A new bill filed today in the Maine House would make substantial changes to how the state regulates its adult use marijuana industry.
House Bill 1820, sponsored by State Representative Quentin Chapman (R), was introduced today, during the first special session of the 132nd Maine Legislature. The bill has been referred to the House and Senate Committees on Veterans and Legal Affairs.
Titled “An Act to Simplify Regulation of the Adult Use Cannabis Industry,” HB 1820 proposes more than two dozen statutory changes. Among its most notable provisions, the legislation would eliminate the requirement for licensees to carry individual identification cards, lift purchase limits on marijuana and marijuana products, and repeal certain inspection and labeling requirements that businesses say are redundant or overly burdensome.
The bill also prohibits the Office of Cannabis Policy from requiring licensees to waive legal privileges related to the release of information and makes it clear that video recording of marijuana deliveries is not required. Instead, delivery transactions could be documented through the state’s existing tracking system.
Additionally, the bill includes updates to the state’s tax code, establishing a formal definition for cannabis biomass and applying a $94 per pound excise tax on biomass or trim sold to other licensees.
Representative Chapman, who represents the city of Auburn, says the measure is intended to streamline operations for legal marijuana businesses while maintaining core regulatory oversight and public safety standards.
The proposal now awaits further consideration in the legislative committees.
