Group to explain new medical marijuana rules
BREWER, Maine – Medical marijuana patients no longer will have to register with the state to use the drug legally when several amendments to the state’s medical marijuana statute become law later this year.
The change is just one of several that will go into effect under LD 1296, “An Act to Amend the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act To Protect Patient Privacy,” which was signed on June 24 by Gov. Paul LePage.
The nonprofit trade association Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine will host a gathering to explain the changes from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the Eastern Maine Labor Council, 20 Ivers St., Brewer.
Among other things, the amended law protects patient privacy, provides for better access to medical marijuana – especially for low-income residents – and prevents law enforcement from taking all of a patient’s personal supply, Paul McCarrier of Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine said Monday.
“One of the things we’ve encountered is people have a lot of misinformation,” he said. “We just want to make sure people understand the law.”
The bill received unanimous approval from the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee and passed the House and the Senate without debate, McCarrier said. The amended law takes effect in late September, and includes three major changes, he said.
“The first one is that patients no longer have to register with the state – it’s optional,” McCarrier said. “If you are a patient – it’s between you and your doctor.”
The second significant change allows patients to grow their own
