Maine Votes 'Yes' on Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

Becomes 3rd State to License Medical Marijuana Providers; Vote Seen as Latest Advance Spurred by Obama Policy.

(AUGUSTA, Maine) - In a landmark vote, Maine voters today approved Question 5, making the state the third in the country to license nonprofit organizations to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients and the first ever to do so by a vote of the people.

With 49 percent of the vote tallied, the measure was cruising to an easy win with 60.2 percent voting “yes” and 39.8 percent voting “no.”

Under the measure, the state will license nonprofit organizations to provide medical marijuana to qualified patients and set rules for their operation. While 13 states permit medical use of marijuana, only Rhode Island and New Mexico have similar dispensary provisions, both of which were adopted by the states’ legislatures. Maine’s original medical marijuana law was passed in 1999.

“This is a dramatic step forward, the first time that any state’s voters have authorized the state government to license medical marijuana dispensaries,” said Rob Kampia, executive director of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C., which drafted the initiative and provided start-up funding for the campaign. “Coming a decade after passage of Maine’s original marijuana law, this is a huge sign that voters are comfortable with these laws, and also a sign that the recent change of policy from the Obama administration is having a major impact.”

In October, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a formal policy indicating that federal prosecutors should not prosecute medical marijuana activities authorized by state law.

Question 5 also expands the list of medical conditions qualifying for protection under Maine’s law to include several conditions that are included in most other medical marijuana states, including intractable pain, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (“Lou Gehrig’s disease”).

Source: MarijuanaPolicy.org, with more than 29,000 members and 100,000 e-mail subscribers nationwide, the Marijuana Policy Project is the largest marijuana policy reform organization in the United States.

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Michael Cornell March 25, 2010 10:24 am (Pacific time)

I am a resident of west virginia and am currently lobbying my gov to grant me the funds to start a high grade hydroponic grow operation for the purpose of supplying high grade medical cannibas for the purpose of supplying such non profit clinics, my operation would be non profit as well with the subsidies going to the health care general fund of my state with the hopes of getting medical marijuana legal in my state as well

John December 30, 2009 4:30 pm (Pacific time)

As a friend of someone who had cancer and uses medical marijuana in Maine, I am glad that he can receive the help that he needs. http://www.mainemedicalmarijuana.org

SunflowerPipes November 18, 2009 10:57 pm (Pacific time)

Someday I imagine we will all live in a land were men and women alike are free to do what they choose to do with their own bodies. A world were one really does have right to pursue happiness as they see fit. Even if it is sitting at home smoking from a glass pipe. Sunflowerpipes.com

Winder November 5, 2009 10:33 am (Pacific time)

Allllllll right! Another bastion of sanity in the sea of despair that is prohibition. Matt, you can find the specific conditions covered for each state with a MMJ program by visiting NORML's website here: http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=3391 While these are not all completely updated due to rapid recent changes, i.e., Maine needs chronic pain added to its list, it'll give you a good idea what to expect in each respective state. Chuck2, I feel for you, brother, as I also suffer intractable pain and other horrible things from the medications which are far inferior to cannabis therapies. Let's please not describe anything as "less harmful" than medical marijuana; it's NOT harmful, on the contrary---it's incredibly beneficial, so to say anything less is selling short this wonderful plant. I'm starting to get a craving for lobster... Maine rocks!

Chuck2 November 5, 2009 9:24 am (Pacific time)

I myself suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury at the age of 11 that has left me incontinent with involuntary muscle spasms and neuroapathy. The many prescription drugs I now take do not alleviate my symptoms and are more harmful than cannabis. Patients who suffer from HIV/AIDs, multiple sclerosis, Tourete's syndrone and spinal cord injuries, just to name a few, have been treated and found relief and to slow the progression of their diseases. Let this be a free choice between physicians and patients, not government, on how to be treated. Thank You Maine!

Lew November 4, 2009 7:28 pm (Pacific time)

Congratulations, Maine! I don't see this spurred on by Obama policy as the title suggests, but by all people in Maine who understand freedom and liberty. Way to go!

Mike November 4, 2009 1:56 pm (Pacific time)

Congratulations Maine. Please stop by http://allmmj.com and start talking about the proper steps to take to getting the first Dispensaries open.

Jay November 4, 2009 12:01 pm (Pacific time)

Nothing can stop the momentum. All of the conservative anger this Country can muster, which is impressive, cannot trump the enlightening reality of the stupidity, mean-spiritedness and futility of marijuana prohibition. It's time for a federal law to settle the many heated questions of who, how and where. Or better yet, how about federal legalization to make it simple. OK, I'll settle with one step at a time..

Woz November 4, 2009 10:25 am (Pacific time)

I am calling them next week to see how one applies for medical dispensery status.
YIPEE!

Anon. November 4, 2009 10:05 am (Pacific time)

Congratulations, Maine!

Matt November 4, 2009 9:00 am (Pacific time)

I am wondering what are some other conditions in which you would be able to obtain medical marijuana? I know some state don't just prescribe for life threatening illnesses. What about post traumatic stress disorder? or anxiety, depression, anorexia? Will all this be covered under the new Maine law?

Anonymous November 3, 2009 9:39 pm (Pacific time)

So how did the vote go in New Jersey and Virginia? Eighteen point spread in Virginia! Deep blue Jersey went conservative, wow! We're back...

Jane November 3, 2009 8:57 pm (Pacific time)

Congratulations, smart people of Maine! May you all live longer, healthier lives from this point forward.

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