Edgecomb’s Ordinance Review Committee chairman Barry Hathorne expects a long process in developing an acceptable retail marijuana law for the community. The ORC and planning board convened for the second time Oct. 19 attempting to formulate a municipal ordinance for when the sale and growth of recreational marijuana becomes legal in Maine next year.

The joint committee is working on five separate ordinances dealing with various parts of the recreational marijuana law approved by a November 2016 statewide referendum. The committee jumped its first hurdle on Oct. 5, unanimously agreeing recreational retail marijuana outlets should be allowed.

Under current law, Mainers over 21 are allowed to grow six mature plants and possess 2.5 ounces. The Maine Legislature approved a moratorium on implementing other parts of the law such as retail sales and growing until February 2018. A special legislative committee is addressing certain aspects of the law. Edgecomb, like other Maine municipalities, is using the moratorium to consider whether to ban or simply restrict commercial marijuana operations.

“We’ve got a long way to go,” Hathorne said. “The state is still working out how to regulate it which makes it harder for us not knowing what they are going to end up doing. I expect this to take us several meetings and months before we have something ready. I expect the first few meetings, like this one, to be think-tanks more than anything.”

The committee jumped its second hurdle on Oct. 19 by deciding to propose an ordinance prohibiting marijuana social clubs. The decision was based on a municipal survey sent to over 600 residents earlier in the summer. Two hundred twenty residents responded. Respondents overwhelmingly opposed allowing marijuana social clubs with 26.5 percent favoring it and 73.5 percent against.

The other five survey question responses weren’t as one-sided. Fifty-two percent supported a total prohibition of all commercial-related marijuana industries. Fifty-eight percent supported banning cultivation, 59.1 percent opposed manufacturing, 60.4 percent opposed testing, and 60 percent opposed retail sales.

Despite the survey results, the committee is working on writing a restrictive recreational marijuana ordinance for retail sales and growing. The committee is developing five separate articles for adoption in May 2018. Edgecomb voters supported the November 2016 referendum which legalized retail marijuana, 437-373.

While the joint committee is in agreement over allowing commercial retail recreation marijuana, members don’t agree on how the municipal vote should be handled. Town election officials recommended voting on the five ordinances in a referendum vote during municipal elections preceding the town meeting.

“There is concern in the town office if we put all five on the warrant it will be an extremely long process. There will be a lot of debate followed by five separate secret ballots. This will make for a very long day for everyone,” said Hathorne.

ORC and planning board member David Nutt disagreed. He proposed making the five retail recreational marijuana questions first on the warrant. “We will take care of them first thing and get it out of the way. This is a very important debate for the town. A New England town meeting is the best way to debate the issue before deciding it.”

The ORC and planning board will meet next at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2 in the municipal building.