Marijuana in Maine: A year older, a year higher

A lot can change in a year. And because of that, adult-use recreational marijuana businesses in Maine have one refrain:

Far out, man.

Maine officially legalized retail recreational marijuana sales to people 21 and over on Oct. 9, 2020. It was the culmination of a battle that lasted years, including approval from voters in a November 2016 referendum.

Some municipalities, like South Portland, were out of the gate with licensed dispensaries on day one. But the city of Portland dragged its feet, trying at first to employ a controversial – and complicated – matrix system, which would have awarded points to applicants based on various criteria. The 20 applicants who scored the highest would have been awarded the city’s only licenses. But Portland dropped that plan after it was challenged in the courts.

According to Jessica Hanscombe, the city’s director of permitting and inspections, 23 licenses have been issued to various marijuana businesses in Portland since March, including adult-use retail stores, manufacturing facilities, testing facilities, and businesses that are both retail and medical. Another 53 applications are under review, Hanscombe said.

Read more: https://portlandphoenix.me/marijuana-in-maine-a-year-older-a-year-higher/