Recreational marijuana sales in Maine to begin, finally, on Oct. 9

Almost four years after legalization, Maine will open its recreational marijuana market to public sales on Oct. 9.

Consumers won’t know where they will be able to buy legal adult-use cannabis until Sept. 8, when the Maine Office of Marijuana Policy announces its first round of fully licensed testing labs, cultivation facilities, manufacturing plants and retail stores. License holders will have a month to harvest, test and package their products for sale on opening day.

“Today’s announcement is a major milestone in honoring the will of Maine voters and a significant step toward launching a new industry in the state,” said Erik Gundersen, director of the Office of Marijuana Policy. “Many of the business owners we have spoken with during the application process are ready and eager to commence operations.”

Maine has issued 194 conditional state testing, cultivation, manufacturing and retail business licenses to date. Of those, 33 have obtained the local authorizations required to move forward to the state’s third and final licensing phase, in which regulators will confirm that the safety and operational plans outlined in each application comply with all state marijuana laws and rules. [Read more at Portland Press Herald]