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Maine Business Group Calls for Better Marijuana Regulations

A group of business professionals has formed a new coalition to advocate for better regulation of the marijuana industry.

Maine Professionals for Regulating Marijuana is not taking a position on Question 1 on the November ballot — its members are equally divided — but the group hopes to have a better system in place if the measure passes.

The group includes accountants, Realtors, attorneys, municipal officials and marijuana dispensaries. They describe themselves as members of the business community who say they want to see the best rules in place for Maine’s existing medical marijuana program and for recreational marijuana, if Maine voters approve its use.

“Most of this is an acknowledgment that we do have a current medicinal marijuana industry here in Maine that can use some tightening,” says Toby McGrath, the group’s president. “But also if Question 1 passes that the rules are promulgated in a fashion that would make sure that we’re focused on quality, safety and transparency here in Maine.”

For example, McGrath says both medicinal and recreational adult use of marijuana require mandatory safety and potency testing and labeling. The group also wants to see more stringent record keeping, a ban on advertising to minors and child resistant packaging.

Pete Dufour, a Portland-based accountant, says he joined the group, in part, because he has heard from clients who are legally involved in the medical marijuana industry but having trouble accessing professional financial services.

“The state laws are pretty clear and people are still learning how they apply, but given the reluctance of the federal government to sanction many of the activities in the marijuana states, a lot of professional advisors are reluctant to get involved,” he says.

Even though marijuana remains outlawed at the federal level, Dufour says it’s time for Maine’s business community to discuss these issues and work with people who deserve their help.

In 2014, Maine’s medical marijuana program was estimated to have generated at least $60 million worth of revenue and about $4 million in taxes to the state.