Medical marijuana bills move to full legislature for a vote

BANGOR, Maine (WABI) - A third medical marijuana bill was approved unanimously in the legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee last week.

Some of the issues addressed in the bills include ensuring patient access to telehealth and allowing caregivers to sell plants.

It also ensures legislative review prior to the Office of Marijuana Policy enacting a change in administrative rules protecting patient or caregiver privacy.

Paul McCarrier with the Cannabis Council of Maine says these bills will allow the medical marijuana business in Maine to work in a more efficient manner moving forward.

”The Office of Marijuana Policy is working with the community and listening to us. They’re going to be working with us to keep the prices for patients fair and low and to make sure that patients can continue to access that therapeutic cannabis. We’re also going to make it easier for patients so patients will be able to use a digital copy of their medical cannabis card as opposed to having the physical copy. In a digital age, we have digital ID cards, we have digital insurance cards. An additional medical card just makes sense,” said McCarrier.

McCarrier says he appreciates the work the legislature has done to recognize medical marijuana caregivers as important small businesses in Maine.

The bills now move to the full legislature for a vote.

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