Congresswoman Helps Constituents Learn How To Buy Legal Marijuana One Day Before Maine’s Sales Begin

A congresswoman from Maine wants to make sure her constituents know how to successfully buy marijuana on the state’s first day of legal recreational sales on Friday.

“Starting tomorrow, recreational marijuana goes on sale in Maine!” Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) tweeted on Thursday.

She urged followers to read a recent Portland Press Herald article about what people should know before they go to a new cannabis dispensary.

“For example, the method of payment will vary by retailer,” the congresswoman said. “Do your research before waiting in line.”

Starting tomorrow, recreational marijuana goes on sale in Maine!

Check out the @PressHerald's "Know Before You Go" guide. For example, the method of payment will vary by retailer. Do your research before waiting in line.https://t.co/RIab7LEvLG

— Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) October 8, 2020

Maine voters approved a marijuana legalization ballot measure four years ago, but the system of adult-use cannabis sales is only coming online this week—a significant delay in implementation compared to California, Massachusetts and Nevada, which also legalized for adult-use on the same day in 2016.

The state’s Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) said it had planned to launch retail sales in April, but that timeline was pushed back due to the coronavirus outbreak.

Regulators finally announced in August that recreational marijuana sales were on track to begin this month, and the first adult-use cannabis business licenses were issued last month.

Also on Thursday, Pingree tweeted a link to a Bangor Daily News story about the state’s steps toward legalization, saying it contains a “blunt history of Maine’s marijuana laws”

A blunt history of Maine’s marijuana laws in today's @bangordailynews. https://t.co/1WSWlrWAUd

— Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (@chelliepingree) October 8, 2020

Pingree has helped lead efforts in Congress to pressure the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to create a system of legal sales of CBD products. For example, she is a leading cosponsor of a bill that would require FDA to allow cannabidiol as a dietary supplement.

She has also pressed FDA officials on CBD issues during House hearings.

On Wednesday, it became official that legal marijuana sales are coming to another Northeast state. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) announced he is allowing a cannabis commercialization bill that was approved by the legislature to become law without his signature.

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