MSHA grants medical marijuana moratorium

STATE — A decision to deny rental assistance to medical marijuana users was put on hold Tuesday, when the Maine State Housing Authority's board voted to place a six-month moratorium on the policy.

Last month MaineHousing announced it would not provide Section 8 housing assistance to tenants who possess, cultivate or use medical marijuana.

According to reports, during its meeting Tuesday the board heard comments from medical marijuana users, a representative from the American Civil Liberties Union and State Representative Deborah Sanderson (R-Chelsea)  before voting for the moratorium.

MaineHousing is concerned it may lose federal funding by providing assistance to medical marijuana users – medical marijuana is legal in Maine, but outlawed federally.

Opponents of the policy argue that memos from the Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1999 and 2011 clearly give state agencies the flexibility to allow medical marijuana users in housing units funded through Section 8, according to reports.

On Tuesday, ACLU public policy counsel Alysia Melnick reportedly told the board its new policy would violate Maine statute and discriminate against medical marijuana patients.

The board directed MaineHousing Executive Director John Gallagher and ACLU staff to clarify federal rules as part of the moratorium, according to reports. 

The board's decision reportedly affects six identified Section 8 tenants who are also medical marijuana users.