AUGUSTA, Maine - A group that wants to legalize recreational marijuana delivered its signature petitions signatures to the secretary of state's office today. The "Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol" hopes to get the issue on the November ballot.
Supporters want to allow adults who are at least age 21 to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. Campaign Manager David Boyer says the initiative would provide more tax revenue for Maine, and make marijuana more difficult for minors to access.
"The access right now is the black market. These people don't check IDs," Boyer says. "Wouldn't we rather have marijuana behind the counter, where there's oversight if someone does sell to minors, we can revoke their license. "
But Scott Gagnon of Smart Approaches to Marijuana Maine says, as the state grapples with an opioid addiction crisis, increasing access to an addictive substance is a bad idea. Gagnon says an opposition campaign is forming.
