OLD ORCHARD BEACH (AP) — Old Orchard Beach town councilors have enacted an emergency moratorium on the cultivation of medical marijuana in nonresidential facilities.

The 60-day moratorium proposed Tuesday night is in response to a local man’s efforts to open a medical marijuana growing and research facility in an old post office in town.

The facility, if approved, would be the second of its kind in Maine.

Town Manager Larry Mead says the moratorium gives the town time to study the implications and develop rules for facilities where state-licensed caregivers would grow the drug to supply their patients.

Pierre Bouthiller, a local builder and firefighter, says his plan to allow several licensed growers to cultivate marijuana in one place is safer than allowing growing in caregivers’ homes which could be targeted by criminals.

Comments are not available on this story.