HOULTON, Maine – The Houlton Town Council passed a revised medical marijuana ordinance on Monday night during a meeting at the Gentle Memorial Building on Main Street.
In a 5-to-1 vote, councilors made it possible for five Houlton medical marijuana businesses to continue operating and serving patients, following a state regulation change.
Councilor Eileen McLaughlin cast the dissenting vote.
The changes to the existing town ordinance were in response to a Maine Office of Cannabis Policy rule change, requiring medical marijuana caregivers to provide an authorization from the town to continue serving patients.
During an August town council meeting, Zach Waite, owner of Lifted Medical Marijuana in Houlton, said it would be impossible to provide patients with much needed medicine without the town’s approval.
In early September, a new ordinance was proposed. It was approved on Monday night following a public hearing.
Under the new ordinance, all retail marijuana establishments, including retail marijuana testing facilities, retail marijuana cultivation facilities and retail marijuana social clubs are still prohibited, but there is an exemption for medical marijuana caregiver retail stores.
The state legalized the sale of recreational marijuana in 2016.
Nonetheless, a 2018 Houlton town referendum vote prohibited marijuana retail establishments, retail cultivation facilities and retail marijuana social clubs.
More than 100 people attended Monday night’s public hearing on the ordinance and more than 20 testified about the pros and cons of passing the changed ordinance. Several, including councilor McLaughlin, said the measure needed to go to referendum and a town vote.
The majority of speakers were in favor of the town passing the ordinance and many medical marijuana patients explained how cannabis has improved their lives.
Emily Transue said that it is lifesaving medicine for her and it is the only thing that has reduced her epileptic seizures.
Others talked about how it has provided relief from chronic and severe pain, anxiety, and addiction to opiates.
One Houlton resident, who was opposed to the ordinance, said that when patients get their medicine, they call their friends and have a stash party.
Prior to Monday’s public hearing and vote, McLaughlin said on several occasions the town already voted against retail stores and the new language to the ordinance violates the town vote.
According to Town Manager Jeremy Smith, the town attorney prepared the new ordinance to assure compliance with existing town laws.
McLaughlin said in the meeting she is opposed to the ordinance change for multiple reasons, including zoning issues, fears of an excess of “attractive to children marijuana signage,” visible paraphernalia in shop windows, and her belief that getting a medical marijuana card is not well regulated.
Prior to the vote other councilors said it was a simple change in wording that would make it possible for the five legal businesses to continue operating as they have for the past several years.
“We have an ordinance here before us tonight to meet a state requirement so that five businesses can continue on,” said Councilor Jon McLaughlin. “We are not talking signage, we are not talking referendum.”
Council Chairman, Chris Robinson also addressed the referendum issue, explaining that the town voters elected the town council to represent them in such matters.
“This is our job. We’re charged to make decisions. Those councilors that are saying referendum should resign immediately,” Robinson said.
