If you’re someone who enjoys smoking weed, you may find it difficult to keep track of the legality surrounding it. The Reagan administration conducted a war on drugs, but decades later, many states have legalized not only medical marijuana, but recreational as well.
Today, the specific laws regarding smoking weed vary from state to state. But what are the current marijuana regulations in Maine? Is it legal, and if so, what are the exact rules?
Keep reading for a full breakdown of the Maine marijuana laws.
Is It Legal?
If you’re looking for a quick answer as to whether or not weed is legal in Maine, the answer is yes, it is.
The state was one of the first to decriminalize marijuana back in the 1970s. In the 1990s, the state allowed people to begin using marijuana for medicinal purposes. People can use medicinal marijuana to treat a number of ailments, from chronic pain to certain types of cancer.
Maine then legalized recreational marijuana in 2016. It took the state three more years to establish commercial sale laws and regulations. The state was on track to begin opening dispensaries in mid-2020, however, COVID-19 caused a delay. Recreational dispensaries are now on track to open October 9th, 2020.
Laws Regarding Possession
Although Maine has legalized recreational marijuana, there are possession laws that you need to be aware of.
Like alcohol, the state only allows adults 21 and older to possess marijuana. If you’re under 21 and caught with weed, you can face legal repercussions. If you’re 21 or older, you can possess no more than 2.5 ounces, or 75 grams, of marijuana.
Maine also has guidelines regarding growing and cultivating marijuana. The state allows you to have three adult marijuana plants, 12 adolescent plants, and an unlimited number of seedlings. Your plants also need to be at your house as well as out of view of the public eye.
To prevent any problems, make sure that you understand and obey the marijuana possession laws in the state.
Is There a Purchasing Limit?
As mentioned, dispensaries in Maine have yet to open. Once they do open, you’ll be able to purchase specific amounts of recreational marijuana.
Like with possession, only adults age 21 and older can purchase marijuana. When visiting a dispensary, you’ll need to provide an official, government-issued ID to complete your purchase.
Regarding the purchasing limit, the state allows adults that use weed for recreational purposes to buy 2.5 ounces. If you plan on using marijuana for medicinal reasons, you also have a limit of 2.5 ounces.
Colorado is another state that has legalized both medicinal and recreational marijuana. Check out this site to buy hemp flower here.
Consumption
Now that you understand how much marijuana you can possess, purchase, and grow, how much can you use?
Again, the state has strict guidelines on getting high as well as where you can do it. State laws mandate that you cannot get high in public places. You must use marijuana out of public view and on private property. Using it in public is illegal.
If you violate this law, the state will punish you. If you’re over the age of 21 and caught using marijuana on public property, law enforcement officers can punish you with a fine of up to $100. People under the age of 21 caught using marijuana in public can face more serious repercussions.
Maine has debated whether or not to legalize social clubs where people can use marijuana in a safe and controlled environment. As of now, these clubs have yet to become legal.
Getting High and Driving
Most people understand the seriousness of drinking and driving, but some may feel that using marijuana and driving is acceptable. It’s not, and getting high while driving is a good way to end up with a criminal record.
As anyone who gets high knows, using marijuana impairs different functions of your body. As you need to pay attention and respond to changing circumstances to drive, operating a vehicle while high can be dangerous to you and the people around you.
If a police officer catches you driving a car while high, you can get a DWI or OWI. This will follow you for the rest of your life. It’ll also have repercussions for your driving record.
If you do smoke, make sure that you do so at home and off the road. It’s not worth the consequences you’ll have to endure if someone pulls you over.
Transporting Marijuana
If you need to transport marijuana from one place to another, make sure that you obey the law while doing so.
You can transport 2.5 ounces of marijuana to different locations as well as different marijuana accessories. When you’re traveling, you need to store your weed in a child-proof container for the entire duration of your trip. This shows law enforcement officers that you aren’t using it while driving.
As each state has different marijuana regulations, exporting weed outside of Maine is illegal. Although it may seem tempting, attempting to do so will land you in a world of legal trouble. You can face jail time, fines, and other criminal charges.
Understand Maine Marijuana Laws and Stay Safe
It can be hard to keep track of what the current marijuana laws are since they’ve changed so much in recent years. Yet after reading this guide on Maine marijuana laws in Maine, you should have a clear understanding of what you can and cannot do.
Do you know anything else about marijuana laws in Maine? Make sure to let us know!
If you found this article to be helpful, don’t forget to check out some of our other blog posts to read more guides and tips.
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