Houlton rolls out 'cannabiz' welcome mat
Although Gov. Paul LePage signed into law emergency legislation passed by the 128th Legislature delaying the effective date for most provisions related to retail sales of marijuana until Feb. 1, 2018, Houlton officials are making sure their Aroostook community will be ready to capitalize on business opportunities arising from legalized marijuana when that moratorium has ended.
The Houlton Pioneer Times reported that Houlton town councilors unanimously approved an ordinance regulating the location of commercial and retail marijuana establishments and facilities.
“This town has been struggling for years,” Councilor Sue Waite-York told the newspaper. “We’re not in a position to let this opportunity slip by.”
Steven Porter, identified by the newspaper as a resident of Ludlow who spoke during the public comment time, said marijuana represents a big opportunity for Houlton and that he and approximately 20 other growers had financial backing to take advantage of it.
“It’s not a bad, ugly thing. It’s a greenhouse indoors,” he said. “This is millions of dollars we’re talking about.”
Terry Beals, owner of Beals Aircraft Service, expressed concern that marijuana operations in the airport industrial park could compromise future businesses the town is trying to lure to the site.
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