Legislation filed in Maine would make several changes to the state’s marijuana laws, including legalizing marijuana social clubs.
House Bill 1880 was filed yesterday by State Representative Laura Supica, and today it was officially referred to the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs.
The proposal states that cultivation facilities and product manufactures “may not sell or distribute cannabis flower harvested more than 12 months prior to sale or distribution.” Marijuana retail outlets would not be allowed to sell marijuana that was “harvested more than 18 months prior to sale.”
The measure also “authorizes social clubs for the on-site consumption of adult use cannabis and adult use cannabis products, excluding smoking, which includes vaping.”
In addition, HB 1880 “allows a cannabis store to deliver in municipalities that have not approved the operation of cannabis stores and to deliver to businesses or hotels if written consent is given by an authorized employee of the business or hotel.”
Below is the bill’s official summary:
This bill clarifies that adult use cannabis and adult use cannabis products may be returned by a licensee to the licensee from which the cannabis or cannabis product was received. It authorizes social clubs for the on-site consumption of adult use cannabis and adult use cannabis products, excluding smoking, which includes vaping. It creates a shelf life for cannabis flower. It allows a cannabis store to deliver in municipalities that have not approved the operation of cannabis stores and to deliver to businesses or hotels if written consent is given by an authorized employee of the business or hotel. It replaces the advertising and marketing restrictions on advertising and marketing designed or likely to reach persons under 21 years of age with a requirement that the Department of Administrative and Financial Services adopt rules that identify specific limitations on signs, advertising and marketing to minimize the appeal of adult use cannabis and adult use cannabis products to persons under 21 years of age. It removes or increases certain limitations on the amount of THC, cannabis and cannabis concentrate that may be used, possessed, transported or furnished. It makes the personal information of a licensee included on an application confidential. It requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to adopt rules with criteria and an application process for a licensee experiencing financial hardship to be granted a waiver or reduction in license fees.
