The governor of Maine has said he won’t sign a just-passed bill that would legalize recreational marijuana, putting the Pine Tree State on the other side of a historic trend toward casual use of the drug.
Paul LePage opposes any bill that allowed Mainers to light up legally before 2019—and the bill that passed on Monday night did not have a veto-proof majority, the Bangor Daily News reported.
If he vetoes the legal weed as expected, LePage is turning away from a ganja gold mine. Nevada, for example, generated more than $3.5 million in tax revenues in just the first month of its legalized pot—en route to an expected $120 million over two years, Fortune reported.
But legal recreational marijuana doesn’t mean there aren’t rules, such as where pot can be consumed, whether consumers can grow their own, whether employers can test for the drug and whether weed can be taken outside state lines.
Here’s a breakdown of state laws for recreational marijuana. These do not include all stipulations and limitations for the drug.
Alaska
How much can you have with you? Up to an ounce (roughly 30 to 40 joints).
How old do you have to be? 21.
Can you smoke publicly? No. Not in parks, on sidewalks, in businesses or on federal land.
Can you grow it? Yes. Those over 21 can possess, grow and give away up to six plants. Only three can be flowering at one time.
Can you buy or sell it? Only through licensed dispensaries.
California
The Golden State will have recreational marijuana starting in January of 2018, but the state and individual cities and counties are still working out the details. Local officials are currently working to regulate the licensing for dispensaries before January, but there will be many limitations on the drug.
How old? 21.
How much can you have on you? Up to an ounce.
Can you buy and sell? Yes, through licensed dispensaries.
Can you smoke it publicly? No.
Can you grow it? Yes, up to six plants per residence.
Colorado
Colorado has always been ahead of the crowd. As the rest of the U.S. was focused on Obama vs. Romney in the 2012 election, Centennial Staters were already passing recreational marijuana, and the state has seen the industry boom since then.
How old? 21.
How much can you have? Up to one ounce.
Can you buy or sell? Yes, but only licensed retail stores.
Can you grow it? Yes, up to six plants, with three flowering at once. In January 2018, that number goes up to 12 plants.
Can you smoke it publicly? No. Only on private property, but even some property owners can ban that, and hotels can ban it too. Though some hotels capitalize on welcoming the drug.
Maine (proposed)
How old? 21.
How much can you have? 2.5 ounces.
Can you smoke it publicly? No.
Can you grow it? Yes, up to six flowering plants, 12 immature plants and unlimited seedlings.
Can you buy or sell it? Not yet—but the aforementioned bill could make that happen by 2018, if the governor does not veto it.
Massachusetts
Starting in July 2018, Massachusetts will join the club. Until then, the state’s elected officials are still working on the details of regulations and limitations. For now, it’s similar to its counterparts:
How much can you have? Up to an ounce outside the home, up to 10 ounces inside the home.
How old do you have to be? 21.
Can you smoke it publicly? No.
Can you grow it? Yes.
Can you buy or sell it? Yes, from licensed dispensaries.
Some of the details the state is trying to work out include giving local officials power to ban dispensaries in their counties and municipalities, instead of putting it up to a public vote. The state also wants to highly tax it and create a committee to control it.
Nevada
How old? 21.
How much can you have? Up to one ounce.
Can you buy and sell? Yes.
Can you smoke it publicly? No. Only on private property, but some hotels allow it. It’s possible that marijuana resorts will open on Las Vegas Boulevard in the near future, but not certain.
Can you grow it? Sort of. Growing at home is banned within 25 miles of any dispensary.
Oregon
How much can you have with you? Eight ounces in your home and one ounce on your person.
How old do you have to be? 21
Can you smoke publicly? No. Not in parks, on sidewalks, in businesses or on federal land.
Can you grow it? Yes. Up to four plants on your property.
Can you buy or sell it? Only licensed dispensaries.
Washington, D.C.
How old do you have to be? 21.
How much can you have? One ounce.
Can you buy and sell it? No. You can grow your own pot here, but you can’t have more than two ounces, smoke outside, or buy or sell it.
Can you grow it? Yes, up to six plants in your home, with no more than three mature at a time.
Can you smoke it publicly? No.
Washington state
How old? 21.
How much can you have? Purchase up to one ounce. Possess up to six ounces.
Can you buy and sell? Yes, at licensed dispensaries.
Can you grow it? No, only medical marijuana users can do that. It’s the only state with this limitation.
credit:newsweek.com
