Gov. Janet Mills signed legislation April 22 that intends to help municipalities cover the costs of inviting adult-use cannabis business operations into their jurisdictions. The bill, Legislative Document 1195, authorizes $20,000 reimbursements to help towns and cities pay for expenses associated with the state’s adult-use program roll-out, including legal fees, drafting or amending ordinances, conducting town meetings, and holding elections. Funding for the reimbursements will come from the state’s Adult-Use Marijuana Public Health and Safety and Municipal Opt-In Fund, according to a news release from Maine House Democrats. The fund receives money from the sales and excise taxes imposed on adult-use cannabis and related products. The legislation was sponsored by Rep. Tiffany Roberts, D-South Berwick. “In the development of Maine’s adult-use marijuana industry, the state has asked municipalities to help balance the newly sanctioned use of this commodity, however, they are not yet seeing a return on their investment,” Roberts said in the release. “This bill will allow municipal governments to recover expenses from their regulation of the adult-use industry and encourage partnerships with local businesses.
Cannabis Law Report, 04/28/2022 00:24:00