An Act to Counter Unlawful Cannabis Cultivation
Maine Legislature, Session 132, LD 1608
Sponsors: PERKINS, HARRINGTON
Amends: 22 MRSA §2422-B, 28-B MRSA §203, 28-B MRSA §203-B, 28-B MRSA §206, 28-B MRSA §211

Legislative Document
No. 1608
H.P. 1062
House of Representatives, April 15, 2025
An Act to Counter Unlawful Cannabis Cultivation
Received by the Clerk of the House on April 11, 2025.  Referred to the Committee on 
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint 
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative PERKINS of Dover-Foxcroft.
Cosponsored by Senator HARRINGTON of York and
Representatives: ADAMS of Lebanon, ARDELL of Monticello, EDER of Waterboro, 
FOSTER of Dexter, FREDERICKS of Sanford, MCINTYRE of Lowell, WHITE of Guilford, 
Senator: CYRWAY of Kennebec.
Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:
Sec. 1.  22 MRSA §2422-B is enacted to read:
§2422-B.  Prohibited locations; registration not issued
The department may not register and issue a registry identification card or a registration 
certificate to any person that would be authorized under that registry identification card or 
registration certificate to cultivate cannabis at a geographical location that has been the site 
of repeated violations under this chapter or under Title 28-B, chapter 1, the rules adopted 
pursuant to this chapter or Title 28-B, chapter 1 or any other applicable state or local law, 
rule or regulation.  The department may place a moratorium for a period not to exceed 10 
years on any such geographical location for the purpose of the cultivation of cannabis under 
this chapter by a person issued a registry identification card or a registration certificate.
Sec. 2.  28-B MRSA §203, sub-§4 is enacted to read:
4.  Geographical location; cultivation facility.  An applicant for a cultivation facility 
license shall submit information regarding the proposed geographical location for the 
cultivation facility.
Sec. 3.  28-B MRSA §203-B is enacted to read:
§203-B.  Moratorium on geographical location
The office may place a moratorium for a period not to exceed 10 years on any 
geographical location that has been the site of repeated violations under this chapter or 
under Title 22, chapter 558-C, the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or Title 22, chapter 
558-C or any other applicable state or local law, rule or regulation for the purpose of issuing 
licenses under this chapter.
Sec. 4.  28-B MRSA §206, sub-§2, as amended by PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. B, §38, is 
further amended to read:
2.  Good cause defined.  As used in this section, "good cause" means a finding by the 
office that:
A.  An applicant or licensee has violated, does not meet or has failed to comply with 
any of the provisions of this chapter, the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or any 
other applicable state or local law, rule or regulation; or
B.  An applicant or licensee has failed to comply with any special terms, consent decree 
or conditions placed upon the previously issued license pursuant to an order of the 
office; the municipality in which the licensed premises are located; the town or 
plantation in the unorganized and deorganized areas in which the licensed premises are 
located; in the case of a township in the unorganized and deorganized areas in which 
the licensed premises are located, the county commissioners of the county in which the 
township is located; or, in the case of a cannabis establishment located in the 
unorganized and deorganized areas, the Maine Land Use Planning Commission.; or
C.  An applicant for a cultivation facility license or a cultivation facility licensee is 
proposing to operate or operating a cultivation facility at a geographical location 
subject to a moratorium pursuant to section 203-B or that has repeatedly violated, does 
not meet or has failed to comply with any of the provisions of this chapter or Title 22, 
chapter 558-C, the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or Title 22, chapter 558-C or 
any other applicable state or local law, rule or regulation.
Sec. 5.  28-B MRSA §211, sub-§1-A is enacted to read:
1-A.  Relocation prohibited; cultivation facility.  A licensee may not relocate a 
licensed cultivation facility to a geographical location subject to a moratorium pursuant to 
section 203-B or that has been the site of repeated violations under this chapter or Title 22, 
chapter 558-C, the rules adopted pursuant to this chapter or Title 22, chapter 558-C or any 
other applicable state or local law, rule or regulation.
SUMMARY
This bill allows the Department of Administrative and Financial Services to deny a 
registry identification card or registration certificate to any person who would be authorized 
under that registration to cultivate cannabis at a geographical location that has been the site 
of repeated violations under the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act or the Cannabis 
Legalization Act. It allows the department to place a moratorium not to exceed 10 years on 
such geographical locations for the purpose of issuing or renewing a registration.
It also allows the Office of Cannabis Policy within the Department of Administrative 
and Financial Services to place a moratorium not to exceed 10 years on any geographical 
location that has been the site of repeated violations under the Maine Medical Use of 
Cannabis Act or the Cannabis Legalization Act for the purposes of issuing or renewing 
licenses under the Cannabis Legalization Act.