Joint Order, Establishing the Joint Select Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation

WHEREAS,  "An Act To Legalize Marijuana" was approved by Maine voters on November 8, 2016 establishing a new law to allow for the use, retail sale and taxation of marijuana by individuals over 21 years of age; and

WHEREAS,  the new law makes significant changes to various portions of existing law requiring extensive rulemaking and policy changes; and

WHEREAS,  the existing law governing the use of medical marijuana may be affected by the implementation of the new law regarding the use, retail sale and taxation of marijuana by individuals over 21 years of age; and

WHEREAS,  the issues that must be addressed in order to properly implement the new law are generally heard by several different joint standing committees of the Legislature; and

WHEREAS,  in order to most expediently resolve the outstanding issues regarding implementation of the new law, it is necessary to create a single committee that is dedicated to comprehensively addressing these issues; now, therefore, be it

ORDERED, the Senate concurring, that the Joint Select Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation is established as follows.

1. Establishment. The Joint Select Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation, referred to in this order as "the committee," is established.

2. Membership. The committee consists of 17 members of the Legislature: 5 members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate and 12 members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The President of the Senate shall appoint no more than 3 Senators from the party holding the largest number of seats in the Senate and no more than 2 Senators from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the Senate. The Speaker of the House of Representatives shall appoint no more than 7 Representatives from the party holding the largest number of seats in the House of Representatives and no more than 5 Representatives from the party holding the 2nd largest number of seats in the House of Representatives. In making their appointments, both the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall consider including members of the Joint Standing Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, the Joint Standing Committee on Criminal Justice and Public Safety, the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services, the Joint Standing Committee on State and Local Government, the Joint Standing Committee on Taxation and the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs. Nothing in this section precludes the appointment of a member who is not a member of the party holding the largest number of seats or the 2nd largest number of seats in the chamber. The first-named Senate and House members shall serve as cochairs of the committee.

3. Authority. The committee shall hold public hearings and work sessions on any legislation referred to it and shall vote on and report out the legislation to the appropriate chamber in the manner prescribed in Joint Rule 310. In addition to reporting out legislation referred to it, the committee is authorized to submit legislation to the House of Representatives concerning marijuana legalization.

4. Meetings; staff assistance. The committee may meet on days and at locations jointly authorized by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Legislative Council shall provide staffing to the committee. The cochairs of the committee may request technical assistance from appropriate sources whenever necessary. The committee shall report out all legislation referred to it in accordance with deadlines established by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

5. Termination. Unless the committee is extended by joint order, the committee terminates with the final adjournment of the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature.