Feds Investigating Multiple Maine Cannabis Companies

At least two Maine cannabusinesses are the target of a law enforcement investigation but officials have not yet indicated what the charges against the companies are, News Center Maine reports. The investigation is being conducted by the Maine State Police, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

The court-approved investigation into Narrow Gauge Distributors and Homegrown Connection is part of an ongoing federal inquiry, officials told NSM, adding that there is no threat to the public.

Narrow Gauge is a cannabis and CBD cultivation and distribution company with a 60,000-square-foot facility in Farmingham. It bills itself as “the largest cannabis distribution company” in Maine.

Homegrown Connection is a hydroponics grow shop also in Farmingham.

Neither company has addressed Tuesday’s law enforcement action.

According to a Sun Journal report, law enforcement agents were filling U-Haul trailers with boxes marked “DEA Evidence” and filling a shipping container with plants confiscated from the facilities.

U.S. Assistant Attorney Craig Wolff did not provide a comment to either of the news organizations, saying it is an ongoing investigation.

Maine voters legalized cannabis for adult use in 2016; however, implementation of a taxed and regulated regime has been slow to materialize. First, the implementation bills were blocked by then-Gov. Paul LePage (R) and, more recently, by the coronavirus pandemic.

In May, the federal government said it would withhold $3.3 million in funding from the state for mental health programs for children because the state allows students to use medical cannabis.