Maine gov proposes delaying recreational sales until 2019
Published: Oct 19, 2017, 2:48 pm • Updated: Oct 19, 2017, 3:03 pm
By The Associated Press
AUGUSTA, Maine — Maine’s Republican governor is proposing that lawmakers consider simply delaying recreational marijuana sales, instead of passing a legislative re-write of the voter-approved marijuana law.
The Maine Legislature is set to return Monday to consider a re-write offered by a legislative committee handling marijuana implementation.
Republican House Minority Leader Ken Fredette said he is sponsoring Gov. Paul LePage’s bill to delay recreational marijuana sales to January 2019. Lawmakers had previously pushed back implementation to February.
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Fredette said there are concerns about the committee’s proposal and lawmakers having the time to read the 70-page bill, which would also delay sales until 2019.
Advocacy group Legalize Maine said the committee’s bill would make it harder to set up marijuana businesses. The bill would require towns to “opt in” to the adult-use marijuana market.
Topics: Maine, Paul LePage, recreational marijuana sales