “cannot in good conscience support a law that, on its face, violates federal law.” Fortunately the state’s legislature has enough votes to override the governor’s veto, given support doesn’t change among many legislators

Maine Legislation Would Repeal Marijuana Legalization

August 2, 2017August 2, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Legislation introduced in Main would fully repeal a voter-approved law that legalized marijuana for everyone 21 and older.

LD 667 was introduced by Senator Scott Cyrway along with eight other senators and representatives. All of the lawmakers sponsoring the measure are Republicans.

LD 667 would repeal Question 1, a citizens initiative approved in last year’s election with 50.27% voting in favor. The initiative legalized the possession and personal cultivation of cannabis for those 21 and older, while establishing a system of licensed retail outlets and distribution centers.

Maine Legislature Passes Bill to Fund Implementation of Marijuana Legalization

May 25, 2017 by Anthony Martinelli

Maine’s full legislature has passed a bill to fund the implementation of the successful 2016 marijuana legalization initiative and change the agency that will regulate marijuana for adult use.

The Senate on Thursday passed LD 243 unanimously “under the hammer,” without debate or a roll call vote, sending it to Gov. Paul LePage for final approval. The House passed it “under the hammer” on Wednesday.

LD 243 would transfer the authority to oversee adult-use marijuana from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS). The Bureau would be responsible for licensing adult-use marijuana businesses and creating and enforcing regulations. LD 243 also allocates $200,000 to the Joint Select Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation and $1.4 million to DAFS to implement Question 1.

Maine Legalization Initiative Survives Recount, to Take Effect January 15th

December 17, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

**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.

Maine Has Legalized Cannabis

November 8, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

**Maine has become the next state to legalize cannabis through the passage of Question 1.**

Voters in Maine have given approval to Question 1 to legalize cannabis. The initiative legalizes the possession and personal cultivation of cannabis for those 21 and older. It also legalizes cannabis retail outlets, supplied by cannabis cultivation centers.

The measure allows for the possession of up to two and a half ounces of cannabis, which is considerably higher than the one ounce limit set in the four states that legalized cannabis prior to this election; Washington, Colorado, Oregon and Alaska. Like the latter three, Question 1 allows for the cultivation of up to six plants (and 12 immature plants).

Maine Initiative to Legalize Cannabis Officially Placed on November Ballot as Question 1

June 27, 2016June 27, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

Like Colorado, Washington and Oregon, Maine's initiative would authorize cannabis retail outlets. — The initiative would authorize cannabis retail outlets. (Photo: IBTimes.com)

A Maine initiative that would legalize the recreational use of cannabis for everyone 21 and older has been officially placed on this November’s election ballot as Question 1, according to Secretary of State Matt Dunlap

According to Dunlap, the following is the exact questioning that will appear on the ballot this November 8th; “Do you want to allow the possession and use of marijuana under state law by persons who are at least 21 years of age, and allow the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?”

David Boyer, the Campaign Manager for the Yes on 1 campaign, says he’s happy with the way the question is worded.

Poll: 55% of Maine Voters Support Initiative to Legalize Cannabis on November Ballot

May 13, 2016 by Anthony Martinelli

An initiative to legalize recreational cannabis for everyone 21 and older in Maine was recently placed on this November’s ballot, and according to new polling voters are prepared to pass the measure into law.

According to the poll, conducted by Critical Insights and commissioned by the Marijuana Policy Project, 55% of voters in Maine support the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol initiative to legalize cannabis, which recently qualified for the November ballot despite being initially denied by the state (something a judge overruled); just 41% are opposed.

When asked; “regardless of how you feel about this specific initiative, do you favor or oppose taxing, regulating and legalizing marijuana for adults?”, support rose by 4%, with 59% in support to 35% opposed.

Maine Bill to Legalize Cannabis Filed

April 29, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

The possession, personal cultivation and state-sanctioned distribution of cannabis would be legal for those 21 and older in Maine, if a bill filed this week by Representative Diane Russell is passed into law.

H.P. 935 would allow those 21 and older to possess up to an ounce of cannabis, and to cultivate up to six plants at a private residence. Cannabis retail outlets would be authorized to distribute the plant to those 21 and older, with the retail outlets being supplied by state-licensed cultivation centers. Cannabis would be taxed at 10%.

Initiative to Legalize Recreational Cannabis Filed in Maine, Advocates Aim for 2016 Vote

March 24, 2015 by Anthony Martinelli

An initiative to legalize the possession, personal cultivation and state-licensed distribution of cannabis for recreational purposes has been filed in Maine, with the goal of putting the proposal to a vote of the people in 2016.

The initiative, sponsored by the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), is essentially identical to Colorado’s successful legalization initiative Amendment 64. It would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis and the personal cultivation of up to six plants. In addition, it would authorize cannabis retail outlets to distribute the plant, which would be licensed and regulated by the state.