SACO — The city has imposed a temporary ordinance implementing a licensing requirement to all those who grow marijuana.

Maine voters legalized marijuana last November. Marijuana use is legal for those 21 and older, but the sale of recreational marijuana won’t be permitted until next year.

The City Council approved an emergency ordinance Monday that requires all people as well as businesses who grow, cultivate or distribute marijuana or any marijuana product within the city to register with the city and maintain a valid license.

As this is an emergency ordinance, it can only be in effect for up to 61 days. Putting the temporary ordinance in place gives city officials time to review a permanent ordinance for the City Council to vote on at a later date.

The emergency ordinance does not require a license for personal use of marijuana, as long as there is no associated growing, cultivating, harvesting, managing, processing, transferring, exchanging or distributing.

Under the ordinance, growing marijuana is not permitted in a multi-family home. Those who live in a single home may grow marijuana for their own personal use or for the personal use of a family member, as long as they have a license from the city.

No one growing marijuana in a single-family home may increase electrical service above 200 amps, under the ordinance.

Businesses growing, processing or distributing marijuana for anyone’s personal use are permitted only in the city’s I-1 and I-2 zones.

Licenses will be valid for one year, and must be renewed. Licenses must be displayed on premises.

The licensing fee to grow marijuana for personal use is $500, and $250 to renew it after a year.

The licensing fee for businesses is $1,000, and $500 to renew it after a year.

License holders will be subject to inspection and review by city staff.

According to language written in the ordinance, the emergency measure was implemented due to safety concerns of unregulated marijuana production, including use of heat and electricity intensive lamps and the potential risk of criminal activity.

Councilor Eric Cote wanted to table the implementation of the ordinance so the council could further discuss it, as he thought the ordinance was “a mess” and there were several “ridiculous” items. He read a section of the ordinance that prohibits any city employee or appointed or elected official to have any beneficial interest in a license or license holder. “So, if you’re appointed to the conservation committee, you can’t have a license to grow pot. Give me a break,” he said.

The city is also considering a 180 day moratorium for new medical marijuana medical facilities, which it will vote on at its May 15 meeting. City officials say the city has received an influx in the number of permits for medical marijuana caregiver facilities. As these businesses reportedly use a lot of electricity, city officials say the moratorium will give the city time to address concerns regarding the impact these businesses have on the local electrical supply.

— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 325 or [email protected].