Portland, ME: Public health officials will gather at the University of Southern Maine on Saturday, June 5, to attend the first-ever Maine Medical Cannabis Conference. The one-day symposium seeks to educate physicians, patients, law enforcement, and government officials about the state’s newly amended medical cannabis law – which establishes a confidential registry for authorized patients and mandates the Department of Health to license facilities to produce and distribute medicinal cannabis.
NORML Deputy Director Paul Armentano will deliver closing remarks at the conference. Former television talk-show host Montel Williams will also appear at the forum to discuss his use of cannabis to combat symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
In April, Democrat Gov. John Baldacci signed legislation into law (LD 1811) authorizing the creation of up to eight nonprofit facilities – one for each of the state’s public health districts – to dispense medical marijuana to authorized patients. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services is overseeing the licensing of these facilities, which voters approved in 2009.
The use, cultivation, and possession of cannabis for medical purposes have been legal under state law since 1999.
Conference agenda and registration information is available online at: http://www.mainemedicalcannabisconference.com/.