As Maine prepares for recreational marijuana,
The Legislature’s Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation begins the long process of crafting a structure for the marketplace.
While recreational marijuana became legal for Mainers age 21 and older on Jan. 30, retail sales of cannabis products are still at least a year away, so state agencies have time to craft rules for licensing, regulation and enforcement.
The ballot initiative passed by Maine voters last November prohibits the state from limiting the number of retail stores but does cap the total square footage of marijuana cultivation. The initiative also allows municipalities to prohibit or restrict retail operations within their boundaries.
Maine’s law allows personal possession of up to 2.5 ounces, but only 5 grams can be in the form of concentrate.
Committee members also adopted a set of “guiding principles” for their work. Those principles included language to “create framework that protects the health, safety and well-being of citizens and protects youth”; developing a legal system that provides guidance to employers, landlords and academic institutions; and creating a system of taxation and licensing that will cover the cost of regulation and enforcement.
Source: Maine lawmakers review marijuana policies adopted by other states – Portland Press Herald
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