Statement by
Penelope A. Morrell, State Director
Concerned Women for America of Maine
To Members of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs
Regarding L.D. #88, “An Act to Delay the Implementation of Certain Portions of the Marijuana Legalization Act”
January 17, 2017
Hello, and thank you, Chairmen Mason and Luchini, and distinguished members of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, for the opportunity to appear before you today. I’m Penny Morrell, State Director for Concerned Women for America (CWA) of Maine.
Because this referendum was passed by a razor thin margin of just a few thousand votes last November, CWA of Maine supports this bill that would delay retail sales until a later date. We want to ensure we protect every Maine citizen and make sound public health decisions.
Although this bill does not close two problematic loopholes by ensuring marijuana is not legal for youth and prohibiting edibles, which have led to a skyrocketing increase in hospital and ER admissions in states like Colorado, we believe this may be corrected in other legislation before you this session or in an amendment to this bill.
We also believe a select committee made up of members from every committee in the Maine Legislature except Marine Fisheries, would be helpful moving forward to implement the marijuana law, and ask that it would ensue. This law effects every branch of government barring one, so in order to ensure outcomes from all the proposals currently in the legislature are good for everyone, a select committee should and must be established.
We are thankful for the leadership of President Thibodeau and Speaker Gideon in drafting this legislation and to Rep. Luchini for sponsoring it.
CWA of Maine urges this committee to amend as suggested and then support L.D. 88.