"The newly passed law, which was endorsed by nearly 60 percent of voters, expands that law to allow medical marijuana patients or their caregivers to legally buy marijuana from government-sanctioned dispensaries."

What seems to be the issue? Are you suppressing the will of the majority?

2 thoughts - First, where does a small town city council get the authority to override a decision made by the voters?.

Secondly, Brewer pulled a similar stunt when methadone clinics were moving in the area leaving Bangor to be the source for the treatment of opiate addiction. I think that its about time for Brewer to pick up some slack and stop relying so heavily on Bangor to take care things. I can't decide if the city leaders of Brewer want their town to appear squeaky clean by ignoring social problems that need attention (leaving them for Bangor to deal with); or if Brewer is just getting too comfortable in its role as the poor step sister across the river.

Nok-Noi Ricker- why did you leave out the information on how Brewer voted in the lastelection? Did the majority of Brewer residence vote in favor of the medical marijuana law change? This would be good information to have!

Alright militaryman, while you probably already new the answer,

http://www.bangordailynews.com/electionresults.html

Brewer election results for Question 5

No 52.78%

Yes 47.22%

The No side won by only 242 votes.

Sounds like the city is evenly divided.

So by that logic of Brewer majority, if Brewer wanted gay marriage, all the gays should move to Brewer and marry. Unfortunately it does not work by a town by town, county by county, state law.

Can't wait to see the bales Marden's will pick up in liquidation and sell at amazing prices.

The new cancer center just opened up over there. I hope they will at least allow convenient access for the patients who need it.

Great story BDN-thank you. Chomping at the bit are we? The bottom line is jobs-how many can we create in Maine with the new dispensaries? DHHS has very difficult problems with this one because of all the resources, administration, enforcement, etc, this new law will require. California just this week announced thousands of dispensaries, including some with brownies! Let's not forget the square acre in Wesley that was confiscated this past summer, and the feds were probably involved in that one too! The Obama administration announced they were going to "loosen up" restrictions on patients with prescriptions. Don Christian from the Farmington area was jailed again this year-the story goes on-let's get it right!

lets not dilly dally, the voters have spoken, now our elected officals make it happen, or maybe next voting term, you,ll be un elected.

Keeping in mind here that the State of Maine, was caught with their pants down, on this marijuana issue, we here in Brewer are working to get ahead of what may lie ahead on such clinics. The voters of Brewer voted in opposition to such clinics by a vote of 2123 to 1899 (224). As with the methadone issue, we realize that this great city of Brewer, cannot prevent such 'medical' establishments from settling in here. However, we can legislature where they cannot locate, and that is exactly what we are attempting to do. Whether or not marijuana is a useful medical tool in fighting cancer, is not one that I can make any judgements on. So, those that are getting their dander up on Brewer, should stop and rethink what they are saying. At least Councilor's can support the voter's choice by regulating the locations of these clinics. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer. larrytdoughty@yahoo.com, www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

If we start allowing po-dunk towns to make their own policies based on the 'will of it's voters', we might as well toss out the notion of centralized government and return to a systems of tribal law. Voters in Brewer may have voted down medical marijuana, but it passed by an overwhelming marigin on the State level. Here's to hoping that Brewer see's a law suit over this one.

Wow, it's too bad that Bangor wasn't "proactive" enough when it came to opening up MULTIPLE methadone clinics in that city. I don't understand why people are so afraid of addiction from a natural grown plant that is not a substance made in a lab like methadone. It has been known for years that marijuana is very effective for many medical conditions so some people needed to get educated. The majority of the people have spoken and majority rules. States have a certain amount of power to govern themselves and make some orf their own laws under the United States Constitution so federal law doesn't always trump. I bet if they came out with a study stating that smoking tobacco helped ease nausea in cancer patients, the public would have no problem with that, right? They would probably have designated buildings a person could smoke in. But take marijuana, which by the way is also grown naturally and doesn't have all the chemicals that are put into cigarettes from manufacturing, some people freak out and look at it the same way they do opiates and other man-made drugs but it's not. I understand not having distribution centers close to schools or residential areas where accessibilty is not easy for minors but to try and stop the opening of the centers altogether is going against what the people want. Brewer needs to get their head out of the sand and stop feeling that Bangor has to be the only town around that has to deal with the effect of controversial laws.

Why doesnt the city of Brewer just close up, put a large "gate" around the castle and keep all the "bad" people, places and things out?? What do you think of that Mr. Bost? How come the fair city did nothing when all those prostitutes were running their show over there?

Welcome to Brewer...a bunch of zero tolerance idiots......its going to take a lawsuit to get these bums to adhere to the will of the voter/taxpayer.

I'll bet if Cal Bubar and Joe ferris could make a buck off it....methadone & pot clinics would be popping up all over town. Someone sue the crap out of these bums!!!!! Meanwhile just keep on buying pot in Brewer like everyone always has,on the good ole black market. (pure capitalism). You demand,I supply. ABOLISH THE DEA!!!!

I am left wondering if there was not such a large United Pentecostal population in Brewer if things like this would consistently make the news.

So many unenformed folks out there!

Uninformed folks? Wow! That's understating the situation. What part does individual drug usage play in many of the postings here? That would be an interesting concept to learn. So, why doesn't those folks come right out and say, yes "I am a pot-smoker"..and let it be at that? We City Councilors do not have our 'heads in the sand", we are merely looking out for the safety of our community. That is our responsibility, and we are not about to cave to some of the comments posted here. Some of those are just so ridiculous, they are unworthy of any response. Nevertheless, it proves to me, that we here in the City of Brewer are right on the money, and doing exactly what it should be doing. And yes, the right to express ones self on this web page is a wonderful right, and privilege provided by the News. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer..larrytdoughty@yahoo.com, www.ourstory.com/larrytdoughty/

I admit my speculation is a bit rediculous but, as a politician, do you care to address coldbarnocker and bangorian's posts between 10:06 and 10:21?

Get a grip Brewer . . . the voters of Maine have spoken . . dragging your feet on this issue is both insensitive and probably illegal ! If you try to stop the development of the legally mandated dispensaries, well . . .the general population will continue to use the dispensaries ALREADY established in the greater Brewer / Bangor area. Get my drift?

Brewer . . you have a choice . . be part of the solution or continue to stick you head in the sand!

FINALLY . . .The Times They Are A-Changin!

While unfortunate, Brewer's reluctance to provide for those who must seek legal alternate medicinal treatment for certain ailments of which other conventional medical treatment is mostly not effective, is largely a non-issue. I predict that a few (at first) of the smaller outlying communities will see the obvious economic benefit of legal marijuana dispensaries. And, who doesn't think any tax and financial benefit should go to those forward-minded communities willing to host them? And, who wouldn't vote for a law precluding towns and cities that want to ban the dispensaries from ANY of the potential revenue derived? This isn't rocket science. Sooner or later, someone is going to figure out how to make this work. Irrespective of the minority of detractors, medical marijuana has an admitted medicinal value to a segment of tax payers. And it has been passed by a democratic process. Gambling and slots are a terrible thing for any town in the State of Maine, except for Bangor which reaps a great financial benefit. Why IS that????

Get a clue, Brewer.

Some of you folks need to get a grip on this marijuana issue. Brewer is not trying to prevent the dispensaries from coming into Brewer. We are merely attempting to regulate the location of them. And the State of Maine may be coming your way with the same kind of legislation. We did the same with the methadone clinics. So things aren't so bad after all are they? Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer

What needs to be surpressed is the State Government. They place this up for vote without any idea on how to implement it. Sounds like the Federal Health Bill.

A State that is so far in debt they can not afford salt and they will now pay to set up Dope distribution clinics. How much will this cost the taxpayers of this dieing beast of a State? Are the individuals that will be recieving this so called "medical Mary Jane" be on a list to allow law enforcement to immediatly know who they are during a traffic stop? Seems if your smoking and are on the road.....there should be some legal ramifications.

...funny... I bet the claims of Cancer, AIDS, and MS would rise greatly if you give the opportunity for another "legal high." Just another opportunity for some to work the system... I can't work-- give me $$$ & free health care... I'm depressed-- give me drugs.... My tummy hurts -- give me pot. Throw in a "Hot Pocket" and no one will have a reason to get out of bed and get a job.

How about Pot being dispensed from good old fashioned Pharmacies... WHY - since it seems to be a take home medication would we need a "store front" to pass it out? Sounds like a target zone to steal Pot from sick people who need it. Seems right to hand a Pharmacist your script for "joints" and they quietly hand them to the old guy with glaucoma along with his viagra and he goes on his way. Having a line of weak/ sick people waiting for one thing only would increase the risk of assualt/ thefts.

How about the Pot Pill? Marinol (Pot Pill- synthetic THC) has the same effect with relieving nasua and vomiting in cancer patients. Smoking pot adds toxic chemicals to a person- how much money being wasted on smoking - health related issues. Is passing the joint going to help that?

Pot Stores wouldn't be the same as Methodone Clinics. Meth Clinics are almost all liquid form and the clients take it right then, so a clinic setting is necessary. Very few earn the privelage of "take homes."

You can bash Brewer all you like... but the same as a Meth Clinics... we all want to sound caring and magnanimous- until one wants to open next to our neighborhoods, our schools, or our towns.

creating jobs,,,,,,,,dhhs,,,,,,,,,state and federal gov, hmmmmm taxpayers galore.

RE: Marinol

While Marinol does contain THC, which is the primary chemical that causes Marijuana to be effective in treating what it does, there are also smaller amounts of various other chemicals in natural marijuana as well, that help it have the effect it does. Studies have shown(I've seen them recently) that while in some cases, Marinol is effective, it is not as effective as the natural form.

Send them ova ta BONGor!

Thankyou for your time and posts Larryt39,

I agree that adequate zoning restrictions should be put in place.

And I think relegating medical marijuana dispensaries to Wilson St is a fair compromise.

How about Wilson's Square? I believe that plaza still has some empty store fronts, and is far away from any churches or schools.

certainly don't disagree with you NateSmith .. BUT there are many more toxic chemicals in smoked marijuana than in Marinol... AND I have never seen anyone arrested on COPS with possession and intent to sell Marinol.

Medical Marijuana for Cancer Patients

Has to Be 400 feet from Churches

I would Vote That A Compassionate Church

Pass It OUT

Someone Said Earliar Why Not Just Speak Up

And Say You Want Marijuana Legal For ALL

Well I Do>Prohibition is Causing Far MORE Crime That IT IS Stopping

And Let Us Not Get Started On Alcohol

Ok city of Brewer.... no pot stores near schools... residential areas.... chruches... etc. What about the children with cancer or other diseases that could be helped by pot? Or chruch goers.... are they to be barred at the door of the dispensary? I don't smoke but if I come down with a disease that could be helped by it I can see no diffrence in being prescribed pot or being prescribed opiates or any other drug. I would suggest that it be distributed in drug stores like any other prescription.

LethbridgeStewart - I applaud your effort in trying to get the politican to address the valid points that are in the postings, but don't hold your breath. My experience is that this person tends to get nasty when confronted with valid questions, responding to questions with either insults or suggestions that our points are somehow not valid because we use screen names. My view is: he's the one that ran for office, not me. In any event, if past responses are any indication, I have no expectation that we'll see a meaningful response here.

Currently,pot is bought, sold, and grown all over the city. Larry don't let fear make your decisions. I voted for you. Do the right thing.

I try to post intelligent comments, but at times I miss, this maybe one of those times.....Why can they not be near a church. The church helps the sick and the poor, etc, and for the church to be against Cannabis is like saying that God has made a mistake.

Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to their various kinds." And it was so. 12 The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. And God saw that it was good. 13 And there was evening, and there was morning—the third day. Genesis 1:11-13

Bangorian, you only think some of my comments are 'nasty', but my comments are in response to some of the ugly postings by you and others. So, if you feel offended, so be it..just keep in mind whenever you feel like a spitting contest go for it. But....

As for choppahdave. I will do whatever it takes to look out for the best interest of Brewer, and our citizens. As you have 'voted for me', you certainly must appreciate my 22-year service as that has been my consistent trait all this time. Thanx for your support. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer

All I ever did was ask why you were involving yourself (as an elected representative of Brewer) in Bangor's city manager controversy. I simply asked you to explain how that was good leadership and how it improved the chances of collaboration between our two cities. You never answered the question and you suggested that my points were invalid because I used a screen name. I'm not at all offended, I'm perplexed by your leadership style..

Moratorium, wow there's a five dollar word, why don't you just flat out tell people that you want to freeze or put a hold on the clinics, instead of try to use five dollar words to disguise your plan. Straight forward is the way to go.

Bangorian, or is it Bangorean? That is confusing, frankly. I cannot keep up with some of the folks on this News web page, when you flip-flop with your postings. You, of all of those that post here, know full well what it is all about. Collaboration between the two cities? And you want me to tell you how it will work, what with a City with no City Manager, and/or a City Council of which 5 members are up for possible recall. Things are looking mighty fine on this side of the Penobscot River. Your take on my participation is interesting. Larry T. Doughty, South Brewer

It would seem that a non-smoked dose of marijuana would be the safest. Marinol is the primary active isomer, delta-9-THC. Plant derived marijuana contains more isomers (in addition to delta-9) but it's doubtful that it provides greater activity. Smoking anything may provide quicker administration of the drug, but includes harmful byproducts, soot, tar, etc., hardly beneficial to anyone much less a cancer patinet.

It would seem that the best methods aleviate nuasea, etc. would be administration of marijuana, natural or synthetic, by means other than smoking. It would be easier to control and dispense as well.

Things look fine on this side of the river because the city is run like Hazerd with Boss Hogg on the city council.