There’s another effort brewing to undermine a state voter-approved marijuana law—this time in Maine, where a citizen initiative backed by GOP operatives has been submitted in hopes of rolling back the commercial adult-use market.
Almost 10 years after Maine voters passed a recreational legalization measure at the ballot, a group of voters—including a Republican state senator and a former top staffer to then-Gov. Paul LePage (R), a staunch prohibitionist—filed a petition to repeal much of the law with the secretary of state’s office last month.
The announcement comes at the same time as another campaign in Massachusetts claims to be “on course” to collect enough signatures for their own initiative that would rollback cannabis legalization in Massachusetts on its 2026 ballot.
The citizen initiative in Maine led by Madison Carey, and signed by Scott Cyrway, former LePage Senior Policy Advisor Nicholas Adolphsen, and other state senators, calls for a repeal of all current laws allowing the sale of marijuana to adults. It also strips consumers of their right to cultivate plants at home for personal consumption.
Adults would still be able to legally possess marijuana upto 2.5 ounces. Medical cannabis would also remain legal in the state.
A spokesperson from that office said to MEDCAN24 that petitioners had “requested changes in the bill proposed by the Revisor’s Office.”
They said, “Once it is returned, then the staff at Elections can design the petition and release it.”
Carey did not respond immediately to a MEDCAN24 request for a statement. There is no indication of what changes the chief petitioner, Carey, wants to see made to the ballot.
In its current form, the initiative does, however detail a procedure by which the Office of Cannabis Policy must streamline the requests of existing adult-use business owners to become licensed medical marijuana businesses.
Cannabis products sold in retail shops could also be transferred or sold to licensed medical marijuana users.
Rep. David Boyer, who was a member of the Marijuana Policy Project and led the campaign to get the marijuana legalization measure on the Maine ballot in 2016, told MEDCAN24 that he’s “deeply worried” about the new prohibitionist campaigns.
This effort disregards the wishes of Maine’s voters who, nearly a century ago, chose to end prohibition. Maine’s legalization has resulted in hundreds of millions dollars of tax revenue, created thousands of high-paying jobs, and transformed a black market into a safe and regulated one that places a priority on consumer safety and quality.
Boyer explained that “we’ve avoided the traps seen in other States by cultivating a market which supports local businesses and growers.” The decision to turn back is a bad one. It would encourage criminals, cost taxpayers money in ineffective enforcement efforts, and impede the rights of responsible adults.
There have been numerous recent attempts in state legislatures to weaken marijuana laws. This has generated criticism from reform advocates, who blamed primarily GOP legislators for acting against the wishes of the majority.
—
MEDCAN24 tracks hundreds of marijuana, psychedelics, and drug policy legislation in state legislatures this year. Patreon subscribers who donate at least $25/month have access to the interactive maps and charts, as well as our hearing calendar.
Find out more about our marijuana law tracker. To get access, become a Patreon supporter.
—
Back in Maine, legislators in June reversed course and rejected a bill to legalize possession of up to one ounce of psilocybin by adults 21 and older.
It was a follow-up to a separate attempt in the State last year, to legalize and permit adults to have access to the psychedelic through state licensed facilities. But lawmakers watered down that bill—amending it to create a commission to further explore the reform instead—and it ultimately did not pass.
Meanwhile, Maine lawmakers in February voted to investigate possible conflicts of interest by a top marijuana official.
And last year, a law took effect allowing people to apply to have records of now-legal marijuana crimes sealed.
You can find the full text of Maine’s draft ballot to eliminate the marijuana commercial market here:
MEDCAN24 would not be possible without the support of readers. Please consider making a Patreon monthly pledge if you depend on our cannabis journalism for information.
