Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
"Question 1 is not just bad for Maine, it can be deadly," said state Governor Paul LePage in a warning to voters against approving a marijuana legalization measure. "We do not need to legalize another drug that could lead to more deaths."
With the governor's anti-cannabis rhetoric, it was no surprise when he vetoed a bill to regulate marijuana sales. It looked like the state might miss its deadline to set up a regulated market by February 1.
But now, state lawmakers are expressing hope that they could still pass a marijuana bill with LePage's blessing. The legislative committee in charge of setting up a regulatory framework has set up a public hearing on a new bill for January 5 and is seeking a meeting with the governor in hopes of reaching a compromise.
"I'm feeling positive that if we can resolve a few of these issues, I think there is a pathway to passing a bill," committee member Rep. Patrick Corey told the Portland Press Herald.
In his veto letter, LePage expressed displeasure with the different regulatory structures between the proposed recreational market and the state's existing medical marijuana market. He also questioned whether cannabis tax revenues would pay for the regulatory costs. These concerns could be addressed as lawmakers work on the new bill.
But mostly, LePage's grievance with the regulation bill is that legal cannabis conflicts with federal law. "The Obama administration said they would not enforce Federal law related to marijuana, however the Trump administration has not taken that position," he wrote in his veto letter. "Until I clearly understand how the federal government intends to treat states that seek to legalize marijuana, I cannot in good conscience support any scheme in state law to implement expansion of legal marijuana in Maine."
No amount of compromise between the Legislature and the governor will solve that problem.
And it's unclear how forthcoming the governor will be when it comes to working with the Legislature. Committee member Rep. Lydia Blume has expressed frustration at the lack of involvement from LePage's office, despite asking him to "participate on numerous occasions."
Still, a regulated marijuana market will address some of the governor's concerns with legalization in the first place.
"People will smoke marijuana in pot stores right next to schools, daycare centers and churches. They will smoke pot and sell weed and state fairs," he warned voters, alleging that pot could kill children and that employers would no longer be able to fire workers for cannabis use.
But the regulation bill that LePage vetoed last month placed restrictions on a marijuana business' proximity to schools and explicitly allowed employers to develop their own workplace policies regarding marijuana usage.
Even state lawmakers who opposed marijuana legalization last year are pushing for a regulation bill that would create some oversight of the cannabis industry. Without it, adult cannabis consumers would still have to turn to an unregulated market.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Maine's Regulated Marijuana Market Could Still Be Saved
Author: Mona Zhang
Contact: Contact Information
Photo Credit: Robert F Bukaty
Website: {{meta.title}}
With the governor's anti-cannabis rhetoric, it was no surprise when he vetoed a bill to regulate marijuana sales. It looked like the state might miss its deadline to set up a regulated market by February 1.
But now, state lawmakers are expressing hope that they could still pass a marijuana bill with LePage's blessing. The legislative committee in charge of setting up a regulatory framework has set up a public hearing on a new bill for January 5 and is seeking a meeting with the governor in hopes of reaching a compromise.
"I'm feeling positive that if we can resolve a few of these issues, I think there is a pathway to passing a bill," committee member Rep. Patrick Corey told the Portland Press Herald.
In his veto letter, LePage expressed displeasure with the different regulatory structures between the proposed recreational market and the state's existing medical marijuana market. He also questioned whether cannabis tax revenues would pay for the regulatory costs. These concerns could be addressed as lawmakers work on the new bill.
But mostly, LePage's grievance with the regulation bill is that legal cannabis conflicts with federal law. "The Obama administration said they would not enforce Federal law related to marijuana, however the Trump administration has not taken that position," he wrote in his veto letter. "Until I clearly understand how the federal government intends to treat states that seek to legalize marijuana, I cannot in good conscience support any scheme in state law to implement expansion of legal marijuana in Maine."
No amount of compromise between the Legislature and the governor will solve that problem.
And it's unclear how forthcoming the governor will be when it comes to working with the Legislature. Committee member Rep. Lydia Blume has expressed frustration at the lack of involvement from LePage's office, despite asking him to "participate on numerous occasions."
Still, a regulated marijuana market will address some of the governor's concerns with legalization in the first place.
"People will smoke marijuana in pot stores right next to schools, daycare centers and churches. They will smoke pot and sell weed and state fairs," he warned voters, alleging that pot could kill children and that employers would no longer be able to fire workers for cannabis use.
But the regulation bill that LePage vetoed last month placed restrictions on a marijuana business' proximity to schools and explicitly allowed employers to develop their own workplace policies regarding marijuana usage.
Even state lawmakers who opposed marijuana legalization last year are pushing for a regulation bill that would create some oversight of the cannabis industry. Without it, adult cannabis consumers would still have to turn to an unregulated market.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Maine's Regulated Marijuana Market Could Still Be Saved
Author: Mona Zhang
Contact: Contact Information
Photo Credit: Robert F Bukaty
Website: {{meta.title}}
