Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy revealed this week that the state is now just months away from beginning recreational marijuana sales.
The state department has received 93 store applications and roughly 80 of them are being reviewed for a conditional license.
“We’re expecting stores to start opening up in late Spring,” Office of Marijuana Director of Engagement and Community Outreach Policy David Heidrich said. “Definitely by July.”
Heidrich says that recreational marijuana is required to be tested by state law before it can go to stores. “In our adult use program there is a section of the statue that requires mandatory testing of all marijuana products,” He said. “For medical products, it’s on a voluntary basis.”
According to Heidrich, there are currently six testing facilities for medical marijuana, but says the state doesn’t have any recreational testing facilities.
“At least four of [the medical testing labs] have expressed interest in moving into the adult use space,” Heidrich said. “But today there are none.”
The Office of Marijuana Policy is currently processing one recreational marijuana testing application for Nelson Analytical in the city of Kennebunk.