Cannabis Report – Page 51 – The Portland Press Herald

Farmington joins communities passing marijuana moratoriums

The town’s planning board put a six-month hold on implementing the changes passed by the legal pot referendum.

The city joins more than a half-dozen other Maine communities that are giving themselves time to adopt ordinances regulating marijuana locally.

The signatures have been certified on petitions calling for the recounts, the Secretary of State’s Office says.

If the Secretary of State’s Office and the governor take the maximum time allowed, the effective date could be Jan. 7.

A city councilor says some residents are concerned about the effect of legalization on a state that’s struggling with opioid addiction.

The group intends to submit petitions by Wednesday, hoping the month-long recount will erase Question 1’s unofficial winning margin of 4,402 votes.

But one thing is clear: A huge new industry is sprouting up in Maine.

Supporters claim a win based on unofficial vote totals, but potential challenges remain, including a likely recount and resistance from Gov. LePage.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, the margin was just 3,187 votes out of 749,059 cast on Question 1.

With 97 percent of Maine precincts reporting, the “Yes” vote is leading by less than one percent.