HOULTON, Maine — Officials from several towns across Aroostook County are considering the impact of the legalization of marijuana on their communities, with at least one community imposing an emergency moratorium to temporarily prevent marijuana dispensaries from setting up shop.
Question 1, which sought to legalize recreational marijuana, unofficially won on Election Day by a vote of 381,692 to 377,619. But with a difference of just over 4,000 votes, a recount has been scheduled, according to Kristen Muszynski, spokeswoman for Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.
During a Houlton council meeting on Nov. 14, Town Manager Butch Asselin said that other communities, such as Bangor, Brewer, Gray and Westbrook have instituted six-month moratoriums on all retail cultivation and sale of recreational-purpose marijuana prior to Election Day. Councilor Jane Torres asked if it was still possible to do a moratorium even after the election, and Asselin said it was.
Houlton passed an ordinance in 2011 governing where medical marijuana dispensaries are allowed in the community and where marijuana can be cultivated. The proposal made changes to the town’s ordinances and codes and was drafted to comply with the state’s medical marijuana law that was approved by voters in 2009.
Any such medical marijuana sites in town are required to set up within the airport and industrial zones, which are on the outskirts of town and not heavily populated with homes or businesses.
None has been set up in Houlton so far. There is only one registered medical marijuana dispensary located in Aroostook County. That is Safe Alternatives, which is located in Eagle Lake, according to information provided by state officials on Monday.
Asselin said town attorney Dan Nelson advised that if the councilors were going to consider an ordinance around recreational marijuana, it should be entirely different from the existing medical marijuana ordinance.
Councilors expressed interest in continuing the discussion, but tabled the matter until their next meeting Monday, Nov. 28.
In Caribou, City Manager Austin Bleess said the city council immediately took action and instituted a 60-day emergency ordinance preventing any marijuana dispensaries or social clubs in the city limits.
“It was a unanimous decision by the council, and they felt it was something that was very important to do,” Bleess said on Thursday evening. “We were anticipating that this might happen with the election and we were prepared in case this passed. It is a very important issue, and we want to get this right.”
In Fort Kent, Town Manager Don Guimond said that thus far, no action on the matter has been taken up by the town council, but the matter was discussed a bit prior to Election Day.
“We likely will be taking this up at our next meeting,” he said. “But thus far, we haven’t done anything.”
Guimond said the community currently has no medical marijuana ordinance either.
Madawaska Town Manager Ryan Pelletier said his board of selectmen has not discussed the issue.
“I have printed off some information for the board and we likely will take it up at our meeting in December,” said Pelletier. “I am not looking to pursue it unless someone asks. If someone asks to pursue a marijuana store or a social club, we would treat that like we would any other business through our land use.”
Pelletier also said that Madawaska does not have a medical marijuana ordinance. He also said that even if the board adopted a moratorium, it would need to be voted on by the town.
