New Bill Would Allow Homegrown Marijuana and Hemp in Maine

With a similar bill being considered in Washington, a group of 35 Maine lawmakers is co-sponsoring a bill to regulate marijuana like alcohol on the state level.  LD 1229, an “Act to Tax and Regulate Marijuana,” would make the private possession and home growing of small amounts of marijuana legal in Maine for people 21 and older.

The bill would direct the state to license and regulate marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, testing facilities and retail stores, and it would enact an excise tax of $50 per ounce on wholesalers. It would also direct the state to oversee the production of industrial hemp.

David Boyer, of the Marijuana Policy Project in Maine said, “By regulating marijuana like alcohol we can take sales out of the underground market, generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue, and allow law enforcement to focus on serious crimes.”

LD 1229 has been referred to the State Legislature's Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety by Democratic Sen. Stan Gerzofsky of Cumberland.

If state lawmakers approve the bill this session, it will be sent to Maine voters this November.

You can view the full list of co-sponsors here.

Last week in Washington, U.S. Representative Chellie Pingree signed on to support a bill to decriminalize possession of small amounts of marijuana in the U.S. It would also regulate and tax marijuana similar to alcohol.