Maine Pushes Medical Cannabis Testing Debate into Next Legislative Session

Despite recent public health wins, Maine will delay action on requiring mandatory contaminant and potency testing for its medical cannabis program—continuing discussions into 2026.

Medical cannabis in Maine remains untested for mold, pesticides, heavy metals, and potency—unlike recreational products, which are held to mandatory testing standards. The Maine Public Health Association (MPHA), along with the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP) and Maine CDC, continues to press for uniform safety protocols across both markets.⁽¹⁾

Two bipartisan bills—LD 104, sponsored by Rep. Marc Malon, and LD 1847, sponsored by Rep. Anne Graham—seek to introduce mandatory testing, seed-to-sale tracking, potency caps on medical edibles, and public health funding using adult-use tax revenue.⁽²⁾

In 2023, a state audit found that nearly 42–45% of medical cannabis samples contained contaminants that would fail adult-use standards. This stark finding bolstered the call for reform.⁽²⁾

While public health groups support the legislation, many caregivers and small-scale grow operations warn it could cripple their businesses. They emphasize the need for modified testing protocols tailored to their scale, not wholesale application of adult-use standards.⁽³⁾

Lawmakers carried both bills over until the January 2026 session. MPHA’s associate director Matthew Wellington said he hopes to use the interim to bridge public health goals with industry concerns. Caregiver industry representatives like Kristi Shaw acknowledged openness to testing but stressed workable compromise.⁽¹⁾