Bill To Eliminate Marijuana Criminal Charges Fails In Maine

Maine lawmakers struck down a measure that sought to exclude marijuana from the state’s criminal code.

Sen. Joe Baldacci's (D-Penobscot) bill met opposition, as the Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee ultimately voted 8–2 in favor of maintaining marijuana’s current classification as a scheduled drug on Wednesday.

The bill would also have eliminated:

• Criminal charges related to its illegal trafficking and possession;
• The rule that deems someone illegally distributing marijuana based on a specific quantity; and
• Any obligatory minimum sentences for offenses related to marijuana.

See also: Maine To Allow Cannabis Advertising And Deliveries To Commercial Locations

The proposed legislation would have mandated the Department of Public Safety to erase marijuana-related criminal convictions and civil violations, reported Maine Morning Star.

Maine voters legalized recreational cannabis via a 2016 referendum, which is why Maine’s criminal code should no longer include marijuana, Baldacci said in his remarks to the committee this week.

"Marijuana should be dealt with like alcohol and other substances like that are dealt with," he said. "If we're going to continue [with] a house-divided situation here and maintain some elements of criminality in the marijuana system, I think that's patently unfair and I think it's a recipe for selective prosecution of people."

In the meantime, the state senator Susan Collins (R) recently raised concerns about illegal marijuana operations in the state, allegedly linked to organized crime. These operations have been flagged for potential involvement in serious crimes like human trafficking and money laundering.

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