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Cannabis dispensary insurance in Maine
In Maine, cannabis is approved for both medical and adult recreational use. While Maine state law does not require dispensaries to carry business insurance, some cities do require it.
What types of insurance do Maine dispensaries need?
In Maine, cannabis businesses are regulated by the Office of Cannabis Policy (OCP). The OCP does not require licensed dispensaries and other cannabis-related businesses to carry cannabis business insurance. However, dispensaries and other cannabis businesses must carry a surety bond.
All cannabis businesses should carry general liability insurance, which they might need to secure a loan, or sign a commercial lease or contract. A commercial general liability policy covers the most common risks of owning a small business, such as lawsuits from customers who suffer an injury or property damage at your shop.
To comply with Maine law, your business needs to carry workers’ compensation insurance if you have employees. And, if you have any business-owned vehicles, state law requires that you carry commercial auto insurance.
Keep in mind that although ME has approved cannabis for medical and recreational use, each city and town is permitted to decide whether or not to allow cannabis businesses. For example, Portland allows dispensaries, but the town of Kennebunk does not.
Some Maine cities require business insurance for dispensaries. For example, Portland requires dispensaries to carry a commercial general liability policy with a $1 million per-occurrence limit for bodily injury, death, and property damage.
You’ll need to research your state, county, and city laws to make sure your dispensary or other cannabis business is obeying the rules.
What other types of business insurance do I need for my cannabis dispensary?
While there are no state-wide insurance requirements for running a dispensary in Maine, it's still a good idea to get coverage to keep your business protected. Dispensary owners should also consider the following policies:
- Product liability insurance covers legal costs if a customer sues over harm caused by a product sold at your dispensary, such as an adverse reaction to an edible. It’s often included in general liability insurance.
- Commercial property insurance helps pay for lost, damaged, or destroyed business property. For example, it can cover the cost of replacing stolen inventory or renovating a marijuana dispensary’s building after a fire.
- Property policies can include business interruption insurance, which covers costs when a fire or other covered property claim forces your business to close temporarily.
- Additionally, you may need inland marine insurance to protect property in transit or stored off-site, as property insurance only covers items at your business location.
While these are a top priority for cannabis sellers, they aren’t the only policies you need to run a business. You can always call our dedicated agent at (872) 260-5150 if you’re unsure which policies you need.
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What are the laws and requirements for cannabis businesses in Maine?
Although there are no cannabis business insurance requirements, there are several other requirements for running a cannabis facility in Maine.
Perhaps most important, you need a license from the OCP to open a dispensary or other cannabis business. To keep that license, you need to follow the OCP's rules about selling, storing, and transporting cannabis.
For example, Maine requires cannabis businesses to:
- Have staff wear identification badges at all times while on premise and be at least 21 years of age
- Adhere to ME cannabis tracking regulations, which includes using the Metrc seed-to-sale system
- Install a security alarm system that includes video surveillance
- Follow marketing and advertising regulations, such as no advertisements near schools
Be sure to read Maine's laws and requirements to make sure your cannabis business is in full compliance.
How can I get business insurance for my Maine dispensary?
If you run an ME dispensary, you can complete Insureon’s easy online application to get quotes from top U.S. carriers. For other cannabis businesses, you can call our dedicated agent at (872) 260-5150 to get insurance quotes for your business. Once you find a policy that fits your needs, you can begin coverage in less than 24 hours.
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Updated: September 26, 2024
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