In recent years, Maine has been very progressive with Marijuana laws and has made it easily accessible. Because of this, I have made so much progress in my personal life with both my mental and physical health. I want to share my experiences with the people of my community and help those who think cannabis may be a helpful tool in their own health journey, but I am 19 and therefore cannot work in Maine dispensaries. 

The minimum age for dispensary workers varies from state to state, but in most you have to be 21. In Maine, I can legally purchase cannabis with a medical marijuana card at the age of 18, but cannot benefit from working in a dispensary until the age of 21. However, this logic is not applied to alcohol, which can be served by minors at 18 and is arguably more dangerous. Alcohol, which has not been legalized to those under 21 and has no medicinal properties, can be served by those 18 and older in Maine. If I can acquire a medical marijuana card at 18, why can’t I work in the building that sells my prescription to me? 

I urge lawmakers in the great State of Maine to change the laws in order for those 18 to 21 to work in the Cannabis Industry. The logic of 18 year olds being able to serve alcohol, and not marijuana a despite their ability to purchase it is inherently wrong and detracts from the state of Maine’s true efforts to make marijuana more accessible.