PORTLAND, Maine - The Maine Supreme Court has removed a hurdle to the completion of a review of petitions supporting a referendum proposal to legalize marijuana.
Chief Justice Leigh Saufley on Wednesday denied an individual's request to intervene that had put the review on hold. Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap had said he wants to have the review completed before lawmakers reconvene on Friday.
The review was ordered after a judge rejected Dunlap's decision to invalidate thousands of signatures because the notary's signature didn't match the signature on file in Augusta.
Those who support legalizing marijuana need at least 61,123 valid signatures.
If activists reach the threshold, then the proposal would be considered by lawmakers and sent to the November ballot. If not, there would likely be further legal action.