Maine’s Governor Signs Bill Expanding Medical Marijuana Law
Maine Gov. Angus King (I) on Monday signed a bill that expands the state's 1999 voter-approved medicinal marijuana law to allow patients with debilitating disease to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana instead of the previous limit of 1.25 ounces, the Bangor Daily News reports. The bill also "clarifies" the legal protections afforded patients and their caregivers. "This is significant because it is the first time that a state legislature has voted to expand legal protections for medical users of marijuana," Richard Schmitz of the Marijuana Policy Project said, noting that most other states with medical marijuana laws have sought to limit use of the drug. Maine is one of eight states with laws allowing the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes (Bangor Daily News, 4/3).
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