Maine Marijuana | ME Marijuana ME Marijuana News and Information
Increased medical marijuana sales in Maine can primarily be attributed to more patients wanting an alternative option for pain relief. Another factor is that more doctors are certifying patients to use medical marijuana.
In 2015, Maine dispensaries sold $23.6 million of medical marijuana, a 46-percent increase from the previous year. This generated $1.29 million in sales tax revenue. Sales in 2014 totaled just $16.2 million with $892,000 collected in sales tax, according to Press Herald. These numbers do not include sales from caregivers. There are 2,255 licensed caregivers in the state of Maine and each is permitted to grow medical marijuana for five patients.
Main medical marijuana program facts:
- There are 340 licensed medical providers writing recommendations
- The list of qualifying conditions includes 12 ailments
- More elderly residents are becoming medical marijuana patients
- Legal medical marijuana use was approved in 1999
- Medical marijuana dispensaries opened in 2011
- Maine does not keep a patient registry
- Maine’s medical marijuana program was voted the best in the country
- PTSD became a qualifying condition in 2013
Becky DeKeuster, director of education for Wellness Connection states that, “There are a number of factors at play here. The first would be that Mainers are becoming more used to the idea of therapeutic cannabis. We’ve had a very successful dispensary program for five years now and people are becoming used to this option.”
One dispensary owner, Tim Smale of Remedy Compassion Center, says that his dispensary serves patients primarily in the age range of 50 to 70. He also says that, “The other things we’re finding is folks are looking for an alternative to their opiates. We hear many anecdotal reports of people reducing or eliminating opiate use through medical cannabis.”
The increase in elderly patients is contributed to the availability of medical marijuana in forms other than dry flower. Patients have the option of using medicated edibles, tinctures and pills, making it easier for patients to use the medicine.
Those in the medical marijuana industry in Maine suggest that the program will continue to grow and sales will continue to rise as the stigma surrounding medical marijuana lessens.
