Title:
Maine Legislature voting today on medical marijuana changes
Message:
First the good news: the legislature is poised to approve a
bill that would make several changes to the state’s medical marijuana
program. Most notably, it would make registration optional for patients and for
caregivers who are family or household members of their patients. The bill
would also increase the amount of marijuana plants patients and caregivers may
possess and require the Department of Health to develop a process for
petitioning to add qualifying conditions, and would make several other changes.
Please call
or email
Governor Paul LePage to ask him to sign LD 1296.
Now the bad
news. Rep. Diane Russell’s bill to tax and regulate marijuana was defeated,
after having been amended to put the issue before voters. The House voted 107-39
to adopt the “ought not to pass” committee report earlier this week, meaning
it’s dead for the year. The silver lining is that more than a quarter of those
voting chose to advance the bill, including seven Republicans, indicating a
strong, bipartisan chorus of legislators in favor of ending marijuana
prohibition.
Overall,
it’s been a positive legislative session for marijuana policy reform in Maine.
Thanks for all of your support throughout the session. Onward!
