Hello and Welcome! Please Introduce Yourself.
Hello! I am Samantha Brown, founder and director of Liberate Maine Cannabis a Political Action Committee dedicated to fighting for a free cannabis market and cannabis liberation while stopping cronyism, corruption, and monopoly.
What Is Your History With Cannabis?
My History with cannabis started out in 2013 when my 2-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a pharmaceutical-resistant catastrophic seizure condition. We started cannabis hoping to reduce her seizures. She was at the time one of the youngest patients in Maine. At that time, cannabis oil was rarely discussed publically, especially in the state of Maine, and we had no idea what we were doing. Other states were quite ahead of us with the knowledge, so I spent many hours reading what other parents were doing with children with similar conditions. One of our first trials was even more out of the ordinary. When I brought up the idea of cold-extracted cannabis or THCa to caregivers in Maine, I was laughed at, for of course the heated form THC was the component that worked. Even the cannabis doctor hadn't heard of it. I remember the conversation "Well, I haven't heard of its use, but I'm always amazed at the wonders of cannabis, I support your trial." Trying to figure out how to make it was also a task, because no one here knew how to do it! This is where ethanol extractions were introduced!
While cannabis was not our cure-all, We realized that out of all forms of cannabis, THCa was what would help us the most and keep us from frequent emergency hospital stays.
2013 was also my first experience in cannabis activism and legislation, where a bill was introduced that would ban our legal methods of extracting cannabis. Luckily we were able to fight that bill (then and multiple times over the years.)
A lot Of People Don't Know Where To Start With Activism Or Feel They Cant Make A Difference. What Would You Tell Someone Who Wants To Get Involved?
Unless you are politically connected, alone is hard to make a difference, for sure. If starting from scratch, an individual would have to grow more supporters to form a louder voice. Which is essentially where I started from.
Join other organizations that have done the leg work, if you support their values.
Liberate Maine Cannabis was founded as a cannabis liberation activist organization, which is building to be a loud voice in Augusta. From simply following us, to working your way up to learn how to lead, I'm looking to train willing individuals whose passion is liberty in cannabis. One more individual makes the movement louder.
Maine Has A Very Unique Cannabis Program, Starting In 1999 When Medical Cannabis Was First Legalized. What Are Some Changes You Have Seen Since Getting Involved?
When I first started, the use of cannabis as a therapy was taboo, ESPECIALLY in pediatrics! I really had to put myself out there when talking about it or choose to keep quiet. Generally, many things were done in secret, and meeting a caregiver nonchalantly in a parking lot for product was normal vs now you can go into a store. Many treatments were made on an individual basis, as today things are made more in bulk. Currently, Pediatric cannabis therapy isn't such a big deal of a topic.
What Are Some Current Issues Going On?
One ongoing legislative issue is trying to prevent more government control and overreach of cannabis. Cannabis is supposed to be legal here in Maine, yet people want it strictly controlled, which means more laws, restrictions, and government surveillance; moving in the opposite direction of legalizing.
The department is full of something called cronyism, which means businessmen and members of the government working together to make laws that only benefit those businessmen, usually kicking out their competition and funneling consumers to that business. We can see this in the Department of Cannabis Policy. Director, John Hudak, has financial interests with Freedman and Koski, the rule-making company that was hired to write rules for the Adult use and Medical cannabis program. Hudak's business partner is Lewis Koski who works for and receives money from METRC and is in a great position to push laws requiring METRC as a condition to sell cannabis.
Current matters happening in Augusta are the recodification of the medical cannabis laws. Basically, they are overhauling the whole program to clarify unclear laws. This is important to watch because even a one-word change can change everything. Topics of concern are defining what a storefront is, are farmers' markets legal, should municipalities know who private caregivers are.
What Would You Say About Those In Charge Of Cannabis Policy?
I do not have very many good words to say about those in charge of cannabis policy. But to professionally put it: Regulators usually have financial or political interests to regulate vs repeal.
What's Something That Needs To Change With Cannabis Policy?
Perhaps minor changes could be made, such as arbritrary trip tickets, the medical program in my opinion is working okay, it could be worse, like the adult use program which is a regulatory and government surveillance mess that should be overhalled similar to the medical program. There are always issues with regulators not being consistent, and their interpretation of the law seems to change often depending on how they feel that day. But if I were to have it my way, I would have a fully free market where products improve over time due to businesses fiercely competing with each other to serve the consumer, instead of depending on the government to fix all of our problems, which actually makes a lesser of a product and wastes taxpayers money.
Are You Going To Be Attending Any Events Soon?
I plan on attending the recodification meeting at the Augusta State House on November 28th, which I would encourage people to attend. We can not speak, but we can be present to show we are paying attention.
What Are Some Issues Liberate Maine Cannabis Has Worked On That You Are Proud Of?
I've worked on many issues in the past. Liberate Maine Cannabis is fairly new and just getting started. One thing I brought to the table since it started, which is a reflection of what I stand for, is a bill that would align cannabis with the right to food constitutional amendment. What that would mean for personal home grows, cannabis would be legally treated like growing tomatoes.
How Can People Support Liberate Maine Cannabis?
One of the first things people should do is go to liberatemainecannabis.com/join and join our e-mail list. This will notify you of pressing issues as they arise, and the small tasks that need to be done. Find us on Instagram and Facebook.
Volunteer! Also on our website is a volunteer page.
Lastly but just as important, Donate. We can not do anything productive without funds, and we have big plans, like keeping politicians accountable! Something that no other organization is doing.
LINKS:
Website:
Final Note From Us At ILOVEMEWEED.com
Thank you for reading! Don't forget to sign up to stay informed on updates, upcoming events and more. While also being able post your cannabis content without the fear of being banned!
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