Maine issues first licenses for retail cannabis sales
Courtesy / Sweet Relief Shop
Sweet Relief Shop in Northport was one of two adult-use marijuana establishments to receive an active store license this week.
Four years after the state legalized the recreational use of marijuana by adults, the Office of Marijuana Policy on Tuesday announced it has issued Maine's first active licenses for adult-use marijuana businesses.
State regulators issued a total of six active licenses — three for cultivation facilities, two for marijuana stores and one to operate a marijuana testing facility, according to a news release.
“Maine will have the unique distinction of being the only state to launch its adult-use marijuana program during a pandemic,” Erik Gundersen, director of the state Office of Marijuana Policy, said in the release. “Public health and safety are themes that have been part of the Office of Marijuana Policy’s mission statement since day one. Accordingly, our highest priority remains the well-being of this new industry’s employees and consumers.”
The licensing continues the state roll out of its new adult-use industry and moves Maine closer to the start of retail sales to the public.
Beginning Oct. 9, active retail license holders will be permitted to sell marijuana products to consumers 21 years of age or older. In addition to "active" licenses, permits are issued on a "conditional" or "pending" status.
The newly-licensed entities are also the first establishments in Maine’s industry that may obtain and process marijuana and marijuana products for recreational purposes.
The Office of Marijuana Policy will continue to accept and process adult-use applications and intends to issue future active licenses on a rolling basis, increasing the number of establishments authorized to conduct retail sales next month, the release said.
The entities receiving their active licenses are:
- Gele LLC, South Portland (Cumberland Co.), license type Cultivation Tier 2
- Grass Roots Marijuana LLC, Auburn (Androscoggin Co.), license type Cultivation Tier 3
- Nelson Analytical LLC, Kennebunk (York Co.), license type Testing Facility
- Room 5 LLC, Detroit (Somerset Co.), license type Cultivation Tier 2
- Sweet Relief Shop LLC, Northport (Waldo Co.), license type Store
- Theory Wellness of Maine LLC, South Portland, license type Store.
Maine law provides for five types of cultivation facility. Tier 1 allows cultivation of up to 30 mature marijuana plants and an unlimited number of immature marijuana plants and seedlings, or not more than 500 square feet of plant canopy.
Tier 2 allows not more than 2,000 square feet of plant canopy. Tier 3 allows not more than 7,000 square feet of canopy. Tier 4 allows not more than 20,000 square feet of canopy. A nursery cultivation facility license allows cultivation of not more than 1,000 square feet of canopy, subject to certain requirements and restrictions.
Adult-use cultivators may initiate plant transfers from Maine’s existing medical program and harvesting marijuana immediately.
Over the next month, licensees will be able to cultivate and process marijuana, ensure those items satisfy the mandatory testing requirements of rule and law, and move product through the supply chain. Businesses that conduct retail sales will have to follow state public health guidelines.
Last month, the Office of Marijuana Policy collaborated with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the Maine Department of Health and Human Services’ Center for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a COVID-19 checklist for adult-use licensees.
“While the current health pandemic delayed our efforts and will likely contribute to a less robust introduction to the market than expected, today’s action is a start to the realization of the will of Maine voters to provide adults 21 years of age and older with a lawful mechanism to obtain marijuana,” said Gundersen.
“The initial market will likely be limited in both accessibility and product availability, but the industry will evolve responsibly and provide safe, convenient access to adult use marijuana over the coming weeks and months.”
The law allows for adult-use only, noted Dr. Nirav Shah, director of the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
“People younger than 21 are prohibited from purchasing and using the products as their brains are still developing and marijuana can negatively affect this development,” Shah said in the release. “Maine CDC encourages parents and guardians to talk to their children about these risks.”
Recreational consumers will only be able to purchase from licensed adult-use establishments. Unless transitioned to the adult use program, existing medical marijuana caregiver storefronts may only sell marijuana and marijuana products to certified patients. Maine law prohibits the sale of medical and non-medical marijuana from the same establishment.
A 2016 citizens referendum legalized adult-use marijuana in Maine. But implementation of the law was delayed under the administration of then-Gov. Paul LePage, and more recently by the pandemic.
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments