Maine’s adult-use marijuana industry will have the strictest residency rules in the nation.

Gov. Janet Mills signed a marijuana rules bill Thursday that puts Maine on track to launch recreational sales in March, 2½ years after voters approved legalization at the ballot box.

The governor endorsed regulations that spell out how Mainers can grow, buy, and sell marijuana without a public bill-signing ceremony. The rules, which go into effect in September, make Maine the eighth state in the nation to have a clear path to a fully legal commercial adult-use cannabis market.

“Over the course of the last several months, my administration has worked quickly to implement the law regarding Maine’s adult-use recreational marijuana market as Maine voters asked the state to do 2½ years ago,” Mills said. “The rule development demonstrates what can be accomplished when state government works with lawmakers, industry stakeholders and the public to accomplish a shared goal.”

“With this law, we are one step closer to honoring the will of Maine voters,” Mills said.

The law will take effect 90 days from when the Legislature adjourned on June 20. [Read More @ the Portland Press herald]