Maine

Published: Aug 7, 2017, 3:12 pm • Updated: Aug 7, 2017, 3:12 pm By James McClure, Civilized Your favorite raunchy party game is now the newest combatant in the fight to repeal cannabis prohibition in America. Yesterday, the makers of …

The Maine Department of Labor has advised most employers in the state not to test job applicants for marijuana use. It is currently illegal for employers to reject applicants who test positive for cannabis, because they may be legally using …

(photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons) A Maine marijuana dispensary aims to clean up their neighborhood with the help of free pot. The Summit Medical Marijuana dispensary in Gardiner, Maine offered grams of pot as a gift to those helping to clean …

Voters in Maine legalized recreational cannabis last November, and now, after months of discussions in the state legislature, lawmakers are almost ready to pass regulations and start the cannabusiness licensing process. But as lawmakers work to establish rules for the …

Just as cannabis legalization has swept through the West Coast, the northeastern region of New England is also riding the green wave. While Massachusetts struggles to implement its own voter-approved recreational marijuana system, the neighboring state of Maine has sought out …

For years, Rhode Island has been a medical marijuana pioneer on America’s prohibition-friendly east coast. But since the state’s first dispensary opened four years ago, a restrictive state law has capped the number of legal pot shops at three. But now, as neighboring states like Massachusetts and Maine prepare for full-scale recreational legalization, some Rhode Island lawmakers are finally ready to expand their three trick pony and double the number of state-sanctioned dispensaries.

According to reports, the State Legislature recently put its seal of approval on a measure (LD 243) designed to provide the funds needed to implement the recreational sector and put the job in the hands of the appropriate state agency.

On Thursday, the Senate unanimously passed the measure without so much as a debate or a roll call vote.

Best known for its majestic natural scenery, beloved U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, and Ben & Jerry’s ice cream, the state of Vermont has grown into one of the most progressive strongholds on the East Coast. Over the next few days, Republican Governor Phil Scott will either make a historic or disappointing decision regarding cannabis legalization. 

Although neighboring states like Massachusetts and Maine have already approved recreational marijuana through the will of their constituents, Vermont has the opportunity to become the first- state to legalize cannabis through legislative action.

Now that Maine residents have approved recreational legalization in their state, it's up to the Maine Legislature to set the rules for the new market. The newly passed Marijuana Legalization Act limits the amount of growing space for recreational weed to 800,000 square feet, or 18.4 acres. However, lawmakers are now debating whether lifting this cap would weaken the state's marijuana black market or make it stronger.

Proponents of the cap believe that if cultivators overestimate demand and grow too much weed, they will be tempted to sell their overage to the black market.

The nation is slowly, but surely turning ganja green.

As of now, Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Oregon are all part of the growing list of states leading the legalization campaign. But Illinois may also be getting in on the fun, and you have two Democrats (of course) to thank for paving the groundwork to make it happen.

In Illinois, Senator Heather Steans and Representative Kelly Cassidy are putting in the work to get the ball rolling by introducing a bill to legalize marijuana (Senate Bill 316 and House Bill 2353).