Keri-Jon Wilson started as a hobbyist, making medical marijuana edibles on a small scale for patients suffering from chronic pain and cancer. But in 2015 she expanded her business, Portland-based Pot + Pan Manufacturing, and began to standardize her products.
"Eventually you've got to kind of grow up and decide if you want to grow the business, and add those additional steps and processes and best practice that comes with growth," she said. Despite no requirement in Maine to test medical cannabis for content or potency, Wilson has tested all of her batches since 2021.
The medical cannabis program in Maine is governed by separate regulations from the adult use, or recreational, program: While the adult use program requires testing for contaminants and potency, and includes potency limits, the medical use program requires neither. Public health advocates and state officials want to see testing requirements aligned across both programs, but efforts to mandate testing have been met with strong pushback from the industry.
Last fall, the state's Office of Cannabis Policy released a report pushing for required testing in the medical cannabis program, but lawmakers instead pursued broad legislation intended to reduce stigma around the cannabis industry that largely loosened restrictions in both the adult use and medical programs. The resulting legislation, which takes effect this month, aims to make regulations around cannabis closer to those around alcohol by eliminating ID checks at the door, allowing minors to go into stores with a parent or guardian and allowing samples.
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