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Caregiver shop Richardson Remedies urges council to update marijuana ordinance to match state rules
Summary
Owners and patients told the council that small, long‑standing caregiver retail operations in Caribou need zoning and ordinance language adjusted to conform to changes in state licensing so existing medical providers remain legally operable; union representatives said the changes would not expand the number of stores but would ensure compliance.
Owners, patients and a union representative asked the Caribou City Council on April 28 to amend the city’s marijuana ordinance so long‑operating caregiver retailers can comply with changed state licensing language without expanding local availability.
Jennifer Belcher, president of the Maine Cannabis Union (an affiliate of IAMAW), told the council that state OCP language has changed since Caribou’s original ordinance and that small word and zoning changes would bring the city into compliance with state rules while preserving the current number and locations of local medical shops. “If we were to bring the ordinance into compliance with state law, it would not change anything in the town,” Belcher said.
Why it matters: multiple speakers said they and their patients rely on the medical‑grade cannabis supplied by Richardson Remedies, a caregiver retail business in Caribou, and that current city language — including an outdated reference to “non‑profit dispensary” — leaves existing local operators technically out of compliance with state licensing. Speakers asked the council to make targeted ordinance changes so caregivers and unionized employees can continue to operate without creating new retail openings.
Public testimony and claims: Dorel Richardson, who said he owns Richardson Remedies, described the operation as a long‑running medical caregiver retail shop serving cancer and other medical patients who rely on products and check‑in from staff. Rona Hart and Lisa Groff — both local residents who described using medical cannabis for depression, anxiety and cancer recovery — described the shop as a community resource that provided personal support as well as product. Louis Constant (a Washburn resident who buys from a Caribou dispensary) and cultivator James Bacon also spoke in favor of allowing the existing operations to continue in place.
Union and funding note: Sandra Fell, treasurer of the Maine Cannabis Union, told the council there is a bill under consideration that would return 10% of revenues to municipalities if passed; she urged the council to consider that potential funding stream as part of future discussions.
Council response and next steps: staff accepted a packet of materials from the speakers for review. The council did not vote on ordinance language at the April 28 meeting. The transcript shows staff recommended leaving materials with Danielle (city staff) and scheduling future discussion; no ordinance or zoning amendment was adopted that night.
Ending: Petitions, a materials packet in the meeting packet, and offers from the speaker to meet with staff were left on file for council consideration at a future meeting.
