It seemed strange that aging crooner Tony Bennett's first comment about the death of Whitney Houston was a plea for the legalization of now-outlawed drugs. His point deserves some consideration, however, in spite of the fact that no illegal drugs appear to have been involved in Houston's death. Although she admitted to illegal drug use in the past, and had been treated for it, this time she appears to have overdosed on powerful prescription drugs. With the autopsy results still weeks away, that account may change as the investigation proceeds, but this is a sad story no matter what develops. [continues 732 words]
It's been nearly two years since voters approved the sale and use of medical marijuana for qualifying patients in Maine. Since that time, licenses to operate dispensaries have been awarded to eight health districts across the state, including Hallowell. As the city's mayor, I have been working with state and local law enforcement, along with Becky DeKeuster, executive director of the Wellness Connection of Maine, the non-profit that will operate the Hallowell dispensary, to ensure that all regulations have been met and that our community will be protected. [continues 161 words]
At open house for dispensary, Wellness Connection of Maine says it's ready to meet needs HALLOWELL -- The state's newest medical marijuana dispensary opened Tuesday to the public for the first and last time. Wellness Connection of Maine hosted an open house at the dispensary, which recently began seeing patients by appointment. Now, following Tuesday's public unveiling, only patients and their caregivers will be able to access the office at 115 Water St. Since its first full week of operation last week, the dispensary has served about 30 patients, said Faith Benedetti, who works in patient services. [continues 746 words]
State's Newest Marijuana Clinic Recently Began Operating in Hallowell HALLOWELL -- The state's newest medical marijuana dispensary opened Tuesday to the public for the first and last time. Wellness Connection of Maine hosted an open house at the dispensary, which recently began seeing patients by appointment. Now, following Tuesday's public unveiling, only patients and their caregivers will be able to access the office at 115 Water St. Since its first full week of operation last week, the dispensary has served about 30 patients, said Faith Benedetti, who works in patient services. [continues 746 words]
AUGUSTA -- As Maine's largest medical marijuana nonprofit organization plans to open its dispensaries, the man originally tapped to run its growing operation says the organization does not have enough space to grow the product its patients need. Meanwhile, leading state patient advocates say those who have signed up to receive medical marijuana from a Wellness Connection of Maine dispensary in Thomaston have run up against difficulty setting up appointments and stringent product limits that are well below the amounts allowed by state law. [continues 1847 words]
My initial response to the Dec. 28 editorial, "Pot dispensary a pharmacy, not a social lounge," was to slap my forehead and gasp, "I could have had a (popular vegetable-based beverage)." Actually, that's the polite version. The lounge atmosphere of the California marijuana scam was clearly known long before Maine advocates decided to emulate it. Cannabinoids do have some medical applications, and several products have been available for quite some time through the existing pharmaceutical distribution system. Research to develop others is ongoing. This is the manner in which numerous other nature-based medicines originated, but it is the only one I know of where a psychoactive natural substance is used in its raw form. [continues 186 words]
Social Amenities Planned for a New Medical Marijuana Clinic Encourage Overuse. On two occasions, Maine voters have authorized medical marijuana for people with serious illnesses. This was not a vote to legalize recreational marijuana use, but an attempt to treat the herb as much like a medicine as possible. Operators of the newest dispensary in Portland should keep that in mind and not take advantage of Mainers' compassion. Unfortunately, that's not what they are advertising. The website of Wellness Connection of Maine advertises a place for patients to relax near a fireplace and drink tea while eating food laced with marijuana. It's a setting that sounds more like a cocktail lounge than a dispensary, and it is not what voters were promised. A social setting encourages people to take more marijuana than they need, and creates a risk to the public if over-medicated users try to get into their cars and drive home after a treatment. [continues 223 words]
Dispensary Will See Patients Full Time Starting Next Month HALLOWELL -- A city medical marijuana dispensary started seeing patients by appointment before Christmas and plans to open full time next month. Wellness Connection of Maine's 2,400-square-foot dispensary, one floor above the Liberal Cup on Water Street, is scheduled to open by January's end, according to the firm's executive director, Becky DeKeuster. Under state law, the dispensary will be the only one allowed in Kennebec County. Earlier this year, DeKeuster had hoped the dispensary would be open by the fall. Renovations have held up the Hallowell dispensary's opening, according to Jane Lane, senior vice president with Philip W. Johnston Associates, a Boston-based public affairs firm working with Wellness Connection. [continues 507 words]
On two occasions, Maine voters have authorized medical marijuana for people with serious illnesses. This was not a vote to legalize recreational marijuana use, but an attempt to treat the herb as much like a medicine as possible. Operators of the newest dispensary in Portland should keep that in mind and not take advantage of Mainers' compassion. Unfortunately, that's not what they are advertising. The website of Wellness Connection of Maine advertises a place for patients to relax near a fireplace and drink tea, while eating food laced with marijuana. It's a setting that sounds more like a cocktail lounge than a dispensary and it is not what voters were promised. [continues 260 words]
PORTLAND -- A medical marijuana dispensary that's scheduled to open in Portland next month is designed as a California-style wellness center. Its operator is promoting a free coffee and tea bar, acupuncture clinics, support groups, counseling and a "welcoming vapor lounge." The new website of Wellness Connection of Maine says, "Patients are always welcome to relax and socialize near our fireplace, or enjoy a free cup of tea with a friend in our cafe space." The manager of Maine's medical marijuana program says a dispensary with such amenities would violate state regulations aimed at ensuring that dispensaries are places to get medicine for serious illnesses, not places to socialize. [continues 528 words]
PORTLAND -- A medical marijuana dispensary that's scheduled to open in Portland next month is designed as a California-style wellness center. Its operator is promoting a free coffee and tea bar, acupuncture clinics, support groups, counseling and a "welcoming vapor lounge." The new website of Wellness Connection of Maine says, "Patients are always welcome to relax and socialize near our fireplace, or enjoy a free cup of tea with a friend in our cafe space." The manager of Maine's medical marijuana program says a dispensary with such amenities would violate state regulations aimed at ensuring that dispensaries are places to get medicine for serious illnesses, not places to socialize. [continues 529 words]
But Some Fear Plans by Portland's New Marijuana Outlet May Instead Create a Hangout. PORTLAND - A medical marijuana dispensary that's scheduled to open in Portland next month is designed as a California-style wellness center. Its operator is promoting a free coffee and tea bar, acupuncture clinics, support groups, counseling and a "welcoming vapor lounge." The new website of Wellness Connection of Maine says, "Patients are always welcome to relax and socialize near our fireplace, or enjoy a free cup of tea with a friend in our cafe space." [continues 565 words]
The Sanford Council has skirted an application to site a methadone clinic in town by instead approving a moratorium on such facilities. We think this was an unprofessional move by the council to prevent a business from opening within its borders. Although it may be legal, it seemed like an underhanded move to wait for an application to decide the ordinance is not sufficient. Many people may not like having a methadone clinic or marijuana dispensary in their town, but the fact is, those facilities are allowed under law and unless a town prohibits or regulates such places, they should not put up barriers once an application is in hand. [continues 412 words]
The third week in July, Republican Gov. Rick Perry said that the U.S. Constitution - whose 10th Amendment limits federal power - gives states the right to decide on such matters as abortion and gay marriage. The fourth week in July, the Texan recanted. He now supports a federal ban on abortion and gay marriage. Social conservatives told him they didn't cotton to giving states the right to defy their views on things they care about. Perhaps it's time for progressives to pick up the freedom banner that was so quickly dropped in the mud of Republican primary politics. Here are examples of intrusive state and federal government, ripped from the headlines: [continues 531 words]
AUGUSTA - Maine's Department of Health and Human Services approved financing for the state's largest medical marijuana nonprofit this week, paving the way for the opening of four dispensaries for which it holds exclusive state licenses. A letter dated Wednesday from Catherine Cobb, the director of DHHS' Division of Licensing and Regulatory Services, to Northeast Patients Group Executive Director Becky DeKeuster, was provided to the Kennebec Journal by Stephen Langsdorf, an Augusta-based attorney representing Northeast in a lawsuit against its former financial backer. [continues 170 words]
AUGUSTA -- An attorney for Maine's largest medical marijuana nonprofit group says it has secured $1.6 million in financing in a deal that will be formally delivered to the state today. If approved, the deal will enable Northeast Patients Group to open its first dispensary within a month, according to Daniel Walker, a Portland lawyer who represents the struggling dispensary group. Walker filed documents Aug. 4 with the Maine Department of Health and Human Services naming The Farmacy Institute for Wellness and retired NBA basketball player Cuttino Mobley as partners in The Wellness and Pain Management Connection LLC. [continues 629 words]
An editorial calling for federal rescheduling of cannabis was misguided and misinformed. In regards to "Our View: While cannabis is illegal, dispensaries will struggle" (Aug. 8), the suggestion that marijuana be reclassified to a lower schedule, like prescription drugs, is misguided and misinformed. Marijuana is a Schedule I drug, which reflects the facts that it is widely abused, that it has no approved medical use by the Food and Drug Administration, and that it lacks accepted safety for use under medical supervision. [continues 167 words]
The Tension Between State and Federal Law Prevents Maine From Fulfilling Its Vision. Don't expect a sudden influx of out-of-state cash to fix what's ailing the company that aspires to be Maine's biggest dispenser of medical marijuana. Augusta-based Northeast Patients group has lost two of its board members, including state representative and former Cumberland County Sheriff Mark Dion. State officials and patients are expressing doubts about whether they can trust the company that came forward last year looking like the most professional outfit around, but now is looking a little fly-by-night, needing 11th-hour financing from a hastily created Delaware corporation. [continues 256 words]
AUGUSTA -- Marijuana is known for making some people feel good and making others angry, particularly when it comes to debates about whether or not to make the plant available to the ill and the injured. But the plant becomes much less exciting when the topic turns to how it grows. "I think it's important, when you grow something, to know something about it," said Ray Logan, instructor for the fourth Marijuana State University medical marijuana grow class, held Saturday at the Senator Inn. [continues 594 words]
Inside Maine
