HALLOWELL — Derek Wilson opened a medical marijuana retail shop on Water Street this month and says he’s well positioned to expand his business once the rules and regulations for selling recreational marijuana are announced.
Wilson, who has been a licensed caregiver since 2012, pulled back a black curtain Jan. 5 at 184 Water St. He said having a retail location is important because of market saturation.
“I tried to go to Augusta, but I got shut down because they said I had to be in the city’s medical district near the hospital. But I wanted to be near where I grow (my plants),” Wilson said.
By law, caregivers can have five patients under their care and can grow six cannabis plants per patient; caregivers can be their own sixth patient, meaning they can grow 36 marijuana plants. Wilson has four regular patients he sells to and uses his fifth slot on a rotating basis.
Hallowell Mayor Mark Walker appointed a marijuana task force, which met Tuesday, to look at how other states and cities handle recreational marijuana and to recommend whether Hallowell should enact a moratorium. Last month, the Augusta City Council approved a six-month moratorium on the establishment of any recreational marijuana stores and social clubs within city limits.
Hallowell City Councilor Lynn Irish, who is on the committee, said she was surprised that everybody seems to be in favor of taking a wait-and-see approach.
“Everyone on the task force agrees that there is no sense in doing anything until we know what the state’s going to do,” Irish said at her Water Street quilt studio.
“The Maine Municipal Association has been recommending a moratorium, but so far, nobody here has been in favor of it,” she said.
Irish said she in unsure when the task force will meet again. Meanwhile, Hallowell officials will wait for guidance from the state and local agencies regarding potential licensing, background checks and permits for recreational marijuana-related business.
During the meeting, task force members talked about the potential effects marijuana social clubs or retail stores might have on local business, whether Hallowell would need additional police officers to enforce the new law and what the application process would look like.
Hilary Davis, who owns Scrummy Afters Candy Shoppe, said she doesn’t know enough about the marijuana industry to judge what it might mean to Hallowell, and she isn’t sure other business owners do, either. She said any change to the downtown district is difficult, but she doesn’t feel strongly either way.
“I don’t know if it would bring a new demographic or what it would mean,” she said. “Maybe it would be good for us because of the munchies.”
Medical marijuana was legalized in Maine in 1999, and recreational marijuana will become legal Jan. 30 after voters approved a referendum question in November and a recount request by opponents was withdrawn.
Jason Pafundi can be contacted at 621-5663 or at:
jpafundi@centralmaine.com
Twitter: jasonpafundiKJ
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