OLD ORCHARD BEACH — The town has enacted a 60-day moratorium on non-residential growth of medical marijuana.

The town council unanimously, with Councilor Jay Kelley absent, approved the moratorium at Tuesday night’s town council meeting.

Resident Pierre Bouthiller has proposed a facility at a former post office at 60 Saco Ave. that would lease out space to medical marijuana caregivers ”“ those licensed by the state to grow medical marijuana ”“ and would also have space for research and development of medical marijuana.

Under state law, caregivers can grow medical marijuana for up to five patients, with six plants for each patient. Caregivers typically grow marijuana in their homes, though Bouthiller said a non-residential caregiver facility recently opened in Sanford.

Bouthiller said the proposed business would give caregivers, who run the risk of theft, a secure space to grow their plants. He said he would also like to partner with scientists to do research and development.

Bouthiller said there is a lot of anecdotal evidence regarding the benefits of medical marijuana use, but not a lot of hard evidence. Bouthiller said state law will soon allow patients in hospices and nursing facilities to use edible marijuana, opening a new area for research and development.

Town Manager Larry Mead said the moratorium would give the town time to understand any ramifications of the proposed business, and give it time to create zoning ordinances to regulate where non-residential medical marijuana grow facilities should be allowed in town.

Mead said the state Department of Health and Human Services has not been able to weigh in on Bouthiller’s proposal because it doesn’t have a specific plan.

Bouthiller said because medical marijuana research and development is new to the state, he will work with the DHHS on a framework for the proposed business.

Councilor Malorie Pastor told Bouthiller that the moratorium would give him time to get answers and be more prepared.

“It will benefit you in the long run,” she said.

Councilor Kenneth Blow said it would be difficult for the council to act on a proposal for a research and development operation because the state requirements are currently unknown.

“How do you go about having a public hearing on something you have no information on?” he asked.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or egotthelf@journaltribune.com.