The Portland Daily Sun 11-4-11

Page 1

A voice for every Portlander Paid for by Carmona for Mayor, Vana Carmona, Treasurer, PO Box 15111, Portland, ME 04112

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

VOL. 3 NO. 195

PORTLAND, ME

PORTLAND’S DAILY NEWSPAPER

699-5801

FREE

Foods with marijuana to face higher tax Legislative action needed to align sales taxes on medical marijuana and foods prepared with it BY MAL LEARY CAPITOL NEWS SERVICE

AUGUSTA – Lawmakers decided that marijuana sold for medicinal purposes would be subject to the 5 percent state sales tax. But Maine Revenue Services has issued an opinion that prepared foods, like brownies, that include medical marijuana will be taxed at the higher 7 percent rate, and that has some questioning the ruling “It again shows how disconnected some people in the taxing department are from the general will of Maine people, “said Paul McCarrier, a board member of Medical Marijuana Caregivers of Maine. He said medical marijuana is just what it says it is a medicine and should not be taxed at all. McCarrier said for some individuals, eating foods that contain medical marijuana is the best way for them to use

Benefit planned for OccupyMaine Story on Page 7

Question 2 about more than just jobs Column on page 4

Is local food elitist? Column on page 4

the medicine. He said smoking or using vaporizers do not work for everyone and patients should not have to pay an extra tax in order to use medicinal marijuana. “Sometimes it is the best delivery method for people,” he said, “they can ingest it and it helps with their various pains and afflictions. For some people it is their only delivery means.” In 2009 Mainers passed a referendum allowing medical marijuana dispensaries with nearly sixty percent of the vote. The initiated bill was re-worked by a task force named by then Gov. John Baldacci and became law in 2010 with the first dispensaries being opened this year. Peter Beaulieu, Director of the Sales, Fuel and Special Tax Division at MRS said the policy question of taxing medical marijuana was settled by legislation. A provi-

sion of the law clearly states the sales tax exemption for medicine does not apply to medical marijuana. “It is MRS’s position that a food product containing medical marijuana is not a grocery staple because it is not ordinarily consumed for human nourishment,” Beaulieu wrote. “The food product being prepared is not for general consumption. It is primarily prepared as an alternative form of delivering the medical marijuana into the body.” He said for prepared foods with medical marijuana to be exempted from taxes would take legislative action. He stressed MRS is just interpreting current law. “I think we are going to have to take another look at this whole area,” said Rep. Meredith Strang-Burgess, R-Cumberland, see TAXES page 6

Office building proposed along Commercial St. Site must first be rezoned, a process that begins Nov. 8 BY CASEY CONLEY THE PORTLAND DAILY SUN

J.B. Brown & Sons wants the city to rezone a 10.6-acre parcel on West Commercial Street to allow for a mixed-use development. J.B. Brown doesn’t yet own the parcel, which is vacant except for some leftover railroad infrasture, but it is planning to complete the deal later this month, said Vin Veroneau, the company president. But before any development can move forward, the parcel needs to be rezoned to allow for non-marine uses — a process set to begin Nov. 8 with a planning board workshop at City Hall. The meeting is set for 3:30 p.m. The land in question runs along Commercial Street between Portland see OFFICE page 6

A concert and open jazz jam session, with sound system, piano and drum set, will be held tonight at the nonprofit Mayo Street Arts Center in support of OccupyMaine. Musicians are invited to come anytime between 8 and 10 p.m (see story on page 7). Above, OccupyMaine protesters in Monument Square during the Wednesday farmer’s market (DAVID CARKHUFF PHOTO)

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