Cannabis for medical use was approved on November 2, 1999 by 61% of voters and became effective on December 22, 1999
The act removed state-level criminal penalties on the use, possession and cultivation of marijuana by patients who possess an oral or written “professional opinion” from their physician that he or she “might benefit from the medical use of marijuana.”
The law does not establish a state-run patient registry.
Conditions Approved for Use of Medical Marijuana in Maine
- Epilepsy and other disorders characterized by seizures
- Glaucoma
- Multiple sclerosis and other disorders characterized by muscle spasticity
- Nausea or vomiting as a result of AIDS or cancer chemotherapy
Cannabis Quantities Allowed
Possession: patients or their primary caregivers may legally possess no more than one-and-a-quarter (1.25) ounces of usable marijuana,
Cultivation: patients or their primary caregivers may legally cultivate no more than six marijuana plants, of which no more than three may be mature.
Those patients who possess greater amounts of marijuana than allowed by law are afforded a “simple defense” to a charge of marijuana possession.
The bill was amended in Senate Bill 611 which became effect on April 2, 2002. This amendment increased the legal amount of useable marijuana a person may possess to two-and-a-half (2.5) ounces of usable marijuana.
A further Amendment, approved on November 3, 2009 by 59% of voters updated the approved list of conditions to:
- Cancer
- Glaucoma
- HIV
- Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
- Hepatitis C
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- Crohn’s disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Nail-patella syndrome
- Chronic intractable pain,
- Cachexia or wasting syndrome
- Severe nausea
- Seizures (epilepsy)
- Severe and persistent muscle spasms
- Multiple sclerosis
This amendment also instructs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a registry identification program for patients and caregivers and stipulates provisions for the operation of nonprofit dispensaries.
Full details on how to get a medical marijuana card in Maine.
02/02/2010: Update on Medical Marijuana for Minors in Maine
Back to Medical Marijuana state laws
I was referred to This Site by the Honorable, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree.
To find someone who can help me find someone to prescribe an alternative to the present treatment for pain. Her office could “not recommend a doctor” but gave me this site as a way to find out if Marijuana is a viable addition to my toolbox of pain killers.
I have bi-polar due to traumatic instances in my early childhood.
Getting myself to eat is a hard problem even if im hungry. Synthesised meds make me feel sick. When i dont eat it aggrivates my bi-polar.
How do i go about proving marijuana helps keep everything “normal” for me?
Is it better to use marijuana instead of Prozac?
I had a psych evaluation and they told me i should take Prozac but i read on it and it seems bad for your body. Just leave a comment and let me know. Thank you
Don’t take Prozac! Or any other pharmaceutical antidepressant. They have horrible side effects and actually increase suicidal thoughts. I know from experience.
9 years of prozac helped cause fourth stage cirroses of the liver to my husband, a non drinker, non smoker. Totally prescribed and dangerous.
prozac is mostly fluoride, look it up. You can calm a city by putting fluoride into the water.
The only 2 doctors in Maine who prescribe medical marijuana arent accepting new patients. I was prescribed Prozac and am not comfortable putting those poisons in my body. Please help! Dr. Sulak and Dr. Woytowitcz are full!
@ Susan: Hello Susan, I am sorry to hear your husband.
I too am a fellow Main’ah from Gorham, not far from you folks. I recently got my medical cannabis license for severe crohns disease and have found a significant improvement in weight gain, energy appetite and general quality of life. A good site to start with that is run by friendly neighbors close to home with an abundence of resourses and information is: http://www.mainecaregiver.com
i hope this helps and wish you and your family the best of luck. Take care.
I live in Ga and have tumors on my brain all the meds they had me on made me sick to the point where i had to stop now im in constant pain and am loosing my vision is there anything i can do ?
i would just like to kno, What if you just smoke weed to focus.. Would that Be a requirement for Medical Marijuana?
my husband is now going through 8 weeks of radiation for cancer, and were wondering where can he sign up for legal marijuana, his physition doesn’t do that. were from hollis me.
Politicians are 10 years behind the times when it comes to pot use. People have been fighting for a long time against cannabis and hemp prohibition with some movement going on now. Still too slow for those caught up in the jail system for possessing a little weed. Our freedoms have been trampled on by folks who know nothing about how beautiful marijauna can be for someones life, if one learns about growing cannabis. Keep up the good work.