An Act To Create Parity In The Taxation Of Medicine By Exempting Sales Of Cannabis For Medical Use
LD 544 exempts sales of cannabis for medical use from Maine's sales tax, creating tax parity with prescription medicines. The bill amends Maine's tax code to include medical cannabis sales (after January 1, 2026) under the existing exemption for prescription medicines sold by doctors. It directly affects patients certified for medical cannabis use under Maine's Medical Use of Cannabis Act and providers selling to them. This policy change removes a sales tax burden currently applied to medical cannabis, aligning its tax treatment with other prescribed medicines. The exemption applies only to cannabis sold with a medical provider's certification, not recreational sales.
Bill status
failed
4 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Feb 2025
Committee Review
Jun 2025
House Passage
Jun 2025
Senate Passage
Jun 2025
Governor
Introduced Feb 11, 2025
Last action Jun 4, 2025
Floor votes · Senate Jun 4, 2025 · House Jun 4, 2025
How they voted
21–5
Passed · 2 other
Total votes 28
Jun 4, 2025
D
Democratic18
88% Yea
I
Independent1
100% Yea
R
Republican9
44% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
33
Key actions
5
Committee
6
Jun 4, 2025
Senate · Passed
Senate Vote: pass (21-5-2)
senate
Jun 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
Committee Amendment "A" (H-387) READ and ADOPTED.
upper
Jun 3, 2025
Upper · Passed
On motion by Senator HICKMAN of Kennebec the Majority Ought to Pass as Amended Report ACCEPTED PREVAILED
upper
May 30, 2025
Legislature · Passed
Reported Out - OTP-AM/ONTP
legislature
Mar 18, 2025
Committee
On motion by Senator PIERCE of Cumberland The Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS in concurrence
upper
Feb 11, 2025
Committee
Subsequently, the Bill was REFERRED to the Committee on VETERANS AND LEGAL AFFAIRS.
lower
Feb 11, 2025
Lower · Passed
Committee on TAXATION suggested and ordered printed.
lower
1 primary · 2 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Ann Fredericks
RRepublican
Co
Craig Hickman
DDemocratic
Co
Rachel Henderson
RRepublican
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