§115. Cannabis Advisory Council
1.
Appointment; composition.
The Cannabis Advisory Council, referred to in this section as "the council" and established by Title 5, section 12004‑I, subsection 2‑J, consists of 12 members who are appointed as follows:
A.
Two members who are registrants under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act, who are not also licensees under the Cannabis Legalization Act, of which at least one member is a registered caregiver who cultivates cannabis for medical use outdoors, appointed by the President of the Senate. In making the appointments under this paragraph, the President of the Senate shall consider up to 6 recommendations from associations representing the interests of registrants under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act;
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
B.
Two members who are licensees under the Cannabis Legalization Act, who are not also registrants under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act, of which at least one member has a cultivation facility license, appointed by the Speaker of the House. In making the appointments under this paragraph, the Speaker of the House shall consider up to 6 recommendations from associations representing the interests of the adult use cannabis industry;
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
C.
Two members who are registrants and licensees under both the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act and the Cannabis Legalization Act, of which at least one member has a manufacturing facility registration certificate or license, appointed jointly by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House. In making the appointments under this paragraph, the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House shall consider up to 6 recommendations from associations representing the interests of the cannabis industry;
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
D.
One public member who is not a registrant under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act, a licensee under the Cannabis Legalization Act or a lobbyist or lobbyist associate as defined in Title 3, section 312‑A, subsections 10 and 10‑A, respectively, and who has knowledge of and interest in cannabis, appointed by the Speaker of the House;
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
E.
Two members who are municipal officials in municipalities that have ordinances allowing for all registration types under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act and all license types under the Cannabis Legalization Act, appointed by the director;
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
F.
Two members who have a demonstrated knowledge of cannabis science, medicine or research and, at a minimum, a bachelor's degree, appointed by the director. The director shall make a reasonable effort to appoint a member who has at least 5 years of relevant experience; and
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
G.
One member who is a public health professional, appointed by the director.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
To the extent practicable, the membership of the council must reflect a geographic distribution across the State.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
2.
Cannabis business advocate.
The cannabis business advocate established by Public Law 2023, chapter 683 serves as an ex officio nonvoting member of the council.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
3.
Purpose.
The council shall make recommendations to the director and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over cannabis matters concerning:
A.
How best to work with state agencies, municipal governments, the medical use cannabis industry and adult use cannabis industry and citizen groups to make improvements to and maintain the quality of the State's medical use cannabis industry and adult use cannabis industry; and
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
B.
Matters of interest to the State's medical use cannabis industry and adult use cannabis industry, including, but not limited to, financial services, taxation, cannabis-related research and development, environmental and public health protection, cannabis policy in other states and federal legalization.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
The council is responsible for bringing forward to the director and the joint standing committee of the Legislature having jurisdiction over cannabis matters issues of concern to the cannabis industry and for assisting in the dissemination of information to members of the cannabis industry. The council may solicit and consider public comment during its meetings.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
4.
Terms.
The term of a member appointed to the council is 3 years, except that a vacancy during an unexpired term must be filled in the same manner as for the original member for the unexpired portion of the member's term. A member may not serve more than 2 consecutive terms.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
5.
Chair and vice-chair.
The council shall elect a member of the council as chair and a member as vice-chair at the first regular meeting of each year. The term of the chair and vice-chair is one year.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
6.
Meetings; staffing.
The council shall meet at least 4 times a year and, to the extent practicable, at more than one location throughout the State. It may also meet at other times at the call of the chair or the director. The office shall provide administrative and staff support for the council within existing resources.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
7.
Compensation.
Council members are entitled to reimbursement for expenses in accordance with Title 5, chapter 379, which is paid in equal proportions from the Adult Use Cannabis Regulatory Coordination Fund established in section 1102 and the Medical Use of Cannabis Fund established in Title 22, section 2430.
[PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).]
SECTION HISTORY
PL 2025, c. 506, §3 (NEW).