Voters in Maine legalized recreational marijuana use last November, but thanks to legislative posturing and a slow moving regulatory process, residents and tourists still can’t walk into a store and buy weed. In the meantime, possession and private consumption of the plant is already legal, or at least that’s what the law books say.
According to the Bangor Daily News, though, one businesswoman in Cornish, ME promoting a ‘bud and breakfast’ hotel package has had the event shut down by city code enforcers, with little in the way of explanation.
Trinity Madison had made arrangements with the local Cornish Inn to host a three week event that would transform the hotel into the the Laughing Grass Inn, a cannabis-themed vacation destination with edibles, a cannabis happy hour and other inhalable amenities provided free for paying guests. As long as all of the guests were over 21 years of age, the event would have met every point of local law. Instead, the event has since been cancelled, leaving Madison, and Cornish Inn owner Richard Decourcey to reimburse reservations and scratch their heads.
“Many of us work tirelessly to Pioneer this new type of enterprise within the cannabis industry and we were met with indifference every step of the way.” Madison wrote on the Laughing Grass Facebook page. “We dealt with threats and angry locals that would stop at nothing to shut us down. We received advice from our lawyers, that in the end, was only to serve them and we were dropped without ample notice. Unfortunately at this time we simply cannot come up with the funding in time for new representation. We also cannot risk the hefty ‘code violation’ fines that are sure to come our way if the event continues in Cornish.”
Cornish Code Enforcement Officer Wes Sunderland, said that commenting on the matter would be “premature,” but offered the city’s recent ban on retail weed as a possible explanation.
Still, the Laughing Grass Inn would not have sold any retail marijuana, per se. The price of the room and board package was the same for teetotalers as is was for tree tokers.
No further explanation for the event cancellation has been given by any of Cornish’s other public officials, but Madison, Decourcey and the Cornish Inn aren’t letting code enforcers kill their vibe – with the Laughing Grass Inn cancelled, Decourcey is inviting the same pre-booked guests to return with their own weed for a what will still be slated as a cannabis-friendly vacation.
“Even though your money has been refunded and the planned events have been cancelled. The Cornish Inn, host of The Laughing Grass Event will still be open for guest and will remain Cannabis friendly.” Madison wrote on the group’s Facebook. “They just won't be serving any Cannabis. The Cornish Inn is now a BYOB: ‘Bring Your Own Bud’"
