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132nd MAINE LEGISLATURE
FIRST SPECIAL SESSION-2025
Legislative Document No. 1365H.P. 888 House of Representatives, April 1, 2025
An Act to Allow Consumption of Adult Use Cannabis in Locally
Approved Hospitality Lounges
Received by the Clerk of the House on March 28, 2025. Referred to the Committee on
Veterans and Legal Affairs pursuant to Joint Rule 308.2 and ordered printed pursuant to Joint
Rule 401.
ROBERT B. HUNT
Clerk
Presented by Representative BOYER of Poland.
Cosponsored by Senator BICKFORD of Androscoggin and
Representatives: BABIN of Fort Fairfield, EDER of Waterboro, HYMES of Waldo, MINGO
of Calais, MORRIS of Turner, SCHMERSAL-BURGESS of Mexico, WOOD of Greene,
WOODSOME of Waterboro. Page 1 - 132LR1634(01)
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3 O. Smoking of adult use cannabis or adult use cannabis products is not prohibited in a
4 cannabis hospitality lounge locally licensed or approved pursuant to Title 28-B, section
5 401, subsection 4.
6 as enacted by PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. B, §3, is
7 amended to read:
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9 a products manufacturing facility, a testing facility, a cannabis store or a sample collector
10 licensed under this chapter. "Cannabis establishment" does not include a cannabis
11 hospitality lounge.
12 is enacted to read:
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14 that is open to members of the public who are 21 years of age or older and is locally licensed
15 or approved pursuant to section 401, subsection 4 where persons 21 years of age or older
16 may consume adult use cannabis, adult use cannabis products and edible products that do
17 not contain cannabis.
18 as amended by PL 2023, c. 6, §§13 to 15, is
19 further amended to read:
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21 adopted pursuant to this chapter, in chapter 3 or in the Maine Medical Use of Cannabis Act
22 or , as specifically authorized pursuant to a license issued under this chapter, or, in the case
23 of a cannabis hospitality lounge, as specifically authorized pursuant to a local license or
24 approval issued for that lounge pursuant to section 401, subsection 4, a person may not:
25 A. Cultivate, manufacture or test cannabis or cannabis products;
26 B. Sell or offer for sale cannabis or cannabis products;
27 C. Use, possess, transport, transfer, furnish or purchase cannabis or cannabis products;
28 or
29 D. Sell, offer for sale or furnish any products containing tobacco, nicotine or synthetic
30 nicotine to any person without first obtaining a retail tobacco license in accordance
31 with Title 22, chapter 262‑A
32 as enacted by PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. B, §5, is amended
33 by enacting at the end a new paragraph to read:
34 Notwithstanding any provision of this Title to the contrary, the office may not impose
35 any licensing or other requirements on the operation of a cannabis hospitality lounge locally
36 licensed or approved pursuant to section 401, subsection 4 or initiate any investigative or
37 enforcement action against the operator of such lounge based on a violation of a provision
38 of this Title or the rules adopted pursuant to this Title.
39 is enacted to read: Page 2 - 132LR1634(01)
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2 of this Title or other provision of law to the contrary, a municipality may adopt an ordinance
3 providing licensing or other approval requirements applicable to cannabis hospitality
4 lounges within the municipality, which may include, but are not limited to, provisions
5 establishing a municipal licensing fee schedule pursuant to Title 30-A, section 3702.
6 A. In the case of a town, plantation or township within the unorganized and
7 deorganized areas, the legislative body of the town or plantation or, in the case of a
8 township, the county commissioners of the county in which the township is located
9 may provide for the licensing or other approval of cannabis hospitality lounges within
10 the town, plantation or township.
11 B. A cannabis hospitality lounge that receives a local license or approval in accordance
12 with this subsection may operate as a cannabis hospitality lounge without the need for
13 additional state licensing or approvals.
14 as enacted by PL 2017, c. 409, Pt. A, §6
15 and amended by PL 2021, c. 669, §5, is further amended to read:
16 A. A person 21 years of age or older may consume cannabis or cannabis products only
17 if that person is:
18 (1) In a private residence, including curtilage; or
19 (2) On private property, not generally accessible by the public, and the person is
20 explicitly permitted to consume cannabis or cannabis products on the property by
21 the owner of the property. ; or
22 (3) On the premises of a cannabis hospitality lounge locally licensed or approved
23 pursuant to section 401, subsection 4.
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25 This bill amends the Cannabis Legalization Act to authorize a municipality or other
26 local government entity within the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State to adopt
27 an ordinance providing licensing or other approval requirements applicable to cannabis
28 hospitality lounges within the municipality or unorganized and deorganized area. The bill
29 defines "cannabis hospitality lounge" as a location that is open to members of the public
30 who are 21 years of age or older and is licensed or approved by a municipality or other
31 local government entity within the unorganized and deorganized areas of the State where
32 persons 21 years of age or older may consume adult use cannabis, adult use cannabis
33 products and edible products that do not contain cannabis. A cannabis hospitality lounge
34 is not a cannabis establishment, may operate as a cannabis hospitality lounge without the
35 need for additional state licensing or approvals and is not subject to the oversight of the
36 Department of Administrative and Financial Services, Office of Cannabis Policy. The bill
37 also amends the law prohibiting smoking in public places to allow the smoking of adult use
38 cannabis or adult use cannabis products at a locally licensed or approved cannabis
39 hospitality lounge.
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