A bipartisan group of Maine lawmakers filed a bill today to establish a separate regulatory pathway for sun-grown marijuana cultivation, with licensing fees significantly lower than those for indoor growers.
The legislation, titled An Act Regarding Sun-grown Cultivation in the Medical Use and Adult Use Cannabis Industries, is sponsored by Representative Grayson Osher (D) and cosponsored by a diverse mix of Republicans and Democrats from both legislative chambers. The proposal has been referred to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs.
If enacted, the bill would officially define “sun-grown cultivation” and “sun-grown cultivator” in state law, applying to those who grow marijuana outdoors using sunlight as the primary light source and limited electricity. The proposal includes increased plant count and canopy allowances for these cultivators, along with new registration fee structures tailored to outdoor operations.
For the adult-use industry, sun-grown cultivation would be subject to a separate licensing fee structure, typically set at a lower rate than indoor operations. For example, a Tier 4 sun-grown cultivation facility would pay a maximum license fee of $15,000 compared to $30,000 for an indoor equivalent.
On the medical side, sun-grown caregivers would be allowed to grow up to 150 mature plants or use up to 2,500 square feet of canopy per year, substantially higher than standard allowances under current law. New provisions also include updated rules for cultivation security, a 30-day grace period for new staff pending identification card approval, and repeal of certain existing restrictions such as the prohibition on cannabis collectives and mandatory yeast and mold testing for adult-use products.
With Maine’s outdoor growing season and longstanding agricultural traditions, supporters of the bill argue that it promotes sustainability, economic opportunity, and environmental efficiency within the state’s legal marijuana sector.
