Maine sets date for recreational marijuana sales

File Photo / Tim Greenway “The strong month-over-month growth here in Maine, just seven months after the official launch of the industry, suggests more and more consumers are choosing the tested, tracked and well-regulated market over the illicit market," said Erik Gundersen, director of Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy.

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By Staff

Nearly four years after voters approved the legalized sale of recreational marijuana, Maine will start granting licenses to recreational cannabis businesses on Sept. 8, and allow retail sales of recreational marijuana to adults age 21 and older as of Oct. 9, state regulators said Friday.

An active license is required for adult-use establishments to come into possession, process and sell adult use marijuana, including initiating plant transfers from Maine’s existing medical marijuana program.

In Friday's announcement, the Office of Marijuana Policy said it is moving ahead with its structured rollout of Maine's nascent adult-use industry, which had been held up by the pandemic, most recently, but also a lengthy debate about how to best regulate the industry.

“The public’s health and safety are at the forefront of every decision we make at the Office of Marijuana Policy,” said Erik Gundersen, director of the Office of Marijuana Policy.

"While we were poised to launch this new industry earlier this year, we were unwilling to sacrifice the high standards we have set for this program by launching during an emerging public health pandemic and in the absence of a testing facility,": he added. "With the support of the public health community, municipalities across the state, and the industry we regulate, we have used the last few months to ensure this new industry is introduced to Maine consumers in a manner that is as responsible as possible.”

Adult-use licensees are expected to use the time between active licensure and Maine’s retail sales launch date to harvest and process marijuana, ensure those products satisfy the mandatory testing requirements and get products to retail distributors.

The Office of Marijuana Policy also reminded retailers about social distancing and other measures to protect public health during COVID-19.

State officials expect to issue licenses for cultivation, manufacturing, retail sales and testing. Information on the specific number of licenses issued and the identities of active licensees will be made available on Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

Gov. Janet Mills's administration created Office of Marijuana Policy within Maine's Department of Administrative and Financial Services in February 2019.

It is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of legalized marijuana, including Maine's existing Medical Use of Marijuana Program.