AUGUSTA, ME — Marijuana will be legal in Maine starting January 31. Voters in November narrowly approved legalization by a razor-thin margin of 50.27 percent and the measure survived a recount.
Maine Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap on Tuesday announced Gov. Paul LePage signed off on the results December 31. State law dictates such a referendum measure becomes effective 30 days after it's signed by the governor.
Retail sales are about a year off. The legalization measure also allows for marijuana social clubs.
The official tally on the legalization initiative November 8 was 381,768 in favor and 377,773 opposed — a margin of 3,995 votes. The "no" side requested a recount but dropped the effort a few weeks in.
LePage has said he opposes legal marijuana. He also said he has "serious concerns" about the integrity of the November 8 vote. Dunlap has said there were no major discrepancies with the voting process.
Maine was one of four states on Election Day that approved legalizing marijuana for sale. The others were Massachusetts, California, and Nevada. Arizona voters rejected legalization.
Marijuana remains illegal under federal law.
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