Consultants seeking to guide Maine state agencies as they craft adult-use cannabis regulations and review the medical marijuana program now have until Nov. 8 to turn in their applications.
Mainers in 2016 voted to allow adult-use possession and retail sales of marijuana. But sales won’t become legal until agencies pass regulations and get legislative approval.
Outgoing Gov. Paul LePage twice vetoed recreational MJ implementation laws, but lawmakers overrode the second veto, paving the way for the regulations to be written.
Here’s where the situation stands:
- David Heidrich, spokesman for Maine’s Department of Administrative and Financial Services, recently said rulemaking will begin once a consultant is hired. Heidrich estimates a contract will be signed in December and the work will start in January.
- The state has set an April 30, 2019, deadline for the consultant to develop the rules required to begin adult-use cannabis sales. Maine must start accepting recreational marijuana applications 30 days after regulations are adopted.
- In addition to writing the rec MJ regulations, the consultant will draw up medical marijuana rules to permit new dispensaries and allow caregivers to open retail outlets, based on a law the Maine Legislature passed earlier this year.
– Associated Press and Marijuana Business Daily
