In an extremely close race, the people of Maine just recently approved a measure to legalize adult use cannabis. Medical cannabis has also been legalized in Maine.
CBD from Hemp Oil in Maine
Hemp CBD oil is federally legal in the U.S. Individual state laws, however, are dynamic and some states have and will enact their own laws regulating hemp-derived CBD.
Medical Cannabis in Maine
Medical cannabis was legalized in Maine on November 2, 1999 when more than 60 percent of voters approved the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act. Under the law, qualified patients or caregivers can carry up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis, and cultivate up to 6 mature plants. A primary caregiver must be 21 years or older, and should have no prior disqualifying drug offenses.
Visitors to Maine who have valid registry identification cards to use medical cannabis from other states are allowed to use the substance for 30 days without having to obtain a Maine registry identification card. Visitors, however, are not permitted to purchase medical cannabis in Maine.
Maine has awarded licenses to 8 dispensaries that are now fully operational.
Approved conditions are as follows:
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
- Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
- Cancer
- Chronic Pain
- Crohn’s Disease
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Hepatitis C
- HIV/AIDS
- Huntington’s Disease
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nail-patella Syndrome
- Nausea
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
You can find Maine’s Medical Use of Cannabis website here.
Recreational Cannabis in Maine
In November 2016, Maine voters approved Question 1 to legalize recreational cannabis. Passing by just 2,620 votes, Question 1, also referred to as the Maine Cannabis Legalization Measure, allows individuals over the age of 21 to possess up to 2 1/2 ounces of cannabis, and the substance is regulated and taxed as an agricultural product. The law also allows adults to grow up to 6 flowering plants, 12 immature plants and unlimited seedlings. Consuming cannabis in a public place is not permitted.
Cultivation of Cannabis in Maine
The cultivation of up to 6 flowering cannabis plants and 12 immature cannabis plants by adults 21 and older is legal under Maine’s Question 1. The law also allows adults to cultivate unlimited seedlings.
Registered medical cannabis patients and caregivers can grow up to 6 plants, out of which only 3 may be mature at one time. If a patient has named 2 primary caregivers, only of them can cultivate medical cannabis.
Individuals in Maine can also apply for federal permits to cultivate industrial hemp under the LD 1159 Act of 2009.
Resources:
- http://medicalCannabis.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881#
- https://ballotpedia.org/Maine_Cannabis_Legalization,_Question_1_(2016)
- http://norml.org/laws/item/maine-penalties-2
- http://medicalCannabis.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=000881#Maine
