Maine Marijuana Legalization: Recount Underway

AUGUSTA, ME — A recount has been scheduled for Maine's marijuana legalization plan, which passed by a razor-thin margin on Election Day. The official vote tally on Question 1 was 381,647 to 377,574 — a margin of just 4,073 votes. The winning side captured a 50.27 percent majority.

No On 1, which opposes legalization, requested the recount, which could take up to six weeks, according to Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap.

Maine was one of four states on Election Day that approved legalizing marijuana for sale. The others were Massachusetts, California, and Nevada. Arizona was the sole state to reject a legalization initiative.

The pro-legalization side in Maine has been led by the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol. The group says legalizing marijuana will "replace a dangerous underground market with a system of licensed businesses," raise millions in tax revenue and create thousands of jobs.

Gov. Paul LePage and the group Mainers Protecting Our Youth and Communities opposes legalization. LePage warned it would have "deadly consequences."

Question 1 asked Maine voters:

Do you want to allow the possession and use of marijuana under state law by persons who are at least 21 years of age, and allow the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, testing, and sale of marijuana and marijuana products subject to state regulation, taxation and local ordinance?

Adults would be allowed to buy up to 2-1/2 ounces of marijuana. The measure would also allow marijuana social clubs. Supporters said the first marijuana retail stores could open sometime around January 2018.

Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.

• Full text: Maine Marijuana Legalization Act (click to open .doc file)

LePage said marijuana use impairs drivers — leading to deadly crashes — and said marijuana users are also likely to use heroin.

"We do not need to legalize another drug that could lead to more deaths," LePage said in a statement last month.

LePage also said edible marijuana snacks "could kill children and pets."

"People will smoke marijuana in pot stores right next to schools, day care centers, and churches," LePage said. "They will smoke weed and sell pot at state fairs."

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