Dixmont, ME Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)
Key Facts
- Status
- Retail marijuana establishments and social clubs prohibited townwide
- Enacted
- Annual Town Meeting, March 17, 2018
- Amended
- Special Town Meeting, July 25, 2024
- Exemption
- State-licensed caregiver retail store operating before July 25, 2024
- Exemption notice goes to
- Dixmont Planning Board
- Enforcement
- Municipal officers or their designee, 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452
Summary
Dixmont expressly prohibits retail marijuana establishments and retail marijuana social clubs throughout the municipality under an ordinance enacted March 17, 2018 and amended July 25, 2024. The only carve-out covers a state-licensed Medical Marijuana Caregiver Retail store that was already operating on July 25, 2024 and meets four conditions.
Retail marijuana establishments, including retail adult (recreational) marijuana stores, retail marijuana cultivation facilities, retail marijuana products manufacturing facilities, and retail marijuana testing facilities, and retail marijuana social clubs, are expressly prohibited in this municipality. No person or organization shall develop or operate a business that engages in retail or wholesale sales of a retail marijuana product, as defined by 7 M.R.S.A. § 2442. ... a state-licensed Medical Marijuana Caregiver Retail establishment that was operating prior to the date of enactment of this section (July 25, 2024) shall be permitted to continue to operate providing it: 1. gives notice to the Planning Board of its intent to continue in business, including its anticipated days and hours of business, 2. complies with any local ordinances, including, but not limited to, the Town of Dixmont Building Code Ordinance and the Town of Dixmont Site Plan Review Ordinance, and 3. is in compliance with all state laws, rules or regulations, and 4. remains duly licensed by the state.
Full Breakdown
The Ordinance Prohibiting Retail Marijuana Establishments and Retail Marijuana Social Clubs was enacted at the Annual Town Meeting on March 17, 2018 and amended at a Special Town Meeting on July 25, 2024. Section 1 rests it on the Marijuana Legalization Act (7 M.R.S.A. c. 417), municipal home rule authority and 30-A M.R.S.A. § 3001. Section 2 defines retail marijuana establishments, including retail marijuana stores, cultivation facilities, products manufacturing facilities and testing facilities, along with retail marijuana social clubs, by reference to 7 M.R.S.A. § 2442.
Section 3 is the operative ban. All of those establishment types and social clubs are expressly prohibited in this municipality, so no part of town is open to them and no zoning district or permit path exists. A second paragraph reaches further: no person or organization shall develop or operate a business that engages in retail or wholesale sales of a retail marijuana product, as defined by 7 M.R.S.A. § 2442.
Section 3A, added by the 2024 amendment, exempts a state-licensed Medical Marijuana Caregiver Retail establishment that was operating before July 25, 2024. It is permitted to continue only if it gives notice to the Planning Board of its intent to continue, including its anticipated days and hours of business; complies with local ordinances including the Town of Dixmont Building Code Ordinance and Site Plan Review Ordinance; complies with all state laws, rules and regulations; and remains duly licensed by the state. The section ties this to the Maine Medical Cannabis Program Caregiver Retail Store Local Authorization Form. It also states that nothing in the ordinance is intended to prohibit any lawful use, possession or conduct under the Maine Medical Use of Marijuana Act, 22 M.R.S.A. c. 558-C.
Under Section 4 the ordinance took effect immediately on enactment and remains in effect until it is amended or repealed.
Violations & Fines
Section 5 says the municipal officers or their designee enforce the ordinance, and violations are subject to the enforcement and penalty provisions of 30-A M.R.S.A. § 4452. A caregiver retail store that stops meeting any of the four Section 3A conditions, such as losing its state license or skipping the Planning Board notice, loses the exemption and falls under the Section 3 prohibition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I open a recreational marijuana store in Dixmont?
Is there any zone in Dixmont where cannabis businesses can locate?
What must an existing caregiver retail store do to keep operating?
Does the ban stop lawful medical marijuana use?
Who enforces the marijuana ordinance?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Dixmont
Compare Dixmont to another location·View the Maine cannabis regulations overview
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