Is Weed Legal in Maine? ME Cannabis Laws (June 2023)
- Adults in Maine can legally possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana if they’re 21 or older and can provide a valid ID with a photo.
- Maine also allows the use of marijuana paraphernalia, so you shouldn’t have problems finding a classy bong, pipe, or vaporizer in the state.
- Patients wanting to try medical marijuana as an alternative treatment to conventional medications can apply for a medical marijuana card and purchase their medicine from licensed dispensaries.
Long story short, marijuana users in Maine are in for a treat.
But is everything weed-related legal in Maine? What about marijuana delivery services?
This article leaves no stone unturned in exploring cannabis laws in Pine Tree State.
Is Weed Legal in Maine?
Yes, marijuana in Main is fully legal. However, different regulations apply to recreational and medical marijuana use.
Related: States Where Marijuana Is Legal
Here’s what you need to know:
Is Recreational Marijuana Legal in Maine?
In 1976, Maine decriminalized possession of small amounts of cannabis, becoming the third state to introduce such legislation.
On May 1, 2009, Governor John Baldacci signed legislation LD 250 which made possession of 2 ½ ounces (71 g) or less a civil infraction punishable by a ticket.
In 2016, Maine fully legalized marijuana for adults.
If you’re 21 years or older, you may possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana. You can also buy cannabis paraphernalia, such as bongs and pipes.
Maine has established a network of licensed dispensaries for marijuana distribution. You can buy your marijuana there as long as you can prove your age with a government-issued ID.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Maine?
Maine legalized marijuana when 62% of the populace voted yes on Question 2 on November 2, 1999.
Since then, Maine has established one of the most liberal medical marijuana programs in the U.S.
A Better & Federally Legal Alternative to Marijuana in Maine
Maine officials are working on creating a legal framework for online marijuana sales, but until then, there are no operating delivery services in the state.
If you’re looking for a legal alternative to buying marijuana online, consider trying out delta 8 THC products.
Delta 8 THC is federally legal and comes with a lower incidence of anxiety and paranoia.
Cons of Delta 9 THC from Marijuana
Low and moderate doses of THC are relaxing and can improve your cognitive performance while relieving physical discomfort.
Higher doses can induce euphoria, increase your appetite, elevate mood, cause laughter, and alter the perception of your surroundings on top of sharpening your senses.
For the majority of cannabis users, the above effects are therapeutic and they can enjoy the psychedelic nature of THC.
However, some individuals are particularly sensitive to the effects of delta-9. When they breach their tolerance levels, they may experience the biphasic nature of THC.
Side effects of high doses of delta-9 include:
- Anxiety
- Paranoia
- Sedation
- Dizziness
- Increased heart rate
- Sweating
- Confusion
- Problems with coordination
- Short-term memory impairment
That’s why many people are turning to hemp-derived delta 8 THC products.
Effects & Benefits of Delta 8 THC from Hemp
The molecular formulas of delta 8 and delta 9 THC are strikingly similar. However, their molecular structure is slightly different when it comes to the arrangement of their atomic bonds.
Delta 8 THC has a double carbon bond at the eighth chain, while delta 9 THC has this bond at the ninth chain. This subtle difference makes delta 8 THC about twice less potent as delta 9.
Delta 8 THC gets you high, but these effects are milder and come with a lower risk of anxiety and paranoia — the two reasons why certain people choose to avoid high-THC cannabis products.
Most users describe the cognitive buzz as mellow and relaxing; the effects can lean toward energizing or sedating depending on the dose and terpenes in your product.
The health benefits of delta 8 THC include:
- Anti-nausea
- Anti-inflammatory
- Pain relief
- Increased appetite
- Feelings of calmness and relaxation
- Neuroprotection
Is Delta 8 THC Legal in Maine?
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and its derivatives as long as they contain less than 0.3% delta 9 THC.
The new law also made THC isomers legal at the federal level, including delta 8, delta 10, and HHC.
However, several states objected to the peculiar loophole and imposed their own limits on delta 8 products. Fortunately, Maine wasn’t one of them. The laws regarding delta 8 THC in Maine follow the provisions of the new Farm Bill.
Where to Buy Delta 8 THC
Delta 8 THC products are in high demand, and the market doesn’t keep up with regulations. Since no federal agency supervises the production of delta 8 extracts, it’s your responsibility as a consumer to research your potential vendors.
Buying delta 8 THC online provides more opportunities for vetting your future supplier. You can look into third-party lab reports, compare customer reviews from several independent websites, read the company’s “About Us” section, and reach out to other users on forums like Reddit to get a full picture of the company.
Browsing through hundreds of products is also more convenient when you don’t need to leave your house.
Not to mention better prices. Online vendors can cut out the middleman; this way, you can take advantage of regular discounts, subscription pricing, bulk orders, and reward programs to save even more money on high-quality products.
Best Online Delta 8 Vendors
There are many substandard d8 products on the local scene, most of which come without certificates of analysis, so it’s impossible to verify their potency and purity.
After trying out over 30 hemp brands, we’ve narrowed down our list of the best delta 8 vendors to 10 names and picked out our two favorite companies that offer the best ratio between price and quality.
Both brands source their products from organic, U.S-grown hemp and provide batch-specific lab reports for each extract.
1. Area52
Get 15% off all Area 52 products. Use code “CFAH” at checkout.
Area 52 is a Nevada-based manufacturer specializing in the extraction of minor cannabinoids. The company’s current focus is delta 8 THC distillate in various forms, including tinctures, gummies, vape carts, and pre-rolled joints.
Area 52 has a clear mission, which is to raise the quality bar for new companies entering the delta 8 scene. Its products are triple-tested for quality and safety in an ISO-certified laboratory.
The hemp strains used for extraction come with exceptionally high levels of terpenes, potentiating the effects of delta 8 and allowing you to choose between energizing and sedating effects depending on the selected strain.
2. Finest Labs
Finest Labs is known for its scientific approach to cannabinoid extracts. The company offers simple formulas based on high-quality delta 8 THC infused with botanical terpenes that recreate the experience from specific cannabis strains.
You can choose from similar formats to Area 52, such as tinctures, gummies, vape carts, and pre-rolled joints (they’re available as sativa, indica, and hybrid).
Some of the company’s products, such as tinctures and vape carts, are a bit less potent, which translates into a lower cost per product. This feature makes Finest Labs a decent pick for people with a lower budget who still want to enjoy high-quality delta 8 extracts.
FAQs
Who Can Use Medical Marijuana in Maine?
There’s no list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana applicants. If you visit a doctor and he or she decides marijuana is a suitable treatment for you, they may recommend it and issue a special medical marijuana card.
If you have a medical marijuana card, you can buy your medicine from cannabis dispensaries. However, the card isn’t obligatory. All you need is the authorization certificate and a state-issued ID.
Can You Grow Weed in Maine?
Yes, adults may grow up to 6 flowering marijuana plants and 12 immature plants.
Can You Smoke Marijuana in Public?
No, smoking marijuana is limited to private properties. If you’re caught smoking weed in public, it will be treated as a civil violation and you may be fined up to $100.
Can You Legally Buy Weed Online in Maine?
No, you can’t legally buy marijuana online in Maine. Although Maine legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2016, lawmakers banned online sales in 2018.
Marijuana delivery isn’t an option there.
Whenever you come across marijuana delivery services in Maine, know they’re operating on the brink of legality.
The situation looks different if you’re a medical marijuana patient. Medical users can purchase cannabis online through online stores — both for pickup and delivery.
Does that mean you have no options for enjoying cannabis deliveries as a recreational user?
It turns out there’s one legal workaround for this.
Traveling with Marijuana in Maine
You can travel with marijuana in Maine as long as it remains out of the driver’s reach and its original container. Crossing state lines with marijuana is federally illegal, even if you travel between two states that allow marijuana for recreational use. If you’re caught with weed flying from one state to another, that will be treated as a federal felony.
Penalties for marijuana trafficking involve 5 years in prison and up to $250,000 in fines if you have less than 50 kg of marijuana or fewer than 50 plants.
Is CBD Oil from Hemp Legal in Maine?
Yes, CBD hemp oil is fully legal in Maine. Hemp-derived products were legalized by the 2018 Farm Bill. You can legally buy them if they contain 0.3% or less delta 9 THC.
You can easily find CBD hemp oil in vape stores, head shops, pharmacies, wellness centers, and even at gas stations.
However, since the CBD market is unregulated (a similar situation to delta 8 THC), the best deals on high-quality products are found online.
As always, make sure to ask for relevant third-party lab reports and carefully read customer reviews before you trust any company with your money.
Final Thoughts: Maine Is One of the Best States for Legal Marijuana
Maine has one of the most relaxed marijuana laws in the USA. Not only can adults possess up to 2 ounces of weed for personal use, but they can also grow their own plants at home.
If you’re looking for high-quality weed in Maine, all you need to do is visit a dispensary and ask the budtender to show you their selection of strains and/or extracts.
Unfortunately, until the Maine government sorts out the problem with delivery companies, buying marijuana online is not an option there. Your only chance to order psychoactive cannabinoids online is through a reputable store that offers hemp-derived delta 8 THC products.
Delta 8 THC is federally legal and carries a lower risk of anxiety and paranoia, but you need to carefully vet your potential vendors.
If you’re short on time, feel free to use our recommendations from this guide.
