Cannabis in Maine

As part of a larger trend of restricting marijuana in the early 20th century, Maine banned the drug in 1913; Massachusetts having been the first to ban sale without a prescription, in 1911.{{cite book|author1=Nancy E. Marion|author2=Willard M. Oliver|title=Drugs in American Society: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law [3 volumes]: An Encyclopedia of History, Politics, Culture, and the Law|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c5PgBQAAQBAJ&pg=PT726|date=16 December 2014|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-61069-596-1|pages=726–}}

In 1976, Maine decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis (following 1975 legislation), becoming the third state to do so.{{cite book|title=The Decriminalization of Marijuana and the Maine Criminal Justice System: A Time/cost Analysis-1979|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BX9KAQAAMAAJ|year=1979|publisher=Maine Office of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Prevention|quote=In June of 1975, the Maine Criminal Code was signed into law, thereby making Maine the third state to "decriminalize" possession of marijuana. The law took effect on May 1, 1976, }}{{cite web|last=Shepherd |first=Michael |url=http://bangordailynews.com/2016/05/04/the-point/what-stands-between-maine-and-legal-marijuana-use/ |title=What stands between Maine and legal marijuana use? | BDN Maine |publisher=Bangordailynews.com |date=2016-05-04 |access-date=2016-11-10}}

On November 2, 1999, Maine legalized medical marijuana when 62% of the populace voted yes on Question 2.{{cite web |url=http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/ref99a.htm |title=Referendum Election Results, Questions 1-3 - November 2, 1999 (Secretary of State, State of Maine, U.S.A.) |publisher=Maine.gov |date=1999-11-02 |access-date=2014-02-04 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106170958/http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/ref99a.htm |archive-date=November 6, 2014 }}

On May 1, 2009, Maine decriminalized marijuana when Governor John Baldacci signed legislation (LD 250) which made possession of {{convert|2+1/2|oz|g}} or less a civil infraction.{{cite web|url=http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/chapters/PUBLIC67.asp |title=PUBLIC Law, Chapter 67, An Act To Streamline and Clarify Laws Pertaining to the Civil and Criminal Possession of Marijuana |publisher=Mainelegislature.org |access-date=2014-02-04}}

On November 5, 2013, voters in Portland passed Question 1 by 67% which legalized the possession of {{convert|2+1/2|oz|g}} within the city's limits.{{cite web|url=http://www.pressherald.com/news/Portland_could_set_precedent_with_marijuana_vote.html |title=Portland voters legalize marijuana | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram |publisher=Pressherald.com |date=2013-11-07 |access-date=2014-02-04}}{{cite web |url=http://maineelections.bangordailynews.com/ |title=Maine 2013 General Election results — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine |publisher=Maineelections.bangordailynews.com |access-date=2014-02-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612221401/http://maineelections.bangordailynews.com/# |archive-date=2010-06-12 |url-status=dead }}

The separate municipality of South Portland voted to legalize marijuana in November 2014, succeeding with 6,326 to 5,755 in favor. During the same election, the city of Lewiston voted down legalization, 7,366 to 6,044 against.{{cite news|last1=Graham|first1=Gilliam|title=Pot legalization approved in South Portland, defeated in Lewiston|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2014/11/04/south-portland-voters-support-legalizing-recreational-marijuana/|access-date=1 March 2015|work=Portland Press Herald|date=4 November 2014}}

{{main|Maine Question 1, 2016}}

File:2016 Maine Question 1 Results By County.png results by county:

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

For

{{Legend|#47729e|55%–57.49%}}

{{Legend|#7d9cbb|52.5%–54.99%}}

{{Legend|#b6c8d9|50%–52.49%}}

{{col-2}}

Against

{{Legend|#dedebd|52.51%–50.01%}}

{{Legend|#bcbc83|55%–52.51%}}

{{Legend|#8b8b54|60%–57.51%}}

{{Legend|#6b6b01|65%–62.51%}}

{{col-end}}

]]

The Marijuana Legalization Act, which was to take effect within 40 days of November 8, 2016 permits adults 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. The law imposes a 10 percent tax on commercial marijuana sales. Under the law, localities have the authority to regulate, limit, or prohibit the operation of marijuana businesses. Onsite consumption is permitted under the law in establishments licensed for such activity.{{cite web|url=http://blog.norml.org/2016/11/09/maine-legalizes-recreational-marijuana/ |title=Maine Legalizes Recreational Marijuana |date=9 November 2016 |publisher=norml.org |access-date=2016-11-09}}{{cite news |title=Marijuana to become legal in Maine; Question 1 passes with narrow margin|author=Patrick Whittle|agency=Associated Press|work=Sun-Journal|location=Lewiston, Maine|url=https://www.sunjournal.com/2016/11/10/marijuana-become-legal-maine-question-1-passes-narrow-margin/ |access-date=24 January 2021}} Retail sales were set to begin in February 2018, in order to allow agencies to form regulations for the new industry.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/30/recreational-marijuana-is-now-legal-in-maine-heres-what-you-need-to-know/|title=Recreational marijuana is now legal in Maine. Here's what you need to know|date=30 January 2017}}

In November 2017, Governor LePage vetoed a bill to tax and regulate recreational cannabis sales, citing conflicts with federal law.{{Cite web|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2017/11/03/politics/lepage-vetoes-bill-to-regulate-marijuana-sales-in-maine/|title = LePage vetoes bill to regulate marijuana sales in Maine|date = 3 November 2017}} LePage's veto was overturned by the state legislature on May 2, 2018, allowing the bill to become law.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2018/05/02/house-overturns-lepage-veto-on-recreational-marijuana-bill/|title = Recreational marijuana is now legal in Maine – sort of. Now the state has to write the rules|date = 2 May 2018}}

Sales were projected to begin in spring of 2020,{{Cite web|url=https://bangordailynews.com/2019/05/19/politics/maine-hopes-to-avoid-pitfalls-during-marijuana-legalization-push/ |title=Maine hopes to avoid pitfalls during marijuana legalization push|last=Whittle|first=Patrick|date=May 19, 2019|website=Bangor Daily News|language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-21}} though the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the timeline.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/10/pandemic-puts-maine-adult-use-cannabis-market-on-hold/|title=Pandemic puts launch of Maine's recreational marijuana market on hold|date=10 April 2020}}

After Maine citizens voted to legalize recreational cannabis in November 2016, Maine dispensaries were allowed to sell recreational cannabis products starting October 9, 2020. That year, Maine recorded over $111 million in medical marijuana sales. Currently adult use marijuana sales are taxed at 10 percent. {{Cite web|url=https://www.nhhempstore.com/maine-legalizes-recreational-cannabis-in-2020|title = Maine Legalizes Recreational Cannabis Sales in 2020}}{{better source needed|date=January 2021}}

• Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction

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{{Cannabis in the United States}}

{{Agriculture in the United States}}