The latest version, which will go to the Legislature for approval, would relax packaging and residency requirements.

Maine is relaxing packaging and residency requirements in its latest version of proposed marijuana rules.

The changes come in response to industry complaints about the excessive cost and environmental impact of proposed packaging rules and residency restrictions that threatened to shut off the flow of out-of-state investment and expertise into Maine’s burgeoning adult-use market.

“The rules are the result of a collaborative effort between the state of Maine, our rulemaking consultants, the public, and the many stakeholders that participated,” said Erik Gundersen, the director of the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy. “The goal has been to put forth the best rules and regulations possible.”

The state office, created just four months ago, submitted its proposed adult-use cannabis regulations to state legislative offices Wednesday, transferring control of the circuitous 31-month adult-use legalization process back to lawmakers in hopes of launching the new market by the end of 2019.

The proposed rules require legislative approval before Maine can issue recreational cultivation, retail and manufacturing licenses. The Office of Marijuana Policy hopes to get approval before the Legislature breaks for the summer on June 19. If it does, it could start accepting license applications in November. [Read More @ The Portland Press Herald]