Maine Municipalities Looking At Bans Or Moratoriums On Marijuana Businesses

Towns and cities around the state are taking a cautious approach to the new Maine marijuana law that legalizes marijuana and are considering moratoriums on the sale of the drug within their limits.

Maine voters approved the referendum in November, and the secretary of states office signed off on the results Wednesday. But it could be months before the state completes the rule-making process governing the legal cultivation and sale of marijuana.

Meanwhile, the Maine Municipal Association is advising towns and cities to adopt moratoriums to prevent unwanted developments with new marijuana businesses until the regulations, including local guidelines, are approved.

Officials in more than 30 municipalities are at least considering local moratoriums and other measures that would ban pot sales. And at least 11 communities, including some of the states largest cities, such as Portland, South Portland and Bangor, have OKd six-month moratoriums on marijuana-related businesses.

A handful of towns, including Oakland, Skowhegan and Westbrook, are going further with a push for outright bans. Westbrooks city council president cited his concern about unknown burdens like the cost of lawsuits concerning marijuana licenses.

All of those unknowns end up taking time and money from cities who really dont have it, said the councilman, Brendan Rielly.

David Boyer, campaign manager for Yes On 1, said supporters of legal marijuana respect the right of cities and towns to regulate marijuana as they see fit and noted that local control of marijuana licenses is written into the proposed law. But, he added, allowing licensed marijuana businesses to set up is a chance to take pot off street corners and into legitimate businesses.

These towns have their head in the sand if they think they are stopping marijuana from being sold by putting a moratorium on marijuana, he said. Marijuanas being sold in every town in this state.

Republican Gov. Paul LePage has until the end of December to issue a proclamation of the referendum results. The law would then take effect 30 days later, allowing residents to grow marijuana for personal use in their own homes.

But LePage, who has called marijuana deadly, has questioned whether legalization of recreational marijuana can be implemented in Maine. He recently said he would seek legal advice ...