Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Augusta – An official recount of a statewide ballot question legalizing marijuana in Maine is now on hold until after the New Year.
The recount was suspended late Thursday after about 30 percent of the total ballots cast had been reviewed with no significant change in the outcome revealed.
Question 1 on the Nov. 8 ballot passed by 4,073 votes — 381,692 to 377,619 — according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State's Office. Opponents did not have to pay for the recount because the margin was so small, less than 1 percent of votes cast.
The new law, which was to take effect the first week in January, will be delayed until opponents to ballot question concede and end the recount or until as many as 700,000 ballots from roughly 500 Maine cities and towns are recounted. As of Thursday opponents had picked up an additional 70 to 80 votes while volunteers from both sides and state workers have recounted more than 200,000 ballots including all the ballots from Maine's largest cities; Portland, Lewiston and Bangor.
The new law makes it legal for adults to possess as much as 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow a limited number of plants. It also allows for retail stores and social clubs, which likely won't open until 2018 because the state has to develop licensing and regulatory rules.
Those supporting the ballot question voiced disappointment and frustration Friday and said they hope their opponents would concede and end the recount during the break between now and Jan. 1, 2017.
Most recently the ballots from about 30 smaller towns that the opposition wanted to review were counted, ending the second phase of the recount, which started with the state's biggest cities.
"We are hoping they take some time for reflection given we've counted the towns they wanted and we really haven't seen an statistical change in the results," said David Boyer, the campaign manager for Yes on 1. "We hope they don't drag this out any longer and delay implementation. This is proving to be a fruitless task."
Boyer said instead of continuing to waste taxpayer funds on the recount he hoped opponents would now work to regulate legal marijuana in ways both sides have agreed on including regulations that would require childproof packaging and other protections. "We should have smart laws that work," Boyer said.
Meanwhile, Gov. Paul LePage said recently he believes with legalized recreational marijuana the state could do away with its medical marijuana program and laws. But supporters of both legal recreational marijuana and medicinal marijuana said they are not sure LePage is serious given recreational marijuana would only be legal for those over the age of 21 and medicinal marijuana is frequently used by minors. Boyer also said some of the protections in place that could limit potency or dosage amounts for recreational marijuana may not be appropriate for a person who uses marijuana medically to relieve pain or other ailments.
Attempts to reach the No on 1's attorney, who is supervising the recount, were not immediately successful on Friday.
This report will be updated.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Recount On Marijuana Ballot Suspended Until After The New Year
Author: Scott Thistle
Contact: (207) 791-6650
Photo Credit: Kevin J. Beaty
Website: Portland Press Herald
The recount was suspended late Thursday after about 30 percent of the total ballots cast had been reviewed with no significant change in the outcome revealed.
Question 1 on the Nov. 8 ballot passed by 4,073 votes — 381,692 to 377,619 — according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State's Office. Opponents did not have to pay for the recount because the margin was so small, less than 1 percent of votes cast.
The new law, which was to take effect the first week in January, will be delayed until opponents to ballot question concede and end the recount or until as many as 700,000 ballots from roughly 500 Maine cities and towns are recounted. As of Thursday opponents had picked up an additional 70 to 80 votes while volunteers from both sides and state workers have recounted more than 200,000 ballots including all the ballots from Maine's largest cities; Portland, Lewiston and Bangor.
The new law makes it legal for adults to possess as much as 2.5 ounces of marijuana and grow a limited number of plants. It also allows for retail stores and social clubs, which likely won't open until 2018 because the state has to develop licensing and regulatory rules.
Those supporting the ballot question voiced disappointment and frustration Friday and said they hope their opponents would concede and end the recount during the break between now and Jan. 1, 2017.
Most recently the ballots from about 30 smaller towns that the opposition wanted to review were counted, ending the second phase of the recount, which started with the state's biggest cities.
"We are hoping they take some time for reflection given we've counted the towns they wanted and we really haven't seen an statistical change in the results," said David Boyer, the campaign manager for Yes on 1. "We hope they don't drag this out any longer and delay implementation. This is proving to be a fruitless task."
Boyer said instead of continuing to waste taxpayer funds on the recount he hoped opponents would now work to regulate legal marijuana in ways both sides have agreed on including regulations that would require childproof packaging and other protections. "We should have smart laws that work," Boyer said.
Meanwhile, Gov. Paul LePage said recently he believes with legalized recreational marijuana the state could do away with its medical marijuana program and laws. But supporters of both legal recreational marijuana and medicinal marijuana said they are not sure LePage is serious given recreational marijuana would only be legal for those over the age of 21 and medicinal marijuana is frequently used by minors. Boyer also said some of the protections in place that could limit potency or dosage amounts for recreational marijuana may not be appropriate for a person who uses marijuana medically to relieve pain or other ailments.
Attempts to reach the No on 1's attorney, who is supervising the recount, were not immediately successful on Friday.
This report will be updated.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Recount On Marijuana Ballot Suspended Until After The New Year
Author: Scott Thistle
Contact: (207) 791-6650
Photo Credit: Kevin J. Beaty
Website: Portland Press Herald
