Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Cannabis Regulation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Madison bans adult-use cannabis businesses, adopts separate medical-use article
Summary
At the Oct. 22, 2024 special town meeting, Madison voters passed an amendment that prohibits adult-use cannabis establishments (54–12) and separately enacted an article to allow and regulate medical-use cannabis establishments (55–8); Town Manager Denise Ducharme clarified the amendment applies only to recreational cannabis.
Madison voters on Oct. 22, 2024 approved a set of changes to Chapter 180 (Drugs and Drug Paraphernalia) that both prohibit adult-use cannabis establishments and add a separate article addressing medical-use cannabis establishments.
The proposed amendment to Chapter 180 included definitions for adult-use cannabis stores, testing facilities, cultivation and manufacturing facilities and an explicit prohibition. The ordinance language states, "Adult use cannabis establishments are expressly prohibited in the town of Madison." The amendment was moved by Albert Veneziano and seconded by Kathy Estes; it passed 54 YES to 12 NO.
A resident asked for clarification about the scope of the change. Town Manager Denise Ducharme responded that "this article only discusses recreational use cannabis (removing medical use terminology)" and that the removal of medical-use wording was the amendment being voted on. The meeting record shows the amendment includes enforcement language referencing municipal enforcement and penalties; the ordinance text cites 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452 for enforcement provisions.
Separately, voters enacted "Article II: Medical Use Cannabis Establishments" as a second article in Chapter 180. That article was moved by Albert Veneziano and seconded by Kathy Estes and passed 55 YES to 8 NO. The transcript does not provide detailed operational rules or licensing procedures for medical-use establishments beyond placing the article into Chapter 180.
The ordinance language for the adult-use amendment also includes an effective-date clause stating the article "shall take effect immediately upon enactment by the municipal legislative body unless otherwise provided and shall remain in effect until it is amended or repealed." Following the votes, a motion to adjourn was made and seconded.
