About Marijuana Laws in Maine
Currently in Maine cannabis news, LD 1789 and LD 1649 are pending votes in the House Judiciary Committee. Legislative Document 1646 establishes a system to provide for the expungement of convictions specific to marijuana possession. This bill also creates a fund to pay for expungement filing charges. Legislative Document 1789 expunges all records relating to criminal convictions or civil violations for conduct involving marijuana.
Maine’s medical cannabis program dates back to the 1990’s, with residents approving it by referendum in 1999. The Pine Tree State legalized recreational use of cannabis, with sales beginning in October 2020, a year after Gov. Janet Mills created the Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) in 2019. The OMP took three years to form after the citizen-initiated referendum legalized medicinal cannabis in 2016.
According to the state, notable changes now include “eliminating all qualifying medical conditions from the medical program, allowing patient access, for any reason, at the certification of a registered medical provider.” Additional changes also include allowing a caregiver to assist more than one patient and permitting dispensaries to become for-profit businesses.
The OMP specifies that only residents of the state may apply for a medical marijuana card and that “The Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Program provides patient cards to registered providers.” In fact, the state has never charged medical providers for the Maine medical marijuana cards.
Qualifying Conditions for a Medical Marijuana Card
Maine initially only qualified residents for the medical cannabis program for specific health conditions, including:
However, all of these conditions were removed from the initial list. In 2018, the change in legislation made it permissible for certified providers to approve potential medical marijuana patients for a MMJ card based on any condition they deem treatable by the plant properties. Maine does not presently charge a registration fee for a state medical cannabis card, which offers more legal protection, product access, and lower costs for cardholders than for residents without a card. To qualify for a medical cannabis card, a resident must show proof of residency with a valid driver’s license or valid identification card.
Becoming a Caregiver in Maine
To become a caregiver in Maine, an applicant must be at least 21-years-old, be able to provide proof of residency, and not have a felony conviction on record. Caregivers are required to submit a medical use application with the OMP. Applications for caregiver registration or renewal are approved or denied within an average of 30 days.
Additionally, the caregiver must undergo a criminal background check for the cost of $31. The OMP outlines that the cost for a registry identification card varies (between $240 to $1,200) depending on the number of plants the caregiver grows. The most a registered caregiver may grow is 30 mature plants and 60 immature plants. Additionally, caregivers may obtain fair compensation from a patient for any expenses connected with cultivating cannabis on their behalf.
Possession and Cultivation of Medical Marijuana in Maine
Patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces of a combination of marijuana/marijuana products and no more than 5 grams of marijuana concentrate, according to the OMP.
Both medical marijuana patients and caregivers are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and six plants at a time without penalty. Additionally, a caregiver can have up to five patients at a time, cultivating up to six plants per patient. Recreational marijuana users in Maine who are 21 years of age or older may grow up to three mature cannabis plants, 12 immature plants, and an unlimited number of seedlings for personal use. Under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act, these limitations do not apply to the cultivation of marijuana for medical use by a qualifying patient or registered caregiver.
MMJ Reciprocity in Maine
According to the Office of Marijuana Policy, the state of Maine has a reciprocity program in place with 26 states. Qualified patients from these states can use their MMJ card in Maine at a registered dispensary while they’re visiting.
Approved list of state cards accepted in Maine: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, Washington, DC.
The Site Trusted by Millions of Medical Marijuana Patients
No risk guarantee - get approved or your money back!
Intuitive online platform with 24/7 support
Appointments available on demand
Pre-qualify in under 5 minutes