Despite the ongoing litigation, the city of Portland is reminding the public that the deadline for businesses to apply for a marijuana retail store license in Portland is Monday, August 31, 2020.   The applications are available on the city’s Businesses License page.  Completed applications can be emailed to Marijuana@portlandmaine.gov.  Staff will email an invoice following review of the completed application.

The city of Portland’s marijuana ordinance that establishes the types of marijuana businesses that can be licensed to operate in the city went into effect nd Wednesday, June 17, 2020.  The ordinance also establishes the rules of these businesses, the fee schedule, a 20-license cap on retail marijuana stores, a 250′ buffer between retail stores and the method of allocating retail licenses.

The 2016 Marijuana Legislative Act gave municipalities the authority to regulate the operation of marijuana businesses.

The litigation referred to above is:  NPG, LLC d/b/a Wellness Connection and High Street, Capital Partners, LLC. v. City of Portland.