Cannabis Laws in Maine Cannabis Laws

Medical Cannabis Laws in Maine

• 1999 – The Maine Medical Use Marijuana Program
  – Although medical cannabis was legalized in 1999, legal access to it was still extremely restricted, and no dispensaries were operational.
• 2009 – Maine voters approved Question 5, which enacted the citizen-initiated bill, “An act to establish the Maine Medical Marijuana Act” (LD 975, IB 2). The measure created nonprofit dispensaries to help patients get a safe supply of their medicine. It also established a statewide identification card system to protect patients from arrest.

Recreational Cannabis Laws in Maine

• 2016 – An Act to Legalize Marijuana Question 1
  – Allows those who are not participating in the state’s medical cannabis program to legally grow and to possess personal use quantities of cannabis while also licensing commercial cannabis production and retail sales.
• 2020 – Recreational sales begin.

Benefits of having a Medical Marijuana Card in a Recreational State Like Maine

• One of the big advanatages is the lower cost of cannabis due to the difference in taxes. Medical patients pay 5.5% (8% on edibles), whereas recreational users can expect to pay 15.5% tax.
• Medical cannabis patients have access to a greater number of products, including higher potency products.
• Maine patients can access a number of services with regards to proper medical cannabis use.
• Reciprocity with other states.
• You only have to pay for the cost of certification in Maine – the medical card itself is voluntary and free!

Medical Marijuana for Minors in Maine

You must be aged 18 years-old or over in order to get a medical marijuana card in Maine. Those under this age can qualify as minors, but must have a caregiver. Caregivers must be 21 years-old or over in Maine.

Even if you have been convicted of a felony drug offense, you may still be able to be a caregiver. If the conviction was for possessing or cultivating marijuana or if you completed your sentence (including all incarceration, parole, or probation) at least 10 years ago, you can receive a caregiver’s license.

HP0772, LD 1098, Item 1 allows a medical provider with whom the child has a bona-fide relationship to possess and administer marijuana on school grounds

Cannabis Cultivation Laws in Maine

It is legal for both medical marijuana patients and recrational cannabis cultivators to grow 3 mature plants, 12 immature plants and unlimited seedlings in Maine.

Medical Marijuana and Employment Laws

“A school, employer or landlord may not refuse to enroll or employ or lease to or otherwise penalize a person solely for that person’s status as a qualifying patient or a primary caregiver unless failing to do so would put the school, employer or landlord in violation of federal law or cause it to lose a federal contract or funding. This subsection does not prohibit a restriction on the administration or cultivation of marijuana on premises when that administration or cultivation would be inconsistent with the general use of the premises. A landlord or business owner may prohibit the smoking of marijuana for medical purposes on the premises of the landlord or business if the landlord or business owner prohibits all smoking on the premises and posts notice to that effect on the premises.”

Read the full guidance for employers and medical marijuana in Maine here.