Legislature sends marijuana regulatory bill to governor

[TexasTowelie]

The Legislature took a big, yet perfunctory step toward implementing marijuana legalization on Thursday.

The Legislature passed a bill that would set up some bureaucratic structure to regulate the sale of recreational marijuana in Maine. Gov. Paul LePage needs to sign it or veto the bill.

With a final vote in the Senate, a bill sponsored by House Speaker Sara Gideon, D-Freeport, went to Gov. Paul LePage’s desk.

It would:

Move regulatory control of recreational marijuana from the Department of Agriculture — as the 2016 ballot initiative prescribed — to the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.

Allocate $1.4 million to implement the law.

Provide the Legislature’s Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee with $200,000 for “covering the costs of consultant services and necessary travel and expenses.”

Read more: http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/0001/11/30/state-house/2137934