Maine Medical Marijuana Law

Status

Operational

Law Signed:

1999

QUALIFYING CONDITIONS *

Alzheimer’s disease
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
Cachexia or wasting syndrome
Cancer
Chronic pain
Crohn’s disease
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
Hepatitis C
HIV or AIDS
Huntington’s disease
Inflammatory bowel disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Nausea
Nail-patella syndrome
Parkinson’s disease
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
*Legislation (LD 1539) approved on July 9, 2018 amends the state law so that a physician at his or her sole discretion may recommend cannabis to any patient for which he/she believes it will benefit. The new law takes effect 90 days after the close of the 2018 special legislative session.

PATIENT POSSESSION LIMITS

Two and one-half ounces

HOME CULTIVATION

Yes, patients (or their primary caregivers) may possess no more than six mature marijuana plants.

STATE-LICENSED DISPENSARIES ALLOWED

Yes, a minimum of eight. (Lawmakers on July 9, 2018 approved legislation raising this total to as many as 14 dispensaries statewide. This legislation takes effect 90 days after the close of the 2018 special legislative session.)

STATE-LICENSED DISPENSARIES OPERATIONAL

Yes

MEDICAL MARIJUANA STATUTES

Me. Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, §2423-D (2010)
Me. Rev. Stat. Tit. 22, §§2422; 2425 (2010)
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 2383-B(5), (6) (1999) (amended 2001)
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 22, § 2383-B(3)(e) (amended 2001)

CAREGIVERS

Yes, primary caregiver is a person providing care for the registered patient. The caregiver must be 21 years of age or older. Starting in the fall of 2018, caregivers will be allowed to treat as many patients as they can from their limited harvest and hire as many employees as needed.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF REGISTERED PATIENTS

105,143
Source: Department of Health and Human Services, as of December 31, 2021

EMPLOYMENT PROTECTIONS FOR QUALIFYING PATIENTS

RECIPROCITY

Yes. Public Law, Chapter 209 (2019) provides that a “visiting qualifying patient from another jurisdiction that authorizes the medical use of marijuana … who possesses … a valid medical marijuana certification from that other jurisdiction and photographic identification … may engage in conduct authorized for a qualifying patient.”