Maine Cannabis Regulatory Overview
On November 8, 2016, Maine voted in favor of Question 1 to legalize and regulate sales of adult-use cannabis.
After significant legislative reform, Maine’s adult-use cannabis market launched on October 9, 2020.
Maine Cannabis Key Regulator & Developments
Question 1 directed the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry to oversee licensing for the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of adult-use marijuana in Maine. The Maine legislature's Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation was formed with the intent of developing a framework for rules to be implemented to govern Maine's adult-use marijuana industry.
After further legislative reforms, in February 2019 Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy (the “OMP”) was created to oversee the market. On September 8, 2020, the OMP issued its first active licenses for adult-use cannabis. The market launched on October 9, 2020.
Maine Cannabis Locality Options
Local communities have the ability under Maine's adult-use law to impose addition requirements and prohibitions on adult-use cannabis activity.