HOULTON, Maine — A meeting that started out as a discussion centered on medical marijuana spiraled downward when a Houlton woman accused one of the town councilors of threatening her Monday evening.
Eileen McLaughlin made the accusation against Councilor William McCluskey during a contentious discussion following the public comment portion of the meeting. McLaughlin attended the meeting to speak to the council about how it is addressing marijuana issues in Houlton.
Councilors voted on Dec. 26, 2018, to establish a brief moratorium on medical marijuana retail stores, dispensaries, and testing and manufacturing facilities. The moratorium is designed to give the community time to develop ordinances to address changes to state laws on medical marijuana rules and regulations.
“I believe that regulations surrounding marijuana have hurt the adults in the state and they have hurt our youth,” McLaughlin, a former school nurse, told the councilors during the public portion of Monday’s meeting. “I have been in this field for a long time.”
She especially took issue with McCluskey, who operates a medical marijuana growing operation in Houlton.
“It is an enormous conflict of interest, and it is not OK,” she said, referring to his involvement on the council while it considers marijuana regulations. “In any other forum it would be considered corruption.”
She also said that “just because marijuana is approved by the state does not mean the town wants it to happen. I really believe that this is an issue that should go before the voters. We do not want to be known as the pot mecca of Maine.”
Once the public comments were over, Councilor Hal Britton said he agreed with McLaughlin. He stressed that he would never support the legalization of any illicit drug.
A furious McCluskey, however, said that he took exception to McLaughlin’s words, especially her singling him out.
“For the record, if you have anything to say to me, step up, grow a spine, and say it to my face,” he said, pointing out that McLaughlin also had been “disrespecting” him on Facebook.
“Furthermore, I have yet to vote on anything to do with marijuana while sitting on this council. Anything I was asked to provide to do with marijuana, I provided from a third party. Anything. With credentials. But if you have anything to say about me. And that goes for anyone else out there. Because I’m tired of it. Sick and tired of it.”
McLaughlin then said, “I really feel like you are threatening me.”
Raymond Jay, the vice chairman in charge of Monday’s meeting, then banged his gavel and called the meeting to order.
McCluskey quickly insisted that McLaughlin could call him and “come to his house and have coffee with him, his wife and children.”
She did not respond and the councilors moved on to other issues.
