Maine lawmakers overrule governor, paving way for new medical marijuana reform

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Maine lawmakers override governor medical marijuana vetoes, Maine lawmakers overrule governor, paving way for new medical marijuana reform

(This story has been updated from an earlier version.)

Maine’s legislators on Monday voted to override Gov. Paul LePage’s vetoes of two medical marijuana bills.

The move is a big win for MMJ businesses in the state since it gives them more say in how they operate as well as more flexibility, Sen. Eric Brakey, the sponsor of Legislative Document (LD) 1539, told Marijuana Business Daily.

One measure, LD 1539, will become law 90 days after the state’s legislative session ends, and LD 238, drafted as an emergency bill, will become law immediately.

According to the Portland Press Herald, the new laws will:

  • Eliminate qualifying conditions and allow doctors to recommend medical marijuana for any medical reason.
  • Allow six more MMJ retail operations to qualify for licenses.
  • Eliminate the cap on retail licenses in three years.
  • Allow dispensaries to convert from nonprofit to for-profit status.
  • Give dispensaries and caregivers a green light to expense equipment costs on their state taxes.
  • Eliminate employee and patient caps for caregivers.
  • Allow caregivers to open storefronts.
  • Create criteria for third-party extraction facilities to operate legally until regulatory bodies establish a new license for these types of businesses.