About 42,000 Maine patients could benefit from legislation that revamps the caregiver system and removes some conditions for obtaining medical cards.
Penelope Overton
Staff Writer
Penny is excited to be the Portland Press Herald’s first climate reporter. Since joining the paper in 2016, she has written about Maine’s lobster and cannabis industries, covered state politics and spent a fellowship year exploring the impact of climate change on the lobster fishery with the Boston Globe’s Spotlight team. Before moving to Maine, she covered politics, environment, casino gambling and tribal issues in Florida, Connecticut and Arizona. Her favorite assignments allow her to introduce readers to unusual people, cultures, or subjects. When off the clock, Penny is usually getting lost in a new book at a local coffeehouse, watching foreign crime shows or planning her family’s next adventure.
Legislature maps the landscape for legal marijuana growers, sellers in Maine
The measures governing adult recreational use and medical marijuana, if they become law, also would change how people manufacture and consume all forms of cannabis.
Maine House and Senate approve sweeping reform of medical marijuana bill
The legislation, which must be enacted by both chambers before going to the governor, would overhaul the caregiver system, letting those operations expand their businesses in exchange for more state oversight.
Environmental group plans lawsuit calling for ban on lines used by lobstermen
It says vertical lines kill or harm endangered right whales and other species, and accuses a Maine agency and lobstermen’s association of violating federal law.
Maine cities, towns may gain control over all retail marijuana sales
An amendment to a medical pot reform bill – like one added to the adult-use cannabis plan – also means some existing caregiver shops may be forced to close.
Rabid fox attacks woman in Brunswick
In addition, a rabid skunk attacked two dogs recently, according to a Facebook post by the town’s animal control officer.
Portland man sentenced to 6 years in prison for cocaine trafficking
Hadelyn Richardson also faces deportation to the Dominican Republic upon his release.
China’s threatened tariff on lobster from U.S. has Maine’s industry on edge
It could put lobstermen at a price disadvantage of as much as 45% in their biggest overseas market, threatening a drop-off in sales that would ripple across the state’s economy.
Cannabis businesses shut out of Maine’s energy-efficiency programs
The tenuous legal standing of marijuana operations means they’re a bad bet for incentive programs, says Efficiency Maine’s director.
Regulators want reports from lobstermen to fill ‘giant black hole of data’ on offshore fishery
The proposal would affect about 1,000 Maine lobstermen, who fish in federal waters and would have to share details about each trip.