Maine’s greatest metropolis has entered the adult-use marijuana current market with the opening of Portland’s first dispensary, and, with dozens of retail license programs awaiting approval, a lot of far more appear to be on the horizon. 

Maine’s Street to Leisure Marijuana

It’s been a tricky journey to Portland, Maine’s very first leisure cannabis dispensary. When a referendum aiming to legalize marijuana handed by a margin of less than 5,000 votes back again in 2016, the expectations have been set: expanding and possessing cannabis was lawful for personalized use, the point out would create a licensing program for the output and dispersion of cannabis merchandise, and retail revenue were established to begin in February of 2018. 

Nonetheless, previous Maine Gov. Paul LePage experienced other ideas. In November 2017, he acted in opposition to his constituents’ will and vetoed the Marijuana Legalization Act.

“Until I obviously recognize how the federal governing administration intends to treat states that look for to legalize marijuana, I are unable to in great conscience aid any scheme in condition law to implement enlargement of authorized marijuana in Maine,” LePage wrote in a statement following the selection. “The dangers of legalizing marijuana and normalizing its use in our society can not be understated. Sending a concept, especially to our younger folks, that some drugs that are still unlawful underneath federal legislation are now sanctioned by the point out might have unintended and grave effects.”

Even with the governor’s imprecise issues, Maine lawmakers overturned the veto the subsequent Might. Just after months of creating out the program’s infrastructure, alongside with a slight delay caused by COVID-19, Maine dispensaries were authorized to open for sale on Oct 9, 2020.

SeaWeed Co. Leisure Weed Dispensary Opens in Portland

“This second has been a very extended time coming,” said Scott Howard, operator of the SeaWeed Co. dispensary. “As the first retail license issued in the metropolis, we are fired up to established an illustration of how a cannabis retail store can be a internet profit to our Portland community.”

Soon after the tumultuous get started to Maine’s legal cannabis current market, the town of Portland took its time in adopting regulations for marijuana shops. It was approximately a two-12 months method to draft zoning ordinances and operate out the licensing problem for the area government. Originally, programs had been to enforce a 20-retail store cap in buy to reduced the threat of flooding the new current market. Then, there have been tips to find retail licenses dependent on a program that favored specified candidates: Mainers, small business entrepreneurs, the economically disadvantaged, professional medical cannabis caregivers, or people with above $150,000 in liquid property. Nonetheless, voters denied the retail cap and a federal judge ruled that the licensing program was discriminatory. 

Now—five months immediately after preliminary recreational revenue commenced—licenses are ultimately currently being issued. In spite of the bumps in the road that led to this position, Jerrica Hanscombe, Portland’s Licensing and Housing Security Manager, is self-confident that current adjustments will guide to a far more vibrant cannabis current market in Portland. 

“In the many years I’ve been executing this, we have adopted distinctive ordinances, but this is the initially that’s so expansive,” explained Hanscombe. “We hope to be a city each and every other metropolis can look to for the most effective way to do this.”

With above 30 leisure marijuana retailers and dozens of other cannabis-related license purposes awaiting acceptance, Portland is prepared to lead to Maine’s expanding grownup-use marijuana market place. 

Added Resources:

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