Maine's first retail marijuana stores on track to open this year, leaders say Share Shares Copy Link Copy

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WEBVTT HURDLE AS MANY MAINE COMMUNITIES ARE ALREADY FIELDING REQUESTS. DAVID: WE'RE READY. NO, WE'RE VERY READY. >> WOULD YOU HAVE THE REEL STORE HERE? >> THE FOUR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES ALREADY SERVE ABOUT 6,000 PATIENTS. BUT SHE HOPES TO SERVE EVEN MORE PEOP WHEN RETAIL MARIJUANA STORES OPEN UP. >> IT WILL PROVIDE ACCESS TO A WIDER RANGE OF CONSUMERS. >> QUESTION ONE ON THE LEGALIZATION OF RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IN MAINE. RIGHT NOW TOO CLOSE TO CALL. >> IN NOVEMBER 2016 MAINERS NARROWLY PASSED LEGALIZATION OPENING UP THE DOOR FOR MARIJUANA TO BE SOLD AS EASILY AS ALCOHOL OR CIGARETTES. NOW TWO YEARS AFTER THAT VOTE, SHE'S STILL WAITING. >> ARE YOU LOSING MONEY ON THIS WAITING? >> NO, I'M NOT LOSING MONEY, BUT IT'S FRUSTRATING BECAUSE YOU'RE READY AND THEN YOU ARE ALMOST AT OVERCAPACITY COMPARED TO WHAT YOU'RE USING. >> UNTIL MAY, WE DIDN'T HAVE ACTUAL LEGISLATION ENACTED. >> HE'S THE COMMISSIONER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES. THE ONES WHO WILL BE GIVING OUT THOSE MARIJUANA LICENSEES TO STORE OWNERS. >> YOU'VE GOT A BIG CHANGE TO MAINE LAW, STANDING UP FOR SOMETHING FOR WHICH THERE ISN'T A FEDERAL FRAMEWORK. THERE ARE A FEW STATES THAT HAVE DONE IT BUT WE'RE STILL OUT THERE ON THE FRONTIER. >> AFTER MONTHS OF BECOME AND FORTH AND A VETO FROM GOVERNOR PAULA PAGE, THE LEGISLATURE PASSED THIS 82-PAGE PLAN SETTING UP THE FRAMEWORK FOR HOW TO REGULATE IT, BUT THERE IS EVEN MORE WORK TO DO. THIS OFFICE MUST NOW COME UP WITH RULES FOR THINGS LIKE LICE LICENSING, PACKAGING, AND PHOTO I.D.s. >> THEY NEED TO APPROVE THE RULES. >> ONE COULD OPEN UP IN THE SHADOW OF THE STATEHOUSE, THAT'S IF THE MORATORIUM IS LIFTED. >> THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT A DOZEN INQUIRIES ABOUT OPENING UP STORES IN MAINE AND 12 FOR AUGUSTA ALONE. >> FROM ROCKLAND -- PORTLAND AND SANFORD, NEARLY EVERY CITY HAS SHOWN SOME INTEREST TO OPENING UP SHOP BUT BECAUSE THE STATES HAS NO RULES YET AND THERE IS NO WAY TO FILE AN APPLICATION, RETAIL MARIJUANA IS BASICALLY ON HOLD. >> MUNICIPALITIES ARE REALIZING THAT -- THEY ARE TRYING TO ORGANIZE, AND THEY WERE CAUGHT A LITTLE BIT BY SURPRISE, BY THE AMOUNT OF APPLICANTS THAT ARE ALREADY APPLYING. >> THE STATE HOPES TO HAVE RULES IN PLACE BY THE END OF NEXT YEAR. EVEN SO, ROSSI IS READY TO WAIT. >> WORST CASE SCENARIO YOU'RE LOOKING AT FIRST QUARTER, 2021. >> T

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