Both houses of Maine’s legislature have passed a bill that delays the rollout of the adult-use cannabis industry another three months and provides for driver license suspensions for people found using the drug while driving, WABI reports. The delay does not apply to the personal possession and home-grow provisions in the voter-backed legalization measure passed last November, which are set to take effect on Monday.
According to a WCSH report, lawmakers did reject amendment proposals to the bills backed by Gov. Paul LePage that would have moved the rulemaking responsibilities from the state Department of Agriculture to the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages, and Lottery Operations. Another amendment would have required the legislature to provide $1.6 million up front to cover the costs of additional staff.
State Rep. Brad Farrin, who proposed the amendments in the House, said moving the rulemaking responsibilities and program oversight from the Agriculture Department to the alcoholic beverage division was an attempt to prevent jeopardizing “substantial” federal funds to the state agriculture department.
The governor could veto the legislation because it does not include his changes; however, Democrats are working on another bill, expected next week, which would include LePage’s proposals.