New Maine Bill Allows Medical Marijuana Use at Hospitals

Members of Maine’s legislature are working to gain forward progress on the language to include in the state’s medical marijuana program. Once the final language is approved, the bill will move to full legislature for a vote.

The bill, LD 726 would allow hospital access to non-smokable forms of medical marijuana. It would also include measures for lab testing to ensure quality, potency and safety of all medical marijuana products, Sun Journal reports.

Lab testing would also be completed as a certification method for medical marijuana packaging in regards to quality and quantity.

Lawmakers expressed their support for the provisions being put in place, including Senator Anne Haskell, who stated in regards to dispensaries operating for profit and in preparation for the possible passage of recreational marijuana, “I don’t see the harm in moving forward with a business model here. I also have been supportive of caregivers and the expansion of caregivers. I think it’s right; I think it should go forward. I’ve been a supporter of the industry and I will not turn my back on it.”

Senator Eric Brakey also supports dispensaries operating for profit by saying, “Being a big proponent of the free market, I kind of tend to support any chance we can to expand free-market principles in the industry.”

Even Republicans in Maine show support for the medical marijuana industry. Representative Deborah Sanderson said, “I would like to see the entire industry be able to flourish and let the market decide the winners and the losers, not the regulatory pieces that we sit in here and made the decisions on. I am very uncomfortable in allowing – in the most simplistic terms here – something that allows for the growth of Wal-Marts and puts limitations on the mom and pops.”

Sanderson also stated, regarding the provisions in front of lawmakers at the time: “We need to decide as a committee today, where do we want to push the boundaries and get as many more yards down the field as we can get to move this program forward.”

Legislation is still working to finalize some details, but they have a few weeks until final program language has to be submitted for final approval.