Maine Attorney General, Janet Mills has warned that the referendum on pot legalization does not only apply for adults of 21-years and older but for kids as well. This interpretation provides new strength to the position of marijuana opponents.
Maine’s AG, Janet Mills is a democrat, a party who has started to support the legalization of marijuana. However, her interpretation may help the efforts of groups who oppose the legal recreational use of the drug. One such group is the Smart Approach to Marijuana, directed by Scott Gagnon. He stated that he will release new ads on radio and TV showcasing Mill’s concerns about the new bill.
Supporters of pot legalization are hoping that both Maine and Massachusetts will become the first states on the East Coast to allow the use of pot for more than medical uses. The referendum regarding the bill will be held on November 8.
Maine’s pot legalization supporters have stated that the language in the proposal is clear and it would only allow people at the age of 21 and older to buy the drug. However, the Attorney General issued a different interpretation. If the proposal passes, then it would remove any sanctions for the possession of marijuana as it would not be considered a civil infraction anymore. According to Mills, neither adults nor children will suffer any sanctions for using marijuana.
Supporters of the pot legalization referendum in Maine like Scott Anderson, an attorney with the Campaign to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol, disagrees with the AG’s proposal and encourages voters to read the text of the proposal. Others are questioning why Mills didn’t issue her concerns sooner.
According to a recent poll by the Portland Press Herald, around 53 percent of people said they support pot legalization and they will vote in the referendum. Only 38 percent of respondents stated their opposition to the proposal. At this point, it isn’t certain if the new interpretation will sway voters to oppose the referendum or not. However, it’s very likely that it will only reinforce the conviction of those who already opposed pot legalization.
According to Timothy Feeley, a spokesperson for the Attorney General said the Mills isn’t available for comment and that her concern is that the new proposal does not mention anything specific that would make the possession and use of pot by a child illegal.