AUGUSTA -- Two bills to broaden the decriminalization of marijuana in Maine got bipartisan support from lawmakers testifying at public hearings Thursday, but were opposed by law enforcement officials. One measure, L.D. 754, would double the amount of usable marijuana that individuals could possess and still have it treated as a civil, rather than criminal, offense. The other, L.D. 750, would decriminalize possession of up to six marijuana plants. "It is my fundamental belief that people who use marijuana for personal use on a recreational basis are not criminals," said state Rep. Ben Chipman, an independent from Portland, to lawmakers on the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. [continues 585 words]
AUGUSTA -- A nonprofit with California roots was selected Friday to operate four of Maine's six new medical marijuana dispensaries. Cathy Cobb of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, who served on the four-member selection committee, said security and patient education plans, along with a clear nonprofit mission, were the keys for the winning applications. Northeast Patients Group, which features outgoing Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion as a board member, received the best score in four out of the five counties for which it sought licenses. [continues 766 words]
Department of Health and Human Services Makes Its Choices Based on Scoring System AUGUSTA -- A nonprofit with California roots was selected Friday to operate four of Maine's six new medical marijuana dispensaries. Cathy Cobb of Maine's Department of Health and Human Services, who served on the four-member selection committee, said security and patient education plans, along with a clear nonprofit mission, were the keys for the winning applications. Northeast Patients Group, which features outgoing Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion as a board member, received the best score in four out of the five counties for which it sought licenses. [continues 766 words]
