21.03.11 Cannabis Supporters Petitioning Maine State Legislators to Amend Rules and Regulations Regarding Medical Cannabis at the Augusta Civic Center
Following up on Wednesday's successful demonstration, over 35 cannabis supporters gathered in front of the Augusta Civic Center to petition arriving Maine State Legislators to amend rules and regulations regarding Medical Cannabis on March 11, 2021. During the Trump pandemic, legislators meet at the Augusta Civic Center instead of the State Capitol Building. Organized by Dawson Julia and Cynthia Soma Hernandez to greet legislators when they arrive at 7 AM. Signs, T-shirts, buttons, stickers and info leaflets were provided to cannabis supporters. Who, in turn, engaged legislators in banter and conversation while wearing masks and maintaining social distance.
The Maine Office of Marijuana Policy released a preliminary draft of rule changes to the medical program earlier this year that will bring the program in line with state law. The proposed changes stirred up Maine's medical cannabis community, who accused OMP of trying to stamp out the flourishing medical market by forcing it to align with the more heavily regulated recreational market. “The Office of Marijuana Policy is looking to try to put most medical caregivers in jeopardy,” said Mark Luce, owner of Bud Green Care in Newport. “It’s overreaching on steroids. We’re trying to reach as many legislators as we can.” The updated rules would require all independent medical cannabis caregivers, dispensaries and manufacturing facilities to use the state’s inventory tracking system to track all cannabis plants or harvested cannabis from “immature plant” to the point of sale or disposal.
Read MoreThe Maine Office of Marijuana Policy released a preliminary draft of rule changes to the medical program earlier this year that will bring the program in line with state law. The proposed changes stirred up Maine's medical cannabis community, who accused OMP of trying to stamp out the flourishing medical market by forcing it to align with the more heavily regulated recreational market. “The Office of Marijuana Policy is looking to try to put most medical caregivers in jeopardy,” said Mark Luce, owner of Bud Green Care in Newport. “It’s overreaching on steroids. We’re trying to reach as many legislators as we can.” The updated rules would require all independent medical cannabis caregivers, dispensaries and manufacturing facilities to use the state’s inventory tracking system to track all cannabis plants or harvested cannabis from “immature plant” to the point of sale or disposal.
