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Marijuana moratorium ordinance passes; now it's on to the voters

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Planning Board Chairman Paul Philbrick makes a point during his presentation of a marijuana moratorium ordinance on Monday night. (Lebanon Voice photo)

LEBANON - Lebanon selectmen on Monday approved an ordinance establishing a moratorium on all retail marijuana activity within the town for at least 180 days, however the timeframe won't be officially in place until residents can vote on the measure later this year.

The ordinance was drafted by the Maine Municipal Association and approved by town counsel, Planning Board chair Paul Philbrick told selectmen in his presentation for the board.

Whether a town-wide vote would be scheduled prior to May's Town Elections was unclear, however Lebanon Selectman Royce Heath said he would like to see a vote come as soon as possible, noting the importance of the issue.

While the ordinance lacks any real teeth without a town-wide vote, it is thought those considering retail marijuana outlets within the town would hold off with such a proposal on the table.

Maine State legislators are currently working on rules and regulations that would govern licensees of such establishments, which include retail marijuana shops, marijuana social clubs, testing facilities and retail growing facilities.

Some officials have predicted there will be a regulatory framework toward the fall of 2017, while some legislators say it may be January of next year before retail sales are up and running.

The ordinance adopted by selectmen on Monday allows for additional extensions of the retail prohibitions outlined in the document.

Selectmen Heath and Paul Nadeau approved the ordinance. Selectboard Chair Christine Torno did not attend as she was reported feeling under the weather.

Under the new law, adults 21 and older will be allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana or grow up to six plants.

Commercial sale of the drug will be regulated by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

With Gov. LePage recently certifying the results of the marijuana vote that makes recreational use of the drug legal come Jan. 30, it should be noted that as of today there is still no legal way to obtain cannabis or cannabis plants in the state.

Commercial sale of the drug will be regulated by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.

Philbrick said passing the moratorium ordinance Monday night was the easy part.

"Now we have to write the ordinance regulating it," he said.

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