Penobscot County approves its first local adult-use retail cannabis license application

Penobscot County commissioners on Aug. 20 approved a local adult-use retail cannabis license application for an operator the meeting identified as an established medical dispensary operator in the region.

County staff told the commission the applicant has completed the county's application process and will pay a $500 local application fee immediately. When local and state licensing are final, the county will receive a $5,000 annual local license fee; the Office of Cannabis Planning separately collects a $5,000 state license fee.

Why it matters

County staff said the successful applicant has been operating as a medical cannabis dispensary for several years and that the county's review found the application met local requirements. The county's local license and the state license are separate; the county retains the authority to inspect the business and to enforce any local licensing conditions, while ongoing compliance and regulation at the state level are conducted by the Office of Cannabis Planning.

What commissioners and staff said

Presenters said the application was the first for adult-use retail the county had processed and that the Office of Cannabis Planning had worked with county staff on the review. Commissioners approved the application by voice vote. County staff said the local license fee structure is set by local ordinance and is separate from the state fee.

Next steps

Staff said they would finalize the local paperwork and forward records to the Office of Cannabis Planning to complete state-level licensure. County inspection and local compliance steps remain available to county staff if needed.