State of Maine's Medical Marijuana Storage Laws
Posted by Safe & Vault on Jul 21, 2014
In 1999, Maine became one of the first states in the Union to present to its citizens the right to possess and use marijuana in the treatment of approved debilitating conditions. While medical marijuana was accepted in Maine, it was not technically legal, as the State’s rights to decided their own law presented a question of non-compliance with law previously established by the federal government.
In October of 2009 the Obama Administration announced that it would halt prosecution of medical marijuana users and caregivers, if they were in compliance with the laws of their states of residence. This decision led the governing body in the state of Maine to present and pass a law safeguarding the rights of its citizens in the using of marijuana for medical reasons.
On November 3rd of 2009 “Question 5,” a citizen initiated bill, was approved and established as “An act to establish the Maine Medical Marijuana Act.” (LD 975, IB 2). In approving LD 975, Maine Governor John Baldacci enacted a task force chaired by Brenda Harvey, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Health and Human Services, created in order to provide dispensation and regulation of medical marijuana in the state of Maine.
Maine Law LD 1811 was officially enacted in 2010, creating laws of prescribing, regulating, and storage of medicinal marijuana. Maine, as well as all other states currently allowing for the use of marijuana both medicinally and recreationally, adheres to the storage specifications for marijuana as a Class I drug per the Federal Drug Enforcement Agency. DEA regulations under Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations Part 1301 specify that, in the instance of small amounts of the drug permit, a DEA Approved marijuana safe or cabinet or steel cabinet may be used. The safe or cabinet must provide;
- 30 man -minutes against surreptitious entry
- 10 man-minutes against forced entry
- 20 man-hours against lock manipulation
- 20 man-hours against radiological techniques
The Code also states that if a safe or steel cabinet weighs less than 750 lbs., it must be bolted or cemented to the floor in such a way that it cannot be removed. Depending on the quantity and type of the substance(s) being stored, the safe or cabinet must be equipped with an alarm system which, upon attempted break-in, shall transmit a signal directly to a central protection company or State police agency which has a legal duty to respond, or a 24-hour control station operated by the registrant, or such other protection.