Today, the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP), a part of the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS), announced its plans to conduct five community engagement and listening events designed to engage stakeholders and the general public in conversations about Maine’s two cannabis programs.
The community listening tour will be comprised of sessions in the following locations:
-
June 22 at 6PM in Biddeford at the University of New England's Alfond Center for Health Sciences, Room 205
-
July 20 at 6PM in Waterville at the Best Western Hotel’s O’Brien’s Events Center
-
August 24 at 6PM in Bangor at the Bangor Arts Exchange
-
September 14 at 6PM in Ellsworth at the City’s Municipal Building
-
October 12 at 6PM in Presque Isle at the University of Maine at Presque Isle
“Maine’s adult-use cannabis industry continues to be one of the fastest growing segments of the state’s economy,” said Erik Gundersen, Director of Maine’s Office of Cannabis Policy. “The growth of the industry shows consumer demand for cannabis and cannabis products. My team is eager to engage directly with stakeholders and use this opportunity to hear success stories and challenges, and ultimately create better policy for improved public health and safety as the programs continue to expand.”
Following the period of rigorous work to establish Maine’s adult use cannabis program over more than two years, the listening tour marks the first major public engagement by the OCP since its establishment – though it will be the first of many more stakeholder engagement opportunities. The listening tour follows a legislative session with implications for both the adult and medical programs, driving increased interest in each market, their expansions, and public health and safety.
The 90-minute, town hall-style events are open to the public, and registration ahead of time is strongly encouraged via the OCP’s Eventbrite listings (linked above). Director Gundersen will provide an overview of the OCP, its mission and functions, as well as recent activities, but much of the event will be dedicated to answering questions, providing substantive information, and clarifying misconceptions around cannabis in Maine. A pre-event survey is available to attendees and interested parties, in order to help OCP staff tailor the conversation at each tour stop.
Gundersen continued, “engagement with stakeholders is a keystone of OCP’s activity in 2022. We hope to hear from a wide variety of people with differing opinions and questions, so that we can serve as the best possible go-to on all things cannabis in Maine”
About the OCP: The Mills Administration created OCP within DAFS in February 2019. The Office is responsible for the oversight of all aspects of legalized cannabis, including Maine's Medical Use of Cannabis Program and the Adult Use Cannabis Program.
###