AUGUSTA, Maine - A Maine lawmaker wants to extinguish a growing trend of local marijuana legalization laws.
A bill submitted by Rep. James Campbell, a Newfield independent, says that petitions seeking to legalize recreational marijuana use in a municipality "may not be approved for inclusion on the ballot or considered at any town meeting.''
Portland and South Portland voters have passed such laws in recent years. Some marijuana legalization activists say the passage of the local laws is a precursor to a statewide 2016 legalization drive.
The Portland Press Heraldreports that Campbell's bill is drawing fire from American Civil Liberties Union of Maine and the Maine Municipal Association. The ACLU says the proposal would violate the U.S. Constitution.
Campbell says municipalities should not be allowed to ignore federal law and legalize marijuana.