Maine folks, here are your MMJ laws

[Waterfall]

MAINE

Ballot Question 2 -- Approved 11/2/99 by 61% of voters.
Effective: 12/22/99
Removes state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess an oral or written "professional opinion" from their physician that he or she "might benefit from the medical use of marijuana." The law does not establish a state-run patient registry.
Approved diagnosis: epilepsy and other disorders characterized by seizures; glaucoma; multiple sclerosis and other disorders characterized by muscle spasticity; and nausea or vomiting as a result of AIDS or cancer chemotherapy.
Possession/Cultivation: Patients (or their primary caregivers) may legally possess no more than one and one-quarter ounces of usable marijuana, and may cultivate no more than six marijuana plants, of which no more than three may be mature. Those patients who possess greater amounts of marijuana than allowed by law are afforded a "simple defense" to a charge of marijuana possession.
Amended: Senate Bill 611, signed into law on 4/2/02. Increases the amount of useable marijuana a person may possess from one and one-quarter ounces to two and one-half ounces.

[captainjoint]

High,

Glad to see the posting for Maine laws, I just moved to Maine because they have Medical Marijuana laws and am looking for more info.

Can you tell me more about the "simple defense" part of the law?

Thanx, check me out on my space and at captainjoint.com

Capt*J

[ZedRules]

Originally Posted by captainjoint

High,

Glad to see the posting for Maine laws, I just moved to Maine because they have Medical Marijuana laws and am looking for more info.

Can you tell me more about the "simple defense" part of the law?

Thanx, check me out on my space and at captainjoint.com

Capt*J

Welcome! I got this from NORML Maine:)

Home > State By State Laws > Maine
Maine
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decriminalized medical hemp

Details About this report

Incarceration

Fine

PossessionUsable amount with proof of physician's recommendationnonenonenone"Usable Amount" (under <1.25 oz)civil violationnone$350 - $600

subsequent violation within 6 months $5501.25 oz or morePresumption of Sale, RebuttableCultivation5 plants or lessclass E misdemeanor6 months$1,0005 - 100 plantsclass D misdemeanor1 year$2,000100 - 500 plantsclass C felony5 years$5,000More than 500 plantsclass B felony10 years$20,000Sale1 lb or lessclass D misdemeanor1 year$2,0001 lb - 20 lbsclass C felony

5 years

$5,00020 lbs or moreclass B felony10 years$20,000Sale to minor or within 1,000 feet of a school or on a school busfelony

5 years

$5,000Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc...)Paraphernalia possession and use civil violationnone$300Paraphernalia salemisdemeanor6 months$1,000Paraphernalia sale to a minormisdemeanor1 year$2,000Any conviction may cause professional license suspension or revocation.Details

Possession of less than 1.25 ounces is a civil violation, punishable by a fine of $200 - $400. Possession of 1.25 ounces or more is considered evidence of intent to distribute and is punished as such (see below).
Possession of a usable amount of marijuana is lawful if at the time of the possession the person has an authenticated copy of a medical record demonstrating that the person has a physician's recommendation.
Cultivation of five plants or less of marijuana is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. For greater than five plants, the penalties increase to up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. For greater than 100 plants the possible punishment is up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. For any amount of plants greater than 500, the penalties increase to up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
The penalty for sale of marijuana is up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,000. The penalties increase to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 if the sale was made to a minor or if it occurred within 1,000 feet of a school or on a school bus.
Possession of greater than one pound of marijuana is considered trafficking and is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Possession and personal use of paraphernalia is a civil violation punishable by a fine of $200. The sale of paraphernalia is punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $1,000, unless the sale was to a minor, in which case the penalty increases to up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Upon conviction, the court may suspend or revoke the professional license of the offender.

Decriminalization: The state has decriminalized marijuana to some degree. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation.
Medical marijuana: This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective. For more information see NORML's Medical Marijuana section.
Hemp: This state has an active hemp industry. Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. that contains minimal (less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Various parts of the plant can be utilized in the making of textiles, paper, paints, clothing, plastics, cosmetics, foodstuffs, insulation, animal feed, and other products. For more information see NORML's Industrial Use section.
Also see Federal Laws

There still are Federal Penalties, and you might want to reference NORML Maine website. Marijuana Law Reform - NORML and select your state.

[captainjoint]

Thank you much, I will start picking at this to boil it down to layman terms...don't you just love legal doublespeak...

Captain Joint

Originally Posted by ZedRules

Welcome! I got this from NORML Maine:)

Home > State By State Laws > Maine
Maine
Share This Page del.icio.us | digg | Stumble Upon | Facebook
decriminalized medical hemp

Details About this report

Incarceration

Fine

PossessionUsable amount with proof of physician's recommendationnonenonenone"Usable Amount" (under <1.25 oz)civil violationnone$350 - $600

subsequent violation within 6 months $5501.25 oz or morePresumption of Sale, RebuttableCultivation5 plants or lessclass E misdemeanor6 months$1,0005 - 100 plantsclass D misdemeanor1 year$2,000100 - 500 plantsclass C felony5 years$5,000More than 500 plantsclass B felony10 years$20,000Sale1 lb or lessclass D misdemeanor1 year$2,0001 lb - 20 lbsclass C felony

5 years

$5,00020 lbs or moreclass B felony10 years$20,000Sale to minor or within 1,000 feet of a school or on a school busfelony

5 years

$5,000Miscellaneous (paraphernalia, license suspensions, drug tax stamps, etc...)Paraphernalia possession and use civil violationnone$300Paraphernalia salemisdemeanor6 months$1,000Paraphernalia sale to a minormisdemeanor1 year$2,000Any conviction may cause professional license suspension or revocation.Details

Possession of less than 1.25 ounces is a civil violation, punishable by a fine of $200 - $400. Possession of 1.25 ounces or more is considered evidence of intent to distribute and is punished as such (see below).
Possession of a usable amount of marijuana is lawful if at the time of the possession the person has an authenticated copy of a medical record demonstrating that the person has a physician's recommendation.
Cultivation of five plants or less of marijuana is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $1,000. For greater than five plants, the penalties increase to up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000. For greater than 100 plants the possible punishment is up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000. For any amount of plants greater than 500, the penalties increase to up to ten years in prison and a fine of up to $20,000.
The penalty for sale of marijuana is up to one year in jail and a fine up to $2,000. The penalties increase to up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5,000 if the sale was made to a minor or if it occurred within 1,000 feet of a school or on a school bus.
Possession of greater than one pound of marijuana is considered trafficking and is punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Possession and personal use of paraphernalia is a civil violation punishable by a fine of $200. The sale of paraphernalia is punishable by up to six months in prison and a fine of up to $1,000, unless the sale was to a minor, in which case the penalty increases to up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,000.
Upon conviction, the court may suspend or revoke the professional license of the offender.

Decriminalization: The state has decriminalized marijuana to some degree. Typically, decriminalization means no prison time or criminal record for first-time possession of a small amount for personal consumption. The conduct is treated like a minor traffic violation.
Medical marijuana: This state has medical marijuana laws enacted. Modern research suggests that cannabis is a valuable aid in the treatment of a wide range of clinical applications. These include pain relief, nausea, spasticity, glaucoma, and movement disorders. Marijuana is also a powerful appetite stimulant and emerging research suggests that marijuana's medicinal properties may protect the body against some types of malignant tumors, and are neuroprotective. For more information see NORML's Medical Marijuana section.
Hemp: This state has an active hemp industry. Hemp is a distinct variety of the plant species cannabis sativa L. that contains minimal (less than 1%) amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. Various parts of the plant can be utilized in the making of textiles, paper, paints, clothing, plastics, cosmetics, foodstuffs, insulation, animal feed, and other products. For more information see NORML's Industrial Use section.
Also see Federal Laws

There still are Federal Penalties, and you might want to reference NORML Maine website. Marijuana Law Reform - NORML and select your state.