HOULTON, Maine — Despite several meetings spent debating the issue, Town Councilors still have not decided how to address changes to state laws on medical marijuana rules and regulations.
Councilor Sue Tortello brought the matter up earlier this month. Tortello noted that in the past, the councilors had considered having voters decide whether or not to allow medical marijuana retail stores or manufacturing facilities in the community.
She said that if the councilors decided to go that route, they would need to make a decision by early April in order to put a measure on the ballot for the June election.
Marijuana has generated significant controversy in the community and has been debated heavily by councilors.
The state Legislature last session enacted amendments to Maine’s medical marijuana law that, among other things, remove the cap on how much cannabis can be sold in medical marijuana dispensaries and allow registered marijuana caregivers to open up storefronts to serve their patients who are in the state-approved medical marijuana program.
The law also now specifically gives municipalities the right to regulate such marijuana facilities, but the town’s existing ordinances do not provide an adequate mechanism to regulate and control their location and operation.
Houlton councilors voted on Dec. 26, 2018, to establish a 180-day moratorium on medical marijuana retail stores, dispensaries, and testing and manufacturing facilities to give the town time to address the changes in the medical marijuana law.
Tortello, who also serves on the planning board charged with recommending new local regulations, told councilors at a previous meeting that the board needed the council’s decision on whether to allow the operation of such marijuana establishments in Houlton.
Under the law, the municipality must vote to “opt in” to the operation of registered caregiver retail stores, registered dispensaries, testing facilities and manufacturing facilities.
“The default position,” she told councilors, “is that if you do nothing, new uses are prohibited. These establishments won’t be allowed unless we vote as a legislative body to opt in.”
Residents of Houlton already voted in November 2017 to prohibit the sale and growth of recreational marijuana in town, but that vote does not affect medical marijuana growers or dispensaries.
Council Chair Jane Torres said on Monday that she felt that it was “inevitable” that it would go to the voters.
Councilor Chris Robinson acknowledged that he said two weeks ago that he felt it should go to the voters, but wondered if doing so meant that councilors were not doing their due diligence to take care of the issue as a governing body for the voters.
Councilor Raymond Jay said that he believes the issue touches so many people that most want a say in the matter via the voting booth.
Councilor Hal Britton stressed he is against all forms of marijuana.
“This whole thing is way out of control,” he said. “We’ve got a problem here, and marijuana, to me, has got to go.”
He said that he had heard that stores could not find enough help due to people impacted by marijuana and other drugs. He did not name specific stores.
Tortello stressed that medical marijuana is different than recreational marijuana, and that many people in town likely wanted to get more information on the matter. She said she felt that the only fair way was to open it up to the voters.
Councilor Joe McKenna was not at the meeting, and Councilor Bill McCluskey abstained from voicing an opinion or voting on the matter. Councilors instead opted to put the matter on the agenda for the next meeting. They will then vote up or down on whether to send the issue to the voters.
