Maine to Soon Implement Amended Medical Marijuana Laws

Maine to Soon Implement Amended Medical Marijuana Laws

Maine is set to put into effect later this year a number of amendments to its medical marijuana statute. Among the most significant changes to the law is the fact that patients will no longer be required to register with the state to use marijuana for medical purposes. The amendments will go into effect in late September of this year.

Other changes include patient privacy protections, improved access to medical marijuana (especially for low-income patients), and a rule preventing law enforcement officers from confiscating a patient’s entire personal supply of medical marijuana. Patients will also be allowed to grow their own marijuana outside in fenced areas. This is a change from an earlier requirement that patients growing their own marijuana must do so in an enclosed, locked facility. That requirement was cited by some as especially restrictive on those with low incomes, who may be unable to afford such a growing facility.

Patients who elect to not register with the state will still be required to have been “diagnosed by a physician as having a debilitating medical condition and…possess a valid written certification regarding medical use of marijuana,” according to the language of the law as changed by the new amendments.

The amended law also states that patients “may not be denied any right or privilege or be subjected to arrest, prosecution, penalty, or disciplinary action.” While law enforcement officers may not confiscate the two and a half ounces permitted to any medical marijuana patient, any marijuana in a patient’s possession that exceeds those limits still must be forfeited to the officer.

The amendments also mean changes for some caregivers. Primary caregivers who grow marijuana for patients who are members of the same household or family will now not be required to register as caregivers with the state.