An Act to Remove All Marijuana-related Provisions from the Maine Criminal Code and Expunge All Convictions Involving Marijuana
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1789
Committee Amendment CA_A_S520 (Senate)

COMMITTEE AMENDMENT " ft " to S.P. 714, L.D. 1789, "An Act to Remove All
Marijuana-related Provisions from the Maine Criminal Code and Expunge All Convictions
Involving Marijuana"
Amend the bill by striking out the title and substituting the following:
'Resolve, to Convene a Stakeholder Group to Review JVIarijuana-reIated and
Cannabis-related Crimes in the Maine Criminal Code and Other Provisions of the
Maine Revised Statutes'
Amend the bill by striking out everything after the title and inserting the following:
'See. 1. Convene stakeholder group. Resolved: That the Department of
Administrative and Fmancial Services, office of cannabis policy shall convene a
stakeholder group to examine marijuana-related and cannabis-related crunes in the Maine
Criminal Code and other relevant provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes to determine
whether there are marijuana-related or cannabis-related crimes currently in effect that
should be amended or removed. The stakeholder group shall also examine whether there
are any existing activities related to marijuana or cannabis for which criminal penalties
should be established. The stakeholder group must include, at a minimum, a representative
from the Maine Prosecutors Association and a representative from the Department of
Public Safety, Maine Drug Enforcement Agency,
Sec. 2. Report. Resolved: That the Department of Administrative and Financial
Services, office ofcannabis policy shall, by January 15,2025, submit a report outlining the
stakeholder group's fmdings and recommendations under section 1, including
recommended legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislatire having
jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters. The committee may report out
legislation related to the report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
Sec. 3. Appropriations and allocations. Resolved: That the following
appropriations and allocations are made.
5 ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL SERVICES, DEPARTMENT OF
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT"^ " to S.P. 714, L.D. 1789 (^-52.^}
^(y 1 Adult Use Cannabis Regulatory Coordination Fund Z264
Initiative: Provides one-time funding to hire contracted legal services to examine
marijuana-related and cannabis-related crimes in the Maine Criminal Code and relevant
provisions of the Maine Revised Statutes.
GENERAL FUND 2023-24 2024-25
AllOther $0 $200,000
GENERAL FUND TOTAL $0 $200,000
Amend the bill by relettering or renumbering any nonconsecutive Part letter or section
number to read consecutively.
SUMMARY
This amendment, which is the minority report of the committee, replaces the bill with
a resolve that requires the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, office of
cannabis policy to convene a stakeholder group to examine marijuana-related and caimabis-
related crunes in the Maine Criminal Code and other relevant provisions of the Maine
Revised Statutes to determine whether there are marijuana-related or cannabis-related
crimes currently in effect that should be amended or removed. The stakeholder group must
also examine whether there are any existing activities related to marijuana or cannabis that
should be made criminal. The stakeholder group must include, at a minimum,
representatives from the Maine Prosecutors Association and the Department of Public
Safety, Maine Dmg Enforcement Agency. The office of cannabis policy is required to
submit a report outlining the stakeholder group's findings and recommendations, including
any recommended legislation, to the joint standing committee of the Legislatire having
jurisdiction over criminal justice and public safety matters by January 15, 2025. The
committee may report out legislation related to the report to the 132nd Legislature in 2025.
The amendment also adds an appropriations and allocations section.
FISCAL NOTE REQmRED
(See attached)
COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Approved: 01/23/24 .^K^c*.
LD 1789 LR 1274(02)
An Act to Remove All Marijuana-related Provisions from the Maine Criminal Code and Expunge All
Convictions Involving IVIarijuana
Fiscal Note for Bill as Amended by Committee Amendment "/i"
Committee: Criminal Justice and Public Safety
J'k'SZo)
Fiscal Note Required: Yes
Fiscal Note
Projections Projections
FY 2023-24 FY 2024-25 FY 2025-26 FY 2026-27
Net Cost (Savings)
General Fund $0 $200,000 $0 $0
^ppropriations/Allocations
General Fmid $0 $200,000 $0 $0
Fiscal Detail and Notes
The Office ofCannabis Policy (OCP) within the Department of Administrative and Financial Services has indicated
that current staff does not have the necessary criminal law expertise to conduct a review of the relevant sections of the
Maine Criminal Code and the Maine Revised Statutes within the timeline required by the bill. The bill includes a one-
time General Fund appropriation of $200,000 to OCP in fiscal year 2024-25 for contracted legal services.
Any additional costs to the Department of Public Safety associatied with serving on a stakeholder group can be
absorbed within existing budgeted resources.
LR1274(02) - Fiscal Note - Page 1 of 1