Legal Marijuana Sales Begin on October 9 in Maine

Legal recreational marijuana sales for adults 21 and older begin October 9th in Maine.

“Nearly four years after Mainers approved marijuana legalization at the ballot box, the will of the people will finally be effectuated,” MPP stated.

Adults with a valid state ID will be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana, which includes no more than five grams of marijuana concentrate. It remains illegal to consume cannabis in public spaces.

Maine’s municipalities must opt-in to the recreational marijuana program to locally allow for marijuana dispensaries.

“The delays were unfortunate and unnecessary, but in the end we’ve succeeded in replacing prohibition with a thoughtful policy that legalizes, regulates, and taxes marijuana sales for adults 21 and over,” MPP said.

Marijuana has been legal for adults 21 and older to grow and share since January 30, 2017. Legislation to establish rules and implement a regulated adult-use marijuana market was signed into law by Maine Governor Janet Mills in June 2019.

Eleven states and Washington, D.C. have legalized marijuana for adults 21 and over. As of Oct 9, ten of those states — Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington — have launched marijuana sales for adults. In the 11th state, Vermont, Governor Phil Scott allowed a bill to become law without his signature on October 7 to add regulated marijuana sales to an existing law that legalized personal possession and cultivation.