Marijuana Working Group Update

The Marijuana Working Group will be providing a status update on their efforts at an upcoming Town Council and Planning Board workshop.  The workshop is scheduled for July 24, 2017 at 6PM.  The workshop-format provides an informal opportunity to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and progress of the town’s efforts related to legalized marijuana in Kittery. 

The Working Group has recently updated its project webpage to include the results of the Resident and Business surveys and a link to a video of the most recent presentation Legalization: Perspectives from the Marijuana Industry in Maine. The Recreational Marijuana project webpage can be found at www.kitteryme.gov.

The resident and business surveys were designed to gather additional information and gauge support for specific portions of the state legalization measure as they may be implemented in town.  Responses were collected in April and May.  The information is being used to inform the Working Group's efforts in developing ordinances and policies that may be considered by the Planning Board and Town Council.  

Visitors to the webpage will also find a link to the State Legislature’s Joint Committee on Implementation of recreational marijuana, the town’s initial framework for addressing marijuana legalization, and other information. 

Maine voters approved the legalization of marijuana for recreational uses in November of 2016.  The law allows cities and towns to determine if they want to allow retail recreational marijuana grow facilities, manufacturing, and retail stores in their communities.  In accordance with the new law, the town cannot enact ordinances or regulations that prohibit personal use of recreational marijuana in Kittery. 

The Working Group is comprised of the Town Manager, Kendra Amaral, Doctor Robert Hulefeld of York Hospital, Police Chief James Soucy, Fire Chief David O’Brien, Town Planner, Chris DiMatteo, Code Enforcement Officer, Robert Marchi, School Resource Officer Jay Durgin, and Intern David Evans.  They meet monthly and are focused on drafting land use, public safety, and town policy proposals to address recreational marijuana in Kittery. 

For more information contact Kendra Amaral at kamaral@kitteryme.org or at 207-475-1329.  The Recreational Marijuana webpage can be found at www.kitteryme.gov.