Caregiver firms sue Maine for allowing out-of-state cannabis business owners

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Two small marijuana caregiver businesses in Maine are suing seven recreational cannabis companies and state regulators in a federal lawsuit that claims some adult-use MJ firms have owners from out of state.

Maine’s cannabis regulations say business owners must have filed state income taxes and live in Maine for four years, the Bangor Daily News reported.

But state regulators said they wouldn’t enforce the rule because it wouldn’t hold up in court.

Maine’s recreational cannabis market is off to a good start since legal sales began in October. Recreational marijuana retailers sold nearly $100,000 on the first day of legal sales.

The federal lawsuit claims out-of-state-owned companies remove a competitive advantage for the businesses owned by Mainers.

One of the plaintiffs is Dawson Julia, who is with medical cannabis caregiver Unity. Julia joined other caregivers in a protest outside the Theory Wellness retail store in South Portland on the opening day of adult-use sales..

Theory Wellness, which has ownership ties to Massachusetts, is named in the suit.

Other defendants, including Mainely Baked, Cannabis Cured Cultivation, Northland Botanicals and Spectrum Solutions, have ownership ties to New Hampshire, according to the Daily News.