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Maine cannabis rules: what to know and how to check

In Maine, adults 21 and older can buy cannabis from stores licensed by the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP). Check the store in OCP’s license search before you buy. Adult use products must pass lab tests and carry a “Passed mandatory testing” label. Medical cannabis does not have to be tested for contaminants. OCP posts recalls and advisories.

Checked against the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) and Maine law on . Next review: .

CHSA does not test, certify or endorse products or retailers.

Official source

Maine’s cannabis regulator: Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP)

These links go to the regulator’s own website. CHSA does not copy or host license records, so you always see the official, current version.

What’s different in Maine

Maine has two cannabis programs, and one state office runs both. The Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) licenses adult use stores, growers, manufacturers and labs. It also registers medical caregivers and dispensaries. Medical and adult use cannabis can't be sold from the same building.

The two programs test differently. All adult use cannabis must pass state-required lab tests before it is sold. Medical cannabis in Maine does not have to be tested for contaminants. Some caregivers and dispensaries test anyway. OCP suggests patients ask to see the lab report (Certificate of Analysis) and check that it matches the batch.

Medical patients get a written certification from a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. OCP does not keep a list of patients. A patient may have up to 8 pounds of harvested cannabis.

Towns must vote to allow cannabis businesses ("opt in") before a store can open there. Towns can't ban licensed delivery to homes. Using cannabis in public places is against state law. Taking cannabis out of Maine, or mailing it, is illegal.

Licensed does not mean risk-free. OCP has recalled adult use products after audit tests, and it posts advisories about medical products.

Maine rules at a glance

These are the main state rules for adult use cannabis. Towns can add their own rules. Numbers in brackets link to the law or the regulator’s guidance.

Maine rules, with sources
Topic The rule Source
Minimum age 21 and older to buy from a licensed adult use store. Staff must check a valid photo ID before a sale, including for delivery and curbside pickup. [1] 28-B M.R.S. §504(4)
How much you can have Adults 21 and older may have up to 2 1/2 ounces of cannabis, or 2 1/2 ounces of cannabis and concentrate combined with no more than 10 grams of concentrate. The same limit applies to each purchase. Adults may give that amount to another adult if no money changes hands. [2] 28-B M.R.S. §1501(1)(B), (C), (F)
Growing at home Each adult 21 and older may grow up to 6 mature plants, 12 immature plants and any number of seedlings. Plants must not be visible from a public way, and growers must take reasonable steps to keep people under 21 away from them. OCP says each plant needs a tag with the grower's name and ID number. [3] 28-B M.R.S. §1502(1), (2); OCP FAQ
Delivery Allowed. Licensed stores, and some licensed growers and manufacturers, may run a limited delivery service. Towns can't ban it. The driver must check your photo ID, and only the person who placed the order can receive it. Deliveries to a hotel or business need written consent from that business. OCP says no deliveries from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. [1] 28-B M.R.S. §504(4)(A-1), (9); 18-691 CMR ch. 30 §1(8)(F); OCP FAQ
Required lab tests Before sale, adult use cannabis must pass tests for filth and foreign material, residual solvents, pesticides, metals (cadmium, lead, arsenic and mercury), yeast, mold and mycotoxins, harmful microbes (including E. coli and salmonella), and THC and other cannabinoids. Dried flower and some edibles are also tested for water activity. Medical cannabis does not have to be tested for contaminants. [4] 18-691 CMR ch. 40 §2(A); 28-B M.R.S. §602(1); OCP medical program page
Labels Labels must show the universal symbol (at least 1/2 by 1/2 inch, on the front), the statement "Passed mandatory testing", the batch number, the store's license number, net weight, THC and other cannabinoid amounts, and a production date. Every label carries a warning that starts "Keep out of reach of children and pets." [5] 18-691 CMR ch. 30 §5(1)(B); 28-B M.R.S. §701(1)
Packaging Everything except seedlings and young plants must leave the store in child-resistant, tamper-evident packaging or exit packaging. Liquids with more than one serving need a child-resistant cap and a tool to measure one serving. Labels and packages can't target minors or show a human, animal or fruit. [6] 28-B M.R.S. §701(2), (4); 18-691 CMR ch. 30 §1(8)(K)
Edible THC limits Adult use edibles may have up to 10 mg of THC per serving and 200 mg per package, within an allowed variance. Each serving must be stamped with the universal symbol or wrapped on its own, unless that isn't practical (gummies, for example). Edibles can't be shaped like a human, animal or fruit. [7] 28-B M.R.S. §703(1)(D)–(F)
Poison control Northern New England Poison Center: 1-800-222-1222 . Free, confidential, 24/7. Call 911 if someone has trouble breathing or won’t wake up. www.nnepc.org

Maine recalls

OCP posts recall notices for licensed products. CHSA doesn’t keep a live list of Maine recalls yet, so check OCP’s own list.

Keep the package. A recall notice lists the product and its batch or ID number, which you match against your label.

How Maine compares

Compare Maine with the other states CHSA covers.

Sources

  1. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, section 504 (operation of cannabis stores) Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Retrieved
  2. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, section 1501 (personal adult use) Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Retrieved
  3. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, section 1502 (home cultivation) Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Retrieved
  4. Rules for the Testing of Adult Use Cannabis, 18-691 CMR ch. 40 Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Published · Retrieved
  5. Compliance Rules for Adult Use Cannabis Establishments, 18-691 CMR ch. 30 Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Published · Retrieved
  6. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, section 701 (labeling and packaging) Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Retrieved
  7. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, section 703 (edible products and other health and safety rules) Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Retrieved
  8. Adult Use Cannabis Program Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Retrieved
  9. Adult Use Applicant, Licensee, and Entity Search Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Retrieved
  10. ALMS License Information: Search State of Maine, Regulatory Licensing and Permitting · Retrieved
  11. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Retrieved
  12. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 28-B, section 402 (local authorization) Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Retrieved
  13. Adult Use Opt-in Communities Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Retrieved
  14. Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Program Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Retrieved
  15. Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, section 2423-A (authorized conduct for medical use) Maine Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes · Retrieved
  16. Cannabis Recalls & Advisories Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Retrieved
  17. File a Complaint Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) · Retrieved
  18. Office of Cannabis Policy (home page) Maine Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP), Department of Administrative and Financial Services · Retrieved
  19. Northern New England Poison Center Northern New England Poison Center · Retrieved

CHSA does not test, certify or endorse products or retailers.