After conducting a public hearing on September 26, the Maine Legalization Implementation Committee agreed to further revisions to the bill that would govern the cultivation and sale of recreational marijuana and other aspects of the voters’ decision to legalize marijuana earlier this year. The revisions are in the process of being incorporated into a revised draft, which the Committee expects to be available for public review on October 10. It is expected that the legislature will consider the bill on October 23. If the bill passes, many expect Governor LePage to veto it, and to resist implementation if the legislature were to override his expected veto.

The committee adopted the bill, as revised, 13-2. The revised bill calls for a 10% sales tax and a 10% excise tax based on weight. Provisions allowing for internet and drive-through sales and permitting medical marijuana dispensaries to convert from non-profit to for-profit were stricken from the bill.