Indopedia All Things Marijuana
A state legislative committee is now wrapping up a second attempt at drafting regulations for retail sales, which will soon move to the state’s House for a vote, potentially opening the door for sales to begin next year.
Even though the majority of Maine residents voted in favor of legalization, many state politicians, including Gov. Paul LePage, are strongly opposed to legal weed.
State legislators have gone back to the drawing board, and a legislative committee has just finalized a new version of the regulations that will soon advance to the House for debate. “The last few months, we listened carefully and made strategic changes we think improved the bill,” state Senate committee chairman Roger Katz
The new version of the bill is even more conservative than the previous attempt at re-writing the voter-approved law. The number of cannabis plants that each resident is allowed to grow is cut from six down to three, and a provision to allow cannabis social clubs has been removed entirely. The new bill will also reserve the state’s first canna-business licenses for individuals who have resided in the state for at least four years, allowing local business owners to get a head start in the industry before investors from other states get involved. The new bill will set a 10 percent sales tax on retail pot sales as well as a 21.5 percent excise tax on wholesale cannabis sales. Gov. LePage has expressed concerns that this would not generate enough revenue, but analysts believe that these taxes will bring the state as much as $20 million a year, more than enough to pay for the implementation and upkeep of the regulatory program. Even if the Legislature quickly approves the new bill and LePage signs it, full retail sales are not expected to begin until next year. The state’s medical marijuana industry is also suffering as a result of the legal confusion over recreational sales. Some of these patients have reportedly decided not to renew their certifications because they believed that they would be able to easily purchase weed at retail stores this year. A brighter future may eventually be in store for the state’s cannabis industry, as this year is Gov. LePage’s last term in office. In the next gubernatorial election, voters may well be inclined to support a new candidate who is willing to implement the cannabis laws that they voted for.
