AUGUSTA
State lawmakers on Thursday unanimously approved legislation delaying the retail sale of marijuana until at least February 2018.
A referendum approved by voters in November gave state regulators nine months to adopt rules for marijuana legalization. The legislation will extend that deadline.
The legislation also makes clear that individuals younger than 21 years old can’t possess or use marijuana. Growing and possessing recreational marijuana, however, is still legal starting Monday.
The bill is headed for the desk of Republican Gov. Paul LePage, who’s called on lawmakers for money for the rule-making process.
LePage also wants the liquor and lottery agency to head that process instead of the agricultural department, which he worries could lose federal funding under the new administration for licensing marijuana.
The House rejected an amendment to appropriate $1.6 million to the liquor bureau for rule-making.
Democratic House Speaker Sara Gideon’s spokeswoman said funds should be available for regulating retail marijuana but that a joint legislative committee should decide which agency has oversight over rule making.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less