LePage vetoes bill to regulate marijuana sales in Maine

6 years ago

Gov. Paul LePage said Friday that he has vetoed a bill to tax and regulate recreational marijuana, which the Legislature sent him Oct. 23 with fragile support.

LD 1650 was written by a special legislative committee. LePage said the bill conflicts with federal law, fails to account adequately for Maine’s existing medical marijuana industry and sets “unrealistic timelines.”

“There have been serious negative effects of legalization in other states — effects that should not be repeated in Maine,” LePage wrote in his veto letter, adding that “we need assurances that a change in policy or administration at the federal level will not nullify” public and private investments in the industry.

He also said the recreational marijuana bill fails to align with existing medical marijuana law, particularly because sales tax on medical pot would be lower.

“The two programs must be considered together,” wrote LePage.

The County is pleased to feature content from our sister company, Bangor Daily News. To read the rest of “LePage vetoes bill to regulate marijuana sales in Maine,” an article by contributing Bangor Daily News staff writer  Christopher Cousins, please follow this link to the BDN online.