Task Force Prepares To Distribute Marijuana In Maine

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Maine is one of only three states — along with Rhode Island and New Mexico — authorizing state-run marijuana dispensaries.

​A new task force is studying how, when and where medical marijuana will be distributed in Maine, WABI TV 5 reports.

The 14-member committee, assigned by Gov. John E. Baldacci after voters approved marijuana dispensaries in last month’s election, will advise the governor on how to implement the law with safeguards to protect public health and safety.
The rules are supposed to be in effect in 120 days. According to task force member Attorney General Janet Mills said “this time period is unrealistic.”


Office of the Maine Attorney General
Atty. Gen. Janet Mills: Marijuana timetable “unrealistic”

​Mills said her biggest concern is to avoid letting the dispensary law result in extensive litigation, as has happened in other medical marijuana states.
Thirteen states allow the medical use of marijuana, but only Rhode Island and New Mexico have dispensary laws comparable to Maine’s, in which the state is in charge of marijuana distribution centers.
Jonathan Leavitt of the Maine Marijuana Policy Initiative said patients are ready to utilize the state-run dispensaries. “Based on the response we’ve gotten over the past couple weeks, there are a lot of people in the state that plan on utilizing this medicine and using it effectively to deal with the conditions they are living with,” Leavitt said.
The marijuana task force is expected to make its recommendations to the governor by the end of December.
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