HP0868
LD 1229
Session - 126th Maine Legislature
C "A", Filing Number H-324, Sponsored by
LR 21
Item 2
Bill Tracking, Additional Documents Chamber Status

Amend the bill by striking out everything after the enacting clause and before the summary and inserting the following:

Sec. 1. Development of plan for personal use, taxation and regulation of marijuana. The Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations shall develop a plan, including, but not limited to, proposed rules and legislation, to allow persons 21 years of age or older to engage in the personal use of marijuana, and to regulate and tax commercial marijuana-related activities. The bureau shall provide the plan, proposed rules and any necessary implementing legislation to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety no later than January 31, 2014. The joint standing committee may report out legislation related to that report to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature.

Sec. 2. Referendum procedure; submission at election; form of question; effective date. This Act must be submitted to the legal voters of the State at a statewide election held in the month of November following passage of this Act. The municipal officers of this State shall notify the inhabitants of their respective cities, towns and plantations to meet, in the manner prescribed by law for holding a statewide election, to vote on the acceptance or rejection of this Act by voting on the following question:

"Do you favor allowing adults 21 years of age and older to engage in the personal use of marijuana, regulating commercial marijuana-related activities and imposing a tax on the sale of marijuana and favor requiring the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations to develop a plan to permit this use, and to implement regulation and taxation of marijuana?"

The legal voters of each city, town and plantation shall vote by ballot on this question and designate their choice by a cross or check mark placed within a corresponding square below the word "Yes" or "No." The ballots must be received, sorted, counted and declared in open ward, town and plantation meetings and returns made to the Secretary of State in the same manner as votes for members of the Legislature. The Governor shall review the returns. If a majority of the legal votes are cast in favor of this Act, the Governor shall proclaim the result without delay and this Act becomes effective 30 days after the date of the proclamation.

The Secretary of State shall prepare and furnish to each city, town and plantation all ballots, returns and copies of this Act necessary to carry out the purposes of this referendum.’

summary

This amendment is the minority report of the committee. This amendment strikes the bill and replaces it with a requirement, contingent upon approval of the voters at referendum, that the Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations develop a plan that includes proposed rules and any legislation needed to implement the use and taxation of marijuana. The bureau is required to report its plan to the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety by January 31, 2014. The Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety may report out legislation to the Second Regular Session of the 126th Legislature related to that report.


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