maine marijuana Archives

Is Marijuana Legal in Maine

October 9, 2018

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.

Five Maine Men Indicted on Federal Firearms Charges for Saying They Don’t Use Marijuana

April 30, 2018April 30, 2018

By Betty Adams, Portland Press Herald (republished with special permission)

Five central Maine men were indicted earlier this month on federal firearms charges. Four have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are free on unsecured bail pending their next hearing in U.S. District Court in Bangor.

The fifth, Donald “Donny” Henderson, 33, of Winthrop, is set for arraignment May 4. He was issued a summons to appear in court and is represented by attorney James Nixon.

Henderson’s indictment says he made false statements on Feb. 28, 2017, while buying a Smith & Wesson Bodyguard .380-caliber pistol from Audette’s Inc., located in Winthrop. It alleges he checked a box indicating he was not an unlawful user of marijuana when, in fact, he was. The allegation is repeated in the second count, which says Henderson purchased an SCCY model CPX-1, 9 mm pistol on March 2, 2017, also from Audette’s.

Maine Governor Vetoes Bill to Establish Legal Marijuana System

April 27, 2018

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

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

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 Bill Would Require Health Insurance to Cover Medical Marijuana

March 17, 2017

A bill to require health insurance carriers to cover marijuana for qualified patients has been introduced in Maine.

According to H.P. 747’s official summary; “This bill requires health insurance carriers to provide coverage for marijuana for medical use for a health plan enrollee who has received certification for the medical use of marijuana from an authorized medical provider.”

Below is the full text of this incredibly short, yet impactful measure:

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

December 17, 2016

**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.

Successful Maine Legalization Initiative is Most Progressive in the Country

November 9, 2016

**In yesterday’s election eight out of nine statewide cannabis initiatives came out victorious. Among them, Maine’s Question 1 stands out as being the most progressive.**

Prior to this election four states legalized cannabis, all of them with a one ounce limit. Yesterday’s successful initiatives in California, Massachusetts and Nevada adopted this same limit. Maine, however, allows for the possession of 250% this amount; 2.5 ounces. This clearly demonstrates that voters – at least in some states – are willing to accept a limit higher than one ounce.

Maine Has Legalized Cannabis

November 8, 2016

**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).

Just 3 Weeks Until These 5 States Vote to Legalize Cannabis

October 17, 2016October 16, 2016

We are now just three weeks and two days away from the November 8th election. During this election, five states will be voting on the legalization of cannabis for recreational use. Three additional states (Florida, Arkansas and North Dakota) are voting on medical cannabis legalization.

Below is a short summary of all five recreational legalization initiatives:

Cannabis Legalization Initiatives:

Nevada: If passed into law, Question 2 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis. The personal cultivation of up to six plants, and state-licensed cannabis retail outlets, would also be allowed. Question 2 is the first among these batch of initiatives to officially make the ballot.
Arizona: The fact that legalization is up for a vote in Arizona is one of the more surprising things about this election. Similar to Nevada’s Question 2, Initiative 5 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of cannabis, the personal cultivation of up to six cannabis plants, and cannabis retail outlets, for those 21 and older.