Maine Code § 22-2421-A

Definitions
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As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms have the
following meanings. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
1. Assistant. "Assistant" means an individual who is paid to perform a service for a registrant,
whether as an employee or independent contractor, in accordance with this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]

2. Cannabis concentrate. "Cannabis concentrate" means the resin extracted from any part of a
cannabis plant and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation from such
resin, including, but not limited to, hashish. "Cannabis concentrate" does not include resin extracted
from hemp as defined in Title 7, section 2231, subsection 1-A, paragraph D.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
3. Cannabis extraction. "Cannabis extraction" means the process of extracting cannabis
concentrate from harvested cannabis using water, lipids, gases, solvents or other chemicals or chemical
processes. "Cannabis extraction" does not include the process of extracting concentrate from hemp as
defined in Title 7, section 2231, subsection 1-A, paragraph D.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
4. Cannabis Legalization Act. "Cannabis Legalization Act" means the laws governing adult use
of cannabis under Title 28-B, chapter 1.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
5. Cannabis paraphernalia. "Cannabis paraphernalia" means equipment, products, devices and
materials that are used for planting, propagating, cultivating, harvesting, processing, preparing, testing,
packaging or storing cannabis for medical use or used for ingesting, inhaling or otherwise consuming
cannabis for medical use. "Cannabis paraphernalia" includes, but is not limited to:
A. Kits used for planting, propagating, cultivating or harvesting a cannabis plant; [PL 2023, c.
679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
B. Isomerization devices used for adjusting the potency of a cannabis plant; [PL 2023, c. 679,
Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
C. Testing equipment used for identifying or analyzing the potency, effectiveness or purity of a
cannabis plant or harvested cannabis; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
D. Scales and balances used for weighing or measuring harvested cannabis; [PL 2023, c. 679,
Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
E. Separation gins and sifters used for removing twigs and seeds from, or in otherwise cleaning or
refining, harvested cannabis; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
F. Envelopes and other containers used for packaging small quantities of harvested cannabis for
medical use; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
G. Containers and other objects used for storing harvested cannabis; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3
(NEW).]
H. Rolling papers, cigarette papers or wraps used for rolling harvested cannabis for smoking; [PL
2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
I. Metal, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic or ceramic pipes, with or without screens, chillums
or punctured metal bowls used for smoking harvested cannabis; and [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3
(NEW).]
J. Electronic smoking devices used for simulating the smoking of harvested cannabis or cannabis
products through the inhalation of vapor or aerosol from the device. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3
(NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
6. Cannabis plant. "Cannabis plant" means a plant of the genus Cannabis sativa L. "Cannabis
plant" does not include hemp as defined in Title 7, section 2231, subsection 1-A, paragraph D.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
7. Cannabis product. "Cannabis product" means a product composed of harvested cannabis and
other ingredients that is intended for medical use. "Cannabis product" includes, but is not limited to, an

edible cannabis product, a cannabis ointment and a cannabis tincture. "Cannabis product" does not
include cannabis concentrate or a product containing hemp as defined in Title 7, section 2231,
subsection 1-A, paragraph D.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
8. Cannabis testing facility. "Cannabis testing facility" means a public or private laboratory that
is:
A. Authorized in accordance with section 2423-A, subsection 10 to analyze contaminants in and
the potency and cannabinoid profile of samples; and [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
B. Accredited pursuant to standard ISO/IEC 17025 of the International Organization for
Standardization by a 3rd-party accrediting body or is certified, registered or accredited by an
organization approved by the office. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
9. Cannabis tincture. "Cannabis tincture" means a solution that is intended to be consumed orally
and is prepared from harvested cannabis blended with an edible solvent.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
10. Cardholder. "Cardholder" means an individual who has been issued and possesses a valid
registry identification card.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
11. Caregiver. "Caregiver" means an individual who provides care for a qualifying patient in
accordance with this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
12. Caregiver retail store. "Caregiver retail store" means a store authorized in accordance with
this chapter and used by a registered caregiver to sell cannabis paraphernalia, cannabis plants, harvested
cannabis, related supplies or educational materials to qualifying patients and other items to the general
public at a fixed location.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
13. Certified nurse practitioner. "Certified nurse practitioner" means a registered professional
nurse licensed under Title 32, chapter 31 who has received postgraduate education designed to prepare
the nurse for advanced practice registered nursing in a clinical specialty in nursing that has a defined
scope of practice and who has been certified in the clinical specialty by a national certifying
organization acceptable to the State Board of Nursing.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
14. Child-resistant. "Child-resistant" means, with respect to packaging or a container:
A. Specially designed or constructed to be significantly difficult for a typical child under 5 years
of age to open and not to be significantly difficult for a typical adult to open and reseal; and [RR
2023, c. 2, Pt. A, §31 (COR).]
B. With respect to any product intended for more than a single use or that contains multiple
servings, resealable. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
[RR 2023, c. 2, Pt. A, §31 (COR).]
15. Commissioner. "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Administrative and Financial
Services.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
16. Complete application. "Complete application" means, with respect to an application for a
registry identification card or a registration certificate, that:

A. The applicant has completed and submitted to the office all application forms required and
provided by the office; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
B. If required by the office pursuant to this chapter, the applicant has submitted to a criminal
history record check; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
C. If applying for a registry identification card for a caregiver or a registration certificate for a
dispensary, the applicant has registered with the State Tax Assessor pursuant to Title 36, section
1754-B to collect and remit the sales tax on the sale of harvested cannabis imposed under Title 36,
section 1811 and has provided to the office documentation of the registration; and [PL 2023, c.
679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
D. If applying for a registration certificate for a dispensary, the applicant has submitted to the
office documentation sufficient to show that the applicant has fulfilled any applicable municipal
authorization requirements for the municipality in which the applicant intends to operate the
dispensary. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
17. Cultivation area. "Cultivation area" means an indoor or outdoor area used for cultivation of
mature cannabis plants, immature cannabis plants or seedlings in accordance with this chapter. A
cultivation area may include multiple indoor or outdoor areas, whether contiguous or noncontiguous,
on the same parcel or tract of land.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
18. Department. "Department" means the Department of Administrative and Financial Services.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
19. Disqualifying drug offense. "Disqualifying drug offense" means a conviction for a violation
of a state or federal controlled substance law that is a crime punishable by imprisonment for one year
or more. It does not include:
A. An offense for which the sentence, including any term of probation, incarceration or supervised
release, was completed 5 or more years earlier; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
B. An offense that consisted of conduct that would have been permitted under this chapter; or [PL
2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
C. An offense that consisted of conduct that would be authorized under Title 28-B or that, if the
person convicted of the offense had been acting under the authority of a license pursuant to Title
28-B, would have been authorized under Title 28-B. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
20. Edible cannabis product. "Edible cannabis product" means a cannabis product intended to
be consumed orally, including, but not limited to, any type of food, drink or pill containing harvested
cannabis. "Edible cannabis product" does not include an edible product containing hemp as defined in
Title 7, section 2231, subsection 1-A, paragraph D.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
21. Harvested cannabis. "Harvested cannabis" means the plant material harvested from a mature
cannabis plant, except the stalks, leaves and roots of the plant that are not used for a qualifying patient's
medical use. "Harvested cannabis" includes cannabis concentrate and cannabis products. "Harvested
cannabis" does not include plant material harvested from hemp as defined in Title 7, section 2231,
subsection 1-A, paragraph D.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
22. Immature cannabis plant. "Immature cannabis plant" means a cannabis plant that is not a
mature cannabis plant or seedling. "Immature cannabis plant" does not include hemp as defined in Title
7, section 2231, subsection 1-A, paragraph D.

[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
23. Immature plant canopy. "Immature plant canopy" means the total surface area within a
cultivation area where immature cannabis plants are growing. The surface area of the immature plant
canopy must be calculated in square feet and measured using the outside boundaries of the area and
must include all of the area within the boundaries. If the surface area of the immature plant canopy
consists of noncontiguous areas, each component area must be separated by identifiable boundaries. If
a tiered or shelving system is used in the cultivation area, the surface area of each tier or shelf must be
included in calculating the area of the immature plant canopy. Calculation of the surface area of the
immature plant canopy may not include the areas within the cultivation area that are not used at any
time to cultivate immature cannabis plants.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
24. Inherently hazardous substance. "Inherently hazardous substance" means a liquid chemical;
a compressed gas; carbon dioxide; or a commercial product that has a flash point at or lower than 100
degrees Fahrenheit, including, but not limited to, butane, propane and diethyl ether. "Inherently
hazardous substance" does not include any form of alcohol or ethanol.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
25. Long-term care facility. "Long-term care facility" means a hospice provider facility licensed
under chapter 1681; a nursing facility licensed under chapter 405; an assisted living facility licensed
under chapter 1663 or 1664; or a facility or program licensed under chapter 1663 that provides care for
a qualifying patient in accordance with this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
26. Manufacture or manufacturing. "Manufacture" or "manufacturing" means the production,
blending, infusing, compounding or other preparation of cannabis concentrate and cannabis products,
including, but not limited to, cannabis extraction or preparation by means of chemical synthesis.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
27. Manufacturing facility. "Manufacturing facility" means a registered tier 1 or tier 2
manufacturing facility or a person authorized to engage in cannabis extraction in accordance with this
chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
28. Mature cannabis plant. "Mature cannabis plant" means a flowering female cannabis plant.
"Mature cannabis plant" does not include hemp as defined in Title 7, section 2231, subsection 1-A,
paragraph D.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
29. Mature plant canopy. "Mature plant canopy" means the total surface area within a cultivation
area where mature cannabis plants are growing. The surface area of the mature plant canopy must be
calculated in square feet and measured using the outside boundaries of the area and must include all of
the area within the boundaries. If the surface area of the mature plant canopy consists of noncontiguous
areas, each component area must be separated by identifiable boundaries. If a tiered or shelving system
is used in the cultivation area, the surface area of each tier or shelf must be included in calculating the
area of the mature plant canopy. Calculation of the surface area of the mature plant canopy may not
include the areas within the cultivation area that are not used at any time to cultivate mature cannabis
plants.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
30. Medical provider. "Medical provider" means a physician, a certified nurse practitioner or a
physician associate.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW); PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).]

31. Medical use. "Medical use" means the acquisition, possession, cultivation, manufacture, use,
delivery, transfer or transportation of cannabis or cannabis paraphernalia relating to the administration
of cannabis to treat or alleviate a qualifying patient's medical diagnosis or symptoms for which a
medical provider has provided the qualifying patient a written certification under this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
32. Member of the family. "Member of the family" means an individual who is a resident of the
State and who is a spouse, domestic partner, child, sibling, sibling of a parent, child of a sibling, parent,
stepparent, grandparent or grandchild of another individual.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
33. Members of the same household. "Members of the same household" means 2 or more
individuals who are residents of the State and who reside in a shared dwelling unit.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
34. Minor. "Minor" means a person who has not attained 21 years of age.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
35. Office. "Office" means the Office of Cannabis Policy established in Title 28-B, section 104-A
within the department.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
36. Officer or director. "Officer or director" means, when used with respect to any nonprofit,
for-profit or other organization governed by this chapter, a director, manager, shareholder, board
member, partner or other individual holding a management position or ownership interest in the
organization.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
37. Physician. "Physician" means an individual licensed as an osteopathic physician by the Board
of Osteopathic Licensure pursuant to Title 32, chapter 36 or an individual licensed as a physician or
surgeon by the Board of Licensure in Medicine pursuant to Title 32, chapter 48 who is in good standing
and who holds a valid federal Drug Enforcement Administration license to prescribe drugs.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
38. Physician associate. "Physician associate" means an individual licensed as a physician
associate by the Board of Osteopathic Licensure pursuant to Title 32, chapter 36 or an individual
licensed as a physician associate by the Board of Licensure in Medicine pursuant to Title 32, chapter
48 who is in good standing and who holds a valid federal Drug Enforcement Administration license to
prescribe drugs.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW); PL 2025, c. 316, §3 (REV).]
39. Qualifying patient. "Qualifying patient" means an individual who has been a resident of the
State for at least 30 days and who possesses a valid written certification regarding medical use of
cannabis in accordance with this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
40. Registered caregiver. "Registered caregiver" means a caregiver who is registered by the
office pursuant to this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
41. Registered dispensary. "Registered dispensary" means an entity registered in accordance
with this chapter that acquires, possesses, cultivates, manufactures, delivers, transfers, transports, sells,
supplies or dispenses cannabis paraphernalia, cannabis plants, harvested cannabis, related supplies or
educational materials to qualifying patients and the caregivers of those patients.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]

42. Registrant. "Registrant" means a registered caregiver, dispensary, cannabis testing facility,
manufacturing facility or person authorized to engage in cannabis extraction using inherently hazardous
substances under this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
43. Registrant agent. "Registrant agent" means an assistant, employee, officer, director or other
authorized agent of a registered caregiver, dispensary, cannabis testing facility, manufacturing facility
or person authorized to engage in cannabis extraction using inherently hazardous substances under this
chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
44. Registration certificate. "Registration certificate" means a document issued by the office that
identifies a person who has registered with the office in accordance with this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
45. Registry identification card. "Registry identification card" means a document issued by the
office that identifies an individual who has registered with the office in accordance with this chapter.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
46. Remuneration. "Remuneration" means a donation or any other monetary payment received
directly or indirectly by a person in exchange for goods or services as part of a transaction in which
cannabis for medical use is transferred or furnished by that person to another person.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
47. Sample. "Sample" means a cannabis plant or harvested cannabis that is provided for testing
or research purposes to a cannabis testing facility.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
48. Seedling. "Seedling" means a cannabis plant or rooted cutting that is:
A. Not flowering; [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
B. Less than 24 inches in height; and [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
C. Less than 24 inches in width. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
49. Tamper-evident. "Tamper-evident" means, with respect to a device or process, bearing a seal,
a label or a marking that makes unauthorized access to or tampering with a package, product or
container easily detectable.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
50. Tamper-resistant paper. "Tamper-resistant paper" means paper that possesses an industry-
recognized feature that prevents copying of the paper, erasure or modification of information on the
paper and the use of counterfeit documentation.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
51. Telehealth services. "Telehealth services" means health care services delivered through the
use of information technology. "Telehealth services" includes synchronous encounters, store and
forward transfers, telemonitoring and asynchronous encounters.
As used in this subsection, the following terms have the following meanings.
A. "Asynchronous encounter" means an interaction between an individual and a medical provider
through a system that has the ability to store digital information, including, but not limited to, still
images, video files, audio files, text files and other relevant data, and to transmit such information
without requiring the simultaneous presence of the individual and the medical provider. [PL 2023,
c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]

B. "Store and forward transfer" means the transmission of an individual's records through a secure
electronic system to a medical provider. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
C. "Synchronous encounter" means a real-time interaction conducted with an interactive audio or
video connection between an individual and a medical provider or between a medical provider and
another medical provider. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
D. "Telemonitoring" means the use of information technology to remotely monitor an individual's
health status via electronic means, allowing the medical provider to track the individual's health
data over time. [PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
52. Timely filed. "Timely filed" means, with respect to an application submitted for renewal of a
registry identification card or an application submitted for renewal of a registration certificate, that the
applicant submits a complete application to the office no sooner than 60 days and no later than 30 days
prior to the expiration date of the current registry identification card or the current registration
certificate.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
53. Visiting qualifying patient. "Visiting qualifying patient" means a patient who is authorized
for the medical use of cannabis in this State and who is not a resident of the State or who has been a
resident of the State less than 30 days.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]
54. Written certification. "Written certification" means a document signed by a medical provider
and issued to a qualifying patient, or a digital image of that document issued by the medical provider
that states that, in the medical provider's professional opinion, the patient is likely to receive therapeutic
or palliative benefit from the medical use of cannabis to treat or alleviate the patient's medical diagnosis
or symptoms associated with the medical diagnosis.
[PL 2023, c. 679, Pt. A, §3 (NEW).]

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