8 days ago
BREWER (NEWS CENTER) -- The city of Brewer is discussing how it will regulate medical marijuana distribution centers. The issue came up at a city council meeting on Tuesday, one week after Mainers approved a referendum to expand access to medical marijuana. At the state level, Governor Baldacci appointed a task force to recommend how the new distribution system should be set up. Brewer City Councilor Larry Doughty says the state was unprepared for the referendum to be passed, and wants the council to pass its own regulations for marijuana distribution. Under the Maine constitution the legislature has forty-five days after it convenes in January to make changes to any citizen initiated law. Doughty doesn't think Brewer should wait. "Frankly, I think the state's been caught off-guard," Doughty told NEWS CENTER. "I don't think they knew this was coming. Maybe they did, maybe they didn't, but I don't think they've done any preparation work to get ahead of it." Brewer Police Chief Perry Antone says it's important for city officials to discuss the issue while waiting for guidance from the state. "I think anytime city government takes action to educate themselves to be up on things ahead of time it allows us to be better prepared and maybe prepare an ordinance that will help us manage these types of distribution points or storefronts" Antone said. A spokesperson for the Governor says communities should wait for the task force to make its recommendations before considering their own ordinances. The task force's report is due by the end of December.=
