A consumer’s guide to adult-use cannabis in Maine
Photo courtesy of Higher Grounds.
Are you cannabis curious?
By Saisie Moore
In October 2020, after a four-year legislative tug of war, Maine residents and visitors were able to legally purchase and consume recreational cannabis for the very first time. Opening day, October 9, was a relatively modest milestone, with only six retail stores open statewide to limited stock. Nonetheless, it marks a moment that thousands of Mainers and dozens of businesses had awaited since the 2016 elect-ions, when a citizen-initiated referendum put cannabis at the top of the November ballot – a neck-and-neck race that saw legalization approved by less than one percentage point. Now Maine joins the ranks of only 11 other states where adults can currently walk into licensed brick-and-mortar stores to purchase legal cannabis without a medical card (four more voted to follow suit in the November 2020 elections).
Of course, there’s a little more to it – and the rules and still-evolving landscape of the nascent industry can make things hazy. So, what does this mean for Maine and for you?
Cannabis advocacy in Maine stretches back decades, a litany of gradual wins to legalize and destigmatize cannabis for holistic therapy and personal use. Since 1999, when medical marijuana first passed into law, the industry has gathered momentum to include eight dispensaries, 26,000 cultivators or “caregivers,” and access for anyone with a physician-issued medical card. Last year, Maine’s medical marijuana industry surpassed lobster and potatoes in value, recording over $222 million in sales during the first 10 months of 2020. The field is dominated by local cultivators and small business owners, who will remain separate – different dispensaries, licenses, and tax streams – from the recreational industry. According to Mark Bennett, owner of Higher Grounds coffee shop/dispensary, it is a favorable industry for small businesses who lack the capital to compete with out-of-state retailers in the heavily regulated recreational market.
Despite the law passing in 2019 to allow retail cannabis stores, anticipate the rollout of retail cannabis stores to be gradual. Maine’s Office of Marijuana Policy (OMP) lists the dozens of cultivation, manufacturing, testing and retail business hopefuls currently in the application process on its website. However, even once a “cannabiz” has been greenlit by the OMP, there are still further regulations and local ordinances to navigate before opening day. The new law requires all recreational products to be taxed, tested and traced to ensure safety and compliance and to generate revenue for the state – the associated cost will be noticeable in the price tag. Nonetheless, the trickle may soon become a flood. David Heinrich, Director of Engagement at OMP, notes, “On November 1, we had nine new actively licensed retail stores.” And even with just a handful of operating dispensaries, “the first month’s sales totaled $1.4 million.”
Cannabis glossary
From THC to terpenes: Familiarize yourself with cannabis industry jargon before you shop.
Strain: A variety of cannabis plant that has a particular characteristic for a specific desired effect.
Indica: A THC/CBD strain that is said to produce a “body high” that aids sleeps, pain relief and relaxation. For this reason, it is considered a better nighttime option.
Sativa: A THC-heavy strain that is said to produce a “head high” that stimulates creativity, energy and euphoria. For this reason, it is considered a better daytime option.
Hybrid: New and unique strains created from breeding various parent plants to combine certain characteristics. There are hundreds of hybrid strains on the market, each with its own flavor and sensation profile.
Cannabinoids: Active chemical compounds found in cannabis that react with the body’s natural endocannabinoid system to produce the various sensations of getting high.
Terpenes: Aromatic oils from resin glands that give a plant its specific fragrance and flavor.
First-timers’ guide
So, you’re taking the plunge and preparing for your first in-store visit. First things first, grab your mask and an ID or driver’s license – the adult-use age limit is 21 and over. Heinrich also suggests you “leave the kids at home,” as most retailers have a customer limit, so wait times can add up while visitors browse at length. Enjoy the window shopping but bear in mind that you can’t walk out with a little of everything – state law imposes restrictions on purchase amounts and potency. And remember, you can still only legally enjoy your new products once you’re home or on private property – cannabis consumption in public is still prohibited!
“Customers can purchase up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis per visit,” Heinrich says. “This total can include a mix of cannabis flower and concentrates – although concentrates may only make up five grams total of that amount.” Limits also apply to edibles. No matter whether you feast on a donut, chocolate bar or even a bag of potato chips, your maximum intake of THC will not exceed 100mg per edible product. And be aware that the same 2.5-ounce limit also applies to possession laws, so only carry as much as you can legally buy.
Unless you’re a seasoned user, these limits might not mean a whole lot. According to Susanne Pingree, Director of Marketing at the Wellness Connection, the medical dispensary’s associates give everyone the same advice: “Start low and go slow.” When it comes to dosage, there are multiple factors that influence how you might be affected. “Everyone is different and tolerance matters!” Pingree says. Her advice? “Stick to around 2–5 grams per session.” Pingree notes that those looking for edibles at the Wellness Connection are urged to “be patient” when indulging, as ingested products have the slowest release of THC into the bloodstream and take longer to go in effect. “The temptation to grow impatient and ingest more is a common and misguided reaction,” Pingree says.
Higher Grounds coffee shop on Wharf Street, Portland, underwent a “soft” transition in December 2020 to incorporate a medical dispensary. Photo courtesy of Higher Grounds.
Open for cannabusiness
The first cannabiz retailers are cropping up in small numbers statewide. Wellness Connection, the state’s largest provider of medical marijuana, began its transition to the recreational-use market by launching an adult-use cannabis “lifestyle” store in South Portland in partnership with HighNorth. Alongside jars of bud, visitors can pick up snacks like Munchie Mix (imagine if Chex Mix were infused with 30 mg of THC). Pingree compares the experience of shopping the sleek new retail spaces “to visiting an Apple Store.” This is certainly the case at SeaWeed Co., which has established the first of two locations in the Greater Portland area on Running Hill Road in South Portland. Picture full-length windows and blonde-wood islands – except, instead of laptops on display, it’s high-terpene vape cartridges and “shatter,” a cannabis concentrate that resembles caramel brittle. Nearby, Theory Wellness set up shop near the Maine Mall, the location and modern branded packaging a nod to cannabis’ new position in the mainstream.
Don’t think all the pot shops are in Greater Portland, though. In Newry, The House of Ganja targets the Sunday River ski crowd. Firestorm Cultivation services Bangor with Maine-grown marijuana. Northland Botanicals, situated next to a Stratton food market near the Bigelow Preserve, has a low-key vibe that makes it seem like a local staple rather than a novel new venture.
Green new pastures
Like wine grapes, cannabis strains are cultivated to produce unique flavors and characteristics.
If there’s something you like, chances are you can now enjoy it with a dose of THC. Innovators are eager to create new products to feed the hungry market. Pot & Pan, a commercial kitchen in Portland, offers medical clients the option to bake their dosage into treats, from maple candies to donuts – and they’re currently in the process of obtaining a recreational license. Beyond Maine, manufacturers microdose everything from breath mints to beef jerky, and even ramen seasoning. As for Cannamayo, could we see a new recipe for lobster rolls on the horizon?
Based on trends seen in Colorado and Massachusetts, cannabis tourism could have a significant impact in coming years. Visitors from away, even dry states, can enjoy Maine marijuana here with a valid ID, though it’s still illegal for anyone to transport cannabis over state lines. Out-of-state medical card holders can use their cards to shop at medical dispensaries here in Maine.
How will the new law affect how we socialize? Since the Legislature postponed consideration of cannabis social clubs until 2023, the reality of “canna-bars” is off the table for now. However, Maine Cannabis Tours still plans to tap into the cannabis-curious crowd as early as next year.
“We’re planning a variety of educational tours that will introduce guests to the long history of cannabis in Maine and connect them with local experts and artisans,” said coowner Pam Laskey, who also founded Maine Foodie Tours in 2009 and has partnered with Zachary Poole of the Maine Brew Bus in the new venture.
Maine Cannabis Tours will employ the pair’s shared expertise to showcase Greater Portland’s retail dispensaries, CBD stores, glass blowers and coffee shops, all the while expanding the repertoire as new businesses and cultivators join the scene. “Our tours are ever-evolving – new places, new partners!” Laskey says. Cannabis tours will reflect the pair’s tried-and-true format: small groups, two or three hours per trip, with up to seven stops.
“Down the road, we aim to provide alternative tours that mesh cannabis, food and craft beer,” Poole says. “It’s a natural combination, and we want to make the tours accessible to a wide range of people and interests.”
Guests will be able to pick from walking tours, bus trips or a mix and will include separate medical and recreational routes. Laskey and Poole believe there’s a wealth of creative, independent businesses catering to responsible hedonism that deserves recognition in Maine.
“We’re already so far advanced in terms of cannabis innovation,” Laskey says. “There’s such a variety of artisans making botanical and edible products from CBD and hemp, and now THC. We want people to know about them in the context of Maine’s cannabis history.”
One stop will be at Mark Barnett’s coffee shop-cum-medical-dispensary Higher Grounds on Wharf Street in Portland, which sells medical goods alongside locally made hemp and apothecary products. “You can come in for your morning coffee and, if you want, your morning joint!” Barnett says. “We have the opportunity in Portland to put crafted, local products – the best of Maine – on this amazing stage for tourists and locals to see.”
Poole, a stalwart of beer tourism, is quick to point out that the tours will be educational rather than focused on consumption. “Feel free to buy products,” she says, “but wait until you’re home to enjoy them.”
According to the Maine Office of Tourism, one in five of Maine’s approximately nine million annual tourists visits a craft brewery. With recreational weed on the agenda, visitors have the option to sample delicious hops and pot during their stay as well. They don’t call this Vacationland for nothing.
Different “tokes” for different folks
The apparatus to enjoy cannabis has become increasingly sophisticated. Take your pick from an array of discreet, slow-release, alternative consumption methods.
Inhalation
Smoking: For those who prefer the traditional approach, lighting cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke is the fastest acting form. “For this reason,” notes Susan Pingree of Wellness Connection, “smoking is the most popular method for anyone suffering with chronic pain. You experience an almost instant sensation of relief.” You can smoke using rolling papers, pipes or bongs.
Vaping: The vape device brings cannabis flower or concentrate to right below the point of combustion (around 360 Fahrenheit), activating cannabinoid compounds as vapor without releasing the tar and carcinogens typically found in smoke. Vaporizers are available but they have been taken over in popularity by compact, discreet vape pens, which heat and release cannabis oil as vapor. For the more experienced, “dabbing” is a method of heating concentrate.
Oral
Edibles: The most common are gummy candies, chocolates and baked goods – but anticipate infused versions of your favorite foods to emerge over time as innovators continue to experiment. Cannabinoids are absorbed through the digestive tract, which can take between 20 minutes and three hours to take full effect. Be patient rather than consuming more.
Sublingual: In other words, “under the tongue.” Tinctures, like capsules and sprays, are a utilitarian way to get cannabinoids into your system. A dropper or two under the tongue produces fairly fast-acting effects, while adding tinctures to drinks will take a little longer.
Topical
THC creams and topicals provide similar relief for muscle pain and skin conditions and are a discreet way to use cannabis without getting high; THC molecules are absorbed into the skin but do not enter the bloodstream.
