“Marijuana should be dealt with like alcohol and other substances like that are dealt with.”
By Evan Popp, Maine Morning Star
A legislative panel on Wednesday voted down a measure to take marijuana out of Maine’s criminal code.
The proposal from Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Penobscot) would have removed marijuana as a scheduled drug in Maine and eliminated crimes that include the unlawful trafficking and possession of the drug. I would also have removed the rule that a person who has a certain amount of marijuana is illegally furnishing it and eliminated any mandatory minimum term of imprisonments for marijuana-related offenses, among other changes.
The bill would have also ordered the Department of Public Safety to expunge criminal convictions and civil violations related to marijuana, although there are concerns about whether such an action would be allowed under Maine’s Constitution.
Maine legalized marijuana via a ballot initiative in 2016 for those 21 years of age or older. People are currently allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of the substance.
The Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee voted 8–2 against Baldacci’s bill. Committee members said they were concerned that removing marijuana entirely from the state’s criminal code would leave Maine without
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