By Barry Gainsburg “When I use a word,’ Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, ‘it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.’ ” — Lewis Carroll, from Through the Looking Glass Last week, the U.S. District Court in Northern California declined to declare the federal classification of marijuana […]
Maine
Former Sheriff Making Push for Full Legalization in Maine
A former police officer turned lawmaker is launching the fourth effort this year to legalize recreational marijuana for Maine adults. Rep. Mark Dion, D-Portland, has submitted a bill that would regulate recreational marijuana sales, tax them at 15 percent and allow use by adults 21 and older. The language of the legislation is being developed […]
Maine Gearing Up for Medical Marijuana Petition Drive
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine residents who are campaigning for their state to legalize marijuana say they have filed their proposal for a statewide ballot question. The group calls itself The Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol and it’s an effort of the Washington, D.C.-based Marijuana Policy Project. The campaign submitted its initiative Tuesday to state […]
Representative plans to introduce fourth marijuana bill to Maine Legislature
PORTLAND, Maine — Rep. Diane Russell is encouraging the state to get ahead of something she says is inevitable, the legalization of recreational marijuana use. She’ll be bringing her fourth bill to regulate and tax marijuana to the Maine Legislature. Russell said there are two referendums she thinks will be on the ballot in the […]
Gardiner officials welcome Wellness Connection marijuana dispensary
GARDINER — The former train station on Maine Avenue will open its doors next week for the 103-year-old building’s newest use — a dispensary for medical marijuana. While some in the community opposed the Wellness Connection of Maine opening the dispensary in Gardiner, city officials were on hand at a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday morning […]
Competing groups aim to put Legalizing Marijuana in Maine, Legalize Maine and MPP have different approaches
AUGUSTA, Maine (NEWS CENTER) — A new group unveiled its plan for statewide marijuana legalization in Maine Wednesday, meaning there are now two separate groups that hope to put a referendum question on the 2016 ballot. Legalize Maine held a press conference in Augusta Wednesday to introduce its plan. The group is focused on jobs, […]
In Legalization Battles, Alcohol Defines the Politics of Marijuana
When Colorado voters in 2012 approved a ballot measure legalizing marijuana, the state did not merely break new ground in the ongoing battle over narcotics policy. It also bolstered an innovative new political message that compares cannabis to alcohol. Two years later, that comparison is being deployed in key marijuana-related elections throughout the country, and […]
South Portland City Council votes unanimously to put marijuana legalization question on ballot
The South Portland City Council on Monday unanimously voted in favor of putting the marijuana legalization question on the November ballot, putting an end to weeks of campaigning and petition gathering for the measure. The city council voted 7-0 yesterday night to put the question of marijuana legalization before voters. Yesterday’s vote was the final […]
Pot legalization advocates get enough signatures to qualify for South Portland
SOUTH PORTLAND, Maine — Seven business days after holding a news conference to turn in their petitions, marijuana legalization advocates announced on Wednesday they officially have enough signatures to qualify for a spot on the South Portland ballot. “Voters were very receptive during the signature drive,” said David Boyer, Maine political director of the Marijuana […]
Dispensaries demystified: Shedding light on Maine’s growing medical marijuana industry
In 1999, Maine became one of the first states in the country to legalize the medical use of marijuana, but for more than a decade there was no system in place for patients to obtain it. In November of 2009, voters approved another statewide referendum, this time establishing the framework to create eight medical marijuana […]
