Maine’s Cannabis Industry Booms, But Some Towns Consider Reining It In
The legal cannabis industry in Maine has grown exponentially since recreational sales became legal five years ago, with the market now valued at nearly half a billion dollars. However, as the number of storefronts and cultivation facilities continues to expand, some municipalities are starting to take steps to regulate the industry.
In Presque Isle, a moratorium was recently approved to halt new licenses for marijuana businesses for up to 12 months, allowing the town to explore changes to its ordinance. Similarly, the town of Turner in Androscoggin County adopted a moratorium in November, citing concerns over a cultivation facility that had been the site of 25 separate incidents, including a homicide, over three years.
Livermore Falls is also considering a moratorium, while weighing the possibility of imposing restrictions on the industry. All three towns are among the communities with the highest number of cannabis businesses per capita in the state.
According to data from the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy, there are currently nearly 1,800 licensees in the state, with caregivers accounting for about three-quarters of those. Berwick, a town of fewer than 8,000 people, has the highest number of cannabis businesses with 32, including six retail locations and 26 cultivation or manufacturing facilities. This is likely due to its location on the border with New Hampshire, where recreational marijuana is not legal.
The town of Moro Plantation, with a population of just 44 people, has the most businesses per capita, with three caregiver cultivation facilities. However, this is likely an outlier, and the charts below show the top 10 Maine communities with the most cannabis businesses, as well as the top 10 communities with the most businesses per capita.
The data also reveals that Portland, Maine’s largest city, has the highest total number of cannabis businesses with 71. Other substantial population centers, such as Auburn, Bangor, and Sanford, also have a high number of businesses. However, some smaller towns, such as Parsonsfield and Livermore Falls, have a high number of businesses per capita.
