An Act to Establish the Maine Cannabis Research Committee and Facilitate Research into Alternative Therapeutics
Maine Legislature, Session 131, LD 1467
Committee: Health and Human Services
Sponsors: BRAKEY, BOYLE, MATHIESON, O'NEIL
Amends: 5 MRSA §12004-I, 22 MRSA §2700-F

Legislative Document
No. 1467
S.P. 586
In Senate, April 5, 2023
An Act to Establish the Maine Cannabis Research Committee and 
Facilitate Research into Alternative Therapeutics
Reference to the Committee on Health and Human Services suggested and ordered printed.
DAREK M. GRANT
Secretary of the Senate
Presented by Senator BRAKEY of Androscoggin.
Cosponsored by Representatives: BOYLE of Gorham, MATHIESON of Kittery, O'NEIL of 
Saco.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  5 MRSA §12004-I, sub-§31-C is enacted to read:
31-C.  
 Health Care  Maine Cannabis Research Committee
$1,000 after first 
meetings in a 
calendar year and 
an additional 
$1,000 after 6 
meetings in the 
same calendar 
year
MRSA 
§2700-F
Sec. 2.  22 MRSA c. 607 is enacted to read:
CHAPTER 607
CANNABIS RESEARCH COMMITTEE
§2700-F. Maine Cannabis Research Committee
1. Committee established as a public instrumentality. The Maine Cannabis 
Research Committee, as established by Title 5, section 12004-I, subsection 31-C and 
referred to in this section as "the committee," is established as a public body corporate and 
politic and an incorporated public instrumentality of the State. 
2. Membership. The committee consists of 7 individuals who must be residents of the 
State and are appointed as follows:
A. Two medical providers as defined in section 2422, subsection 4-C who have over 
the prior 2 years provided certification for the medical use of cannabis in accordance 
with the process described under section 2423-B, one appointed by the President of the 
Senate and one by the Speaker of the House;
B. Two registered caregivers as defined in section 2422, subsection 11, each of whom 
has held a registration for at least 2 consecutive years and has provided care for patients 
using at least 2 different modalities for introduction of cannabis into the body, one 
appointed by the President of the Senate and one by the Speaker of the House;
C. Two residents of the State who have been qualifying patients as defined in section 
2422, subsection 9 for at least 3 years and who have experience using at least 2 different 
modalities for introduction of cannabis into the body, one appointed by the President 
of the Senate and one by the Speaker of the House; and
D. One research professional employed by the University of Maine or other institution 
of higher education in the State, appointed by the Speaker of the House.
3. Term. Members are appointed to 4-year terms. If the appointing authority fails to 
make an appointment prior to the expiration of a member's term, that member continues to 
serve until the appointing authority makes an appointment for the remainder of that term. 
If a vacancy occurs prior to the expiration of a specified term, the appointing authority shall 
appoint an individual to serve only the remainder of that term.  
4. Duties. The duties of the committee include but are not limited to:
A. The creation of a grant application and review process for awarding grants under 
section 2430, subsection 5, including a process for data collection and reporting; 
B. The development and implementation of an annual 3rd-party-administered survey 
of medical use qualifying patients as defined in section 2422, subsection 9, caregivers 
as defined in section 2422, subsection 8-A, registered dispensaries as defined in section 
2422, subsection 6 and other stakeholders that provides usage data and other useful 
information to the public; and
C. The review of potential applications of complementary alternative medicines, 
including psilocybin, ketamine and 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA. 
5. Compensation of members. Members are compensated in accordance with Title 5, 
section 12004-I, subsection 31-C. Stipends are to be paid out of the Medical Use of 
Cannabis Fund.
6. Report. The committee shall provide an annual report summarizing its activities by 
January 15, 2024 and annually thereafter to the joint standing committees of the Legislature 
having jurisdiction over health and human services matters and agriculture and forestry 
matters. 
7. Staffing. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of 
Cannabis Policy shall provide administrative support to the committee, including recording 
of minutes, meeting organization, facilitation of communication among members, 
conducting research and providing background information and data to the committee.
Sec. 3.  Initial appointments.  Notwithstanding the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 
22, section 2700-F, subsection 3, in the Maine Cannabis Research Committee, the member 
appointed by the President of the Senate pursuant to Title 22, section 2700-F, subsection 2, 
paragraph A serves for 2 years. The members of the committee appointed by the Speaker 
of the House pursuant to Title 22, section 2700-F, subsection 2, paragraphs B and C serve 
for 2 years. All appointments thereafter must be for 4-year terms.
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the Maine Cannabis Research Committee. The committee consists 
of 7 members, appointed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House for 
4-year terms, and includes 2 medical providers, 2 registered caregivers, one research 
professional and 2 patients. The duties of the committee include the creation of a grant 
application and review process for awarding of medical cannabis funds, including a process 
for data collection and reporting, the implementation of an annual 3rd-party-administered 
survey for patients, providers and caregivers that provides data to the public, the review of 
potential applications of other complementary alternative medicines, including psilocybin, 
ketamine and 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA. Members are entitled to 
compensation of $1,000 after the first 6 committee meetings in a calendar year and an 
additional $1,000 after 6 additional meetings in the same calendar year, to be paid out of 
the Medical Use of Cannabis Fund. The committee must provide an annual report 
summarizing its activities by January 15, 2024 and annually thereafter to the joint standing 
committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over health and human services matters 
and agriculture and forestry matters. Staff from the Department of Administrative and 
Financial Services, Office of Cannabis Policy must provide administrative support to the 
committee, including recording of minutes, meeting organization, facilitation of 
communication among members, conducting research and providing background 
information and data to the committee.