Maine Legislature Approves Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

A system of eight regional, state-regulated centers will be set up to distribute marijuana to authorized medical users in Maine under a bill approved by the legislature on April 7.

The Bangor Daily News reported April 8 that legislation passed in the state House and Senate implements a voter-approved medical-marijuana program and is now headed to Gov. John Baldacci for his signature.

Under the law, each Maine medical-marijuana dispensary will be licensed by the state Department of Health and Human Services and will pay a licensing fee of $15,000 annually. The health department also will set up a patient and caregiver registry and issue ID cards.