Momentum in Maine toward regulating marijuana like alcohol

The month of August was marked by positive reports for marijuana reform in Maine. Public Policy Polling data released on August 28 shows that 48% of Maine voters polled would legalize marijuana, while only 39% would not, and 14% are unsure. Maine voters aged 18-65 think marijuana should be legal by a margin of 15 percentage points. On Thursday, August 22, Maine’s Department of Health and Human Services issued a report showing significant growth in the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program. Highlights from the report include the fact that 1,455 patients have voluntarily registered with the state, and 1,311 patients asked someone to grow medicinal marijuana on their behalf.

Thanks to the signature drive led by Citizens for a Safer Portland, Portland city voters will take to the polls on November 5 to vote on an ordinance that would remove all penalties for up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. If you live in Portland, be sure to encourage your friends and family to get out and vote!

Statewide, we are working hard to educate Mainers about taxing and regulating marijuana like alcohol by distributing tens of thousands of flyers to our neighbors to grow support for ending marijuana prohibition. Please send an email to maine@mpp.org to sign up as a volunteer. You can also check out our Facebook page to stay current on the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol in Maine. With your support, we can chip away at opposition to marijuana policy reform and succeed in making marijuana legal in the state in the next few years.

Medical Marijuana in Maine

Maine is one of 18 states that have removed criminal penalties for the medical use of marijuana to treat certain illnesses. If you are a patient with a serious illness who wishes to become a patient in Maine, please visit the program’s website at the Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services.

Maine voters passed the state’s medical marijuana law, Ballot Question 2, into law on November 2, 1999 with 61% of the vote. The law was improved by a ballot initiative in 2009 (Question 5) to allow dispensaries and add additional qualifying conditions. All eight dispensaries are currently up and running and no major problems have been reported.

In 2011, the Maine Legislature passed legislation making patient registration optional in order to preserve patient privacy and tweaking several other portions of the law. You can read a summary of those changes here.

Marijuana laws in Maine (non-medical)

Did you know that Maine is a “decrim” state? In 2009, the Maine Legislature passed a measure that expanded the state's decades-old decrim law by making possession of up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana a civil penalty, punishable by only a civil fine. For possession of up to 1.25 ounces, the fine is $350-$600. If the amount is between 1.25 ounces to 2.5 ounces, the fine is $700-$1000. Possession of more than 2.5 ounces can lead to a definite jail term of up to six months.

Of course, while removing the potential for jail time is a good first step, only taxing and regulating marijuana will solve the supply problem and completely remove marijuana from the criminal market. Please ask your legislator to support efforts to regulate marijuana like alcohol.

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