We use cookies for certain features and to improve your experience. See our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy to learn more

Leafly

Shop legal, local weed.

Open
advertise on Leafly
ShopDeliveryDispensariesDealsStrainsBrandsProductsCBDDoctorsCannabis 101Social impact
  • Sign in
  • Create account
  • Strains
  • Shop
  • Shop
  • Delivery
  • Deals
  • Dispensaries
  • CBD Stores
  • Brands
  • Products
  • Learn
  • Cannabis 101
  • News
  • Leafly Learn
  • Science of cannabis
  • Doctors
  • Social impact
  • Lab partners
  • Download the Leafly App
  • Advertise on Leafly
    • Leafly.comUSA flag
    • Leafly.caCanadian flag
    • Leafly.deGerman flag
  • Help
  • News
  • Lifestyle
  • Strains & products
  • Industry
  • Growing
  • Health
  • Science & tech
  • Leafly USA
  • Podcasts
  • Learn
Politics

Maine Gov. LePage Vetoes Cannabis Legalization at Last Minute

Gage PeakePublished on November 3, 2017 · Last updated July 28, 2020
Maine Gov. Paul LePage attends a meeting with Vice President Mike Pence to discuss health care and tax reform in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Complex, Friday, Sept. 22, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

It appears Maine may not be launching an adult-use cannabis market after all, thanks to Gov. Paul LePage’s last-minute veto of the Legislature’s adult-use cannabis regulatory bill on Friday. The governor said in a signing statement that he could not support the expansion of legal cannabis in Maine while its future at the federal level remains so uncertain.

Again ignoring the will of voters. This issue was decided, and my opposition to it lost. Actually do your job @Governor_LePagehttps://t.co/rRyZ91WxDK

— Josh Plante (@JoshuaPlante33) November 3, 2017

With LePage’s veto, the bill now goes back to Legislature, where advocates of the bill will on Monday try to pick up enough extra votes to override LePage’s veto, according to the Portland Press Herald.

During a special session vote, the state Senate voted 22-9 in favor of the cannabis legalization bill. A vote along the same lines would secure the necessary two-thirds majority to override the veto and pass the bill within the Senate.

The House, however, voted 81-50 in favor of the bill. That margin wouldn’t be enough to override a veto, although it’s not clear how a repeat vote would turn out. Under Maine law, an override majority is two-thirds of legislators who are actually present for the vote, according to the Press Herald, meaning the number of votes needed to override LePage’s veto won’t be known until lawmakers show up.

In a letter to the members of the Legislature, LePage wrote that he swore to uphold the Constitution of the United States. “When the referendum seeking to legalize marijuana passed, it put me in a difficult position: to uphold Maine law, I would be required to flout federal law.”

LePage added that he sought guidance from US Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a staunch opponent of both medical and adult-use cannabis, on how the federal government intends to treat state-level legalization.

“The Obama administration said they would not enforce federal law related to marijuana; however, the Trump administration has not taken that position,” LePage wrote. “Until I clearly understand how the federal government intends to treat states that seek to legalize marijuana, I cannot in good conscience support any scheme in state law to implement expansion of legal marijuana in Maine.”

Maine Gov. Paul LePage Adult-Use Cannabis Veto Letter by Ben Adlin on Scribd

DCMJ Activists Protest Outside HUD for Public Housing Rights image
Politics
DCMJ Activists Protest Outside HUD for Public Housing Rights
Lisa Rough

Shop highly rated dispensaries near you

Showing you dispensaries near
See all dispensaries
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
    Loading...Loading...
  • See all dispensaries
See all dispensaries
legalizationlegislationMaine
Gage Peake
Gage Peake
Gage Peake is a former staff writer for Leafly, where he specialized in data journalism, sports, and breaking news coverage. He's a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's College of Journalism and Mass Communications.
View Gage Peake's articles

The latest in Politics

  • How US import tariffs are impacting cannabis prices and products image
    How US import tariffs are impacting cannabis prices and products
    Leafly Staff
  • Ohioans must activate to defend cannabis freedoms from lawmakers image
    Ohioans must activate to defend cannabis freedoms from lawmakers
    David Downs
  • Montanans must activate to protect legalization in 2025 image
    Montanans must activate to protect legalization in 2025
    David Downs
  • Analysis: Don’t hold your breath for legalization under Trump 2.0 image
    Analysis: Don’t hold your breath for legalization under Trump 2.0
    David Downs
Get good reads, local deals, and strain spotlights delivered right to your inbox.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.



Stay In Touch

Receive updates on new products, special offers, and industry news.

Something went wrong, please try again.

By providing us with your email address, you agree to Leafly’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Leafly mobile app
Get high for less.
Download the Leafly app.
Download Leafly: Marijuana Reviews on the App StoreDownload Leafly Marijuana Reviews on Google Play

Business Solutions
  • List your store
  • List your CBD store
  • List your brand
  • List your practice
  • Business log in

About Leafly
  • About us
  • Careers
  • Newsroom
  • Investor relations
  • Contact us
  • FAQs
  • Accessibility

Dispensaries in
  • Los Angeles
  • Seattle
  • Portland
  • San Francisco
  • Toronto
  • Detroit

Privacy & Terms
  • Terms of use
  • Commercial terms of use
  • Privacy policy
  • Do not sell my personal information

* Statements made on this website have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Information provided by this website or this company is not a substitute for individual medical advice.


© 2025 Leafly, LLC
Leafly and the Leafly logo are registered trademarks of Leafly, LLC. All Rights Reserved.