Maine medical marijuana caregivers can conduct certain sales at trade shows, marijuana industry events and some public spaces without obtaining an event permit from state cannabis regulators, according to new guidance issued by the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP).
The guidance, released September 2, explains changes resulting from Public Law 2025, Chapter 512, which took effect July 29. The law expands where registered caregivers may sell or transfer marijuana for medical use to qualifying patients and other authorized registrants.
Under the change, medical marijuana may be sold or transferred at “trade shows or other industry-related events regarding cannabis for medical use.” The law also allows certain transactions on public property, provided the location has not been designated by a municipality as a safe zone and marijuana sales or transfers are not otherwise prohibited there.
Perhaps most notably, OCP says these off-premises medical marijuana transactions do not require an event permit from the agency.
That differs from Maine’s recreational marijuana system. Adult-use stores seeking to make off-premises sales at specified events must obtain an OCP permit and receive written authorization from the municipality hosting the event. If the event is on private property, permission from the property owner is also required.
The new medical marijuana law does not authorize public consumption. Existing requirements involving packaging and labeling, recordkeeping and trip tickets, and verification that a purchaser is a qualifying patient or authorized registrant also remain in effect. Local authorization and approval requirements that apply to fixed-location caregiver retail stores are likewise unchanged.
Municipal governments also retain authority to regulate the cultivation, manufacturing, storage, sale and transfer of medical marijuana within their jurisdictions. OCP told local officials that the changes may warrant reviewing existing ordinances governing medical marijuana businesses.
The underlying measure, LD 1840, became law without the governor’s signature in January. In addition to expanding where caregivers may conduct medical marijuana transactions, the legislation made changes related to state medical marijuana sales reporting and directed OCP to take steps involving its medical marijuana research grant program and registration forms.
