Maine House Says No to Legalizing Marijuana

Maine lawmakers shut down the idea of residents voting to legalize marijuana on Friday, as the House denied a bill 71-67 against the action that would have been voted on in 2016.

However, because the bill was voted on with such a close margin, many supporters say they feel optimistic that they will be able to attract more support in the near future with the help of state legislatures or at the polls. As of right now, there are plans on the table to pull together a citizen's initiative that will allow voters to speak out on the issue when they go to the polls in 2016.

According to the Marijuana Policy Project’s political director David Boyer, the vote last week had everyone on the edge of their seat. “It’s a sign that there is a lot of support in the Legislature and in Maine for ending marijuana prohibitions.”

The rejected bill has now been rewritten and serves to ask voters if they support the use and regulation of commercial marijuana for adults 21 and older. If voters give the plan a thumps up, it would become mandatory for the state’s Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to come up with a plan make marijuana legal.

Most lawmakers agree that a citizen’s referendum is unavoidable and that it would be wiser for the legislature to draft the rules rather than marijuana advocates. Even some that oppose the legalization of the drug concur that it would be better if the drug were legal.

To keep yourself informed on what's happening with the Maine marijuana laws, click here.