In 2019, Governor Mills signed legislation, LD 719, into law finalizing regulations to oversee the licensed production and retail sale of marijuana to adults. (Link)

A spokesperson for Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, said unregulated and illicit marijuana operations “are threats to the safety of communities, to the livelihood and financial wellbeing of licensed and compliant cannabis businesses, and to customers and patients in Maine who choose to use cannabis." The Democratic governor “stands ready to support and assist” federal officials as they prosecute and “dismantle illegal drug activities in Maine,” spokesperson Ben Goodman said. 08/24/2023

"Over the course of the last several months, my Administration has worked quickly to implement the law regarding Maine’s adult-use recreational marijuana market as Maine voters asked the state to do two and a half years ago," said Governor Mills. "The rule development demonstrates what can be accomplished when state government works with lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and the public to accomplish a shared goal. With this law, we are one step closer to honoring the will of Maine voters." 6/27/19

"Over the course of the last several months, my administration has worked quickly to implement the law regarding Maine’s adult-use recreational marijuana market as Maine voters asked the state to do two and a half years ago. The rule development demonstrates what can be accomplished when state government works with lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and the public to accomplish a shared goal. With this law, we are one step closer to honoring the will of Maine voters." Link

"Properly implemented, marijuana legalization has the potential to create thousands of jobs, grow the Maine economy, and end an outdated war on drugs. I have joined other Attorneys General in calling on Congress to allow banks and credit unions to serve state-licensed marijuana businesses without penalty, ending the cash-based shadow economy that still haunts states who have legalized marijuana. Congress should also allow research into uses and effectiveness of marijuana products. We must also ensure that our law adequately regulates access to minors, driving while impaired, contamination and quality control, taxation and the type and placement of advertising for marijuana." Link

Mills said voters approved a bad law at the ballot box and that was complicated when the Legislature tried to fix it, with that fix being tied up in politics. “I’m not opposed to adult-use recreational marijuana, not opposed to it at all,” Mills said. “You’ve got to do three things with marijuana, cannabis: test it, track it and tax it.” She said that without doing that quickly, the black market will continue to prevail. Link

Email: governor@maine.gov

Web: https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/

Phone: 207-287-3531