• Basics of the Maine Law

Maine passed a law to legalize medical cannabis in a 1999 through a ballot question that received 61% of the vote. The law allows qualifying patients to possess 2.5 ounces of marijuana and cultivate up to 6 plants. ME residents who wish to obtain therapeutic cannabis must submit a “Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Application” that includes a Medical Marijuana Certificate that must be completed by a doctor or nurse practitioner that he or she suffers from one or more qualifying medical conditions and the patient is likely to benefit from the marijuana. Currently you can use medical marijuana ID cards from other states to obtain Maine cannabis. The patient cannot purchase cannabis for medica use in this state without first registering.

  • Patients

There are no application or renewal fees to apply for a marijuana medical card in ME. Parents must register to serve as primary caregiver for minors submitting applications for therapeutic marijuana use in Maine. Minor qualifying patients require consultation with a 2nd consulting physician who provides an opinion concerning whether the minor patient is likely to benefit from cannabis.

There is no special training that is required before a physician can recommend therapeutic marijuana.

  • Caregivers

Any patient who needs assistance with obtaining or administering cannabis can designate a primary caregiver at the time of application for a marijuana program identification card, as well as, whether he or she will cultivate their own cannabis for medical use. Minor patients must have a primary caregiver. Primary caregivers pay no fee if not cultivating marijuana or $240 per patient (up to 5 patients) if they plan to cultivate marijuana for patients.  

  • Physicians

Physicians who are interested in making recommendations for marijuana treatment in this state must possess a current and unrestricted state medical license. They must also have a bonafide patient-physician relationship with ongoing responsibility for the assessment, treatment, and care of a qualifying patient’s debilitating medical condition. There is no special training that is required before a physician can recommend marijuana as medicine. Minors require certification by 2 physicians.

  • Qualifying Medical Conditions

In-order-to qualify as a cannabis patient in ME, a resident must suffer from one or more qualifying medical conditions. These conditions and symptoms include agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, causalgia, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, dyskinetic disorder, hepatitis C, severe and persistent muscle spasms, nail-patella syndrome, Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), severe nausea, seizures, cachexia or severe weight loss. Other medical conditions are subject to approval by the Maine Department of Health. If you need more information about the law or licensing process visit the Maine Department of Health and Human Services website.