AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) - The Maine Legislature completed job No. 1 in the fight against the state’s heroin epidemic on Tuesday by adopting a proposal sought by the governor to hire more drug agents. Gov. Paul LePage responded immediately by signing the bill into law.
The $3.7 million package includes funding sought by the Republican governor for 10 additional agents for the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency. It also includes an expansion of drug treatment programs and a 10-bed detoxification center.
“To be clear, this bill is just the first step in a process that needs a much more comprehensive approach,” LePage said.
The bill was amended to change the source of funding, which will come from the general fund and from the Medical Use of Marijuana Fund.
The bill includes $1.23 million for additional drug agents and $2.4 million for drug treatment, including a drug detoxification facility, likely in the Bangor area. But it contains no funding for treatment with methadone and buprenorphine, marketed as Suboxone.
“This bill is by no means a silver bullet but it certainly is a good starting point,” said Rep. Ellie Espling of New Gloucester, assistant Republican leader in the House.
The governor previously threatened to veto the bill. He thanked lawmakers for addressing his concerns about the funding source and grant-making authority.
LePage had threatened to call up the national guard to deal with the drug epidemic until lawmakers promised to make it their first order of business upon returning to work.
“You either work with me and give me some agents, or I will call the Guard up,” he told the Appropriations Committee in November.
The governor has been focused on increasing drug enforcement to stop drug dealers, but lawmakers wanted a comprehensive approach that also dealt with treatment.
The governor’s focus on out-of-state traffickers was behind his statement about drug dealers with names like “D-Money, Smoothie, Shifty” who often impregnate a “young, white girl” while selling drugs in Maine. He later apologized, saying he meant to say “Maine women,” not “white women.”
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