How Presque Isle became Aroostook’s cannabis capital
When city officials approved Presque Isle's first marijuana store in 2020, they sought to tap into the next big thing. The industry exploded, and the city is now looking at its ninth cannabis business.
Maine legalized recreational marijuana in 2016 and now has 230 stores, 129 cultivation facilities and 104 manufacturers licensed for adult use, according to the state Office of Cannabis Policy . Sales have grown from just more than $4 billion in 2020 to $217 billion last year.
In fact, cannabis sales are rivaling Maine's top agricultural products. In 2023, the potato crop was worth $291.5 billion , blueberries brought in $46 billion and milk, $116.7 billion, according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
With eight licensed pot businesses and another on the way, Presque Isle is seemingly Aroostook County's cannabis capital. Many local towns have either kept marijuana out altogether or allow medical shops only. So why did Star City leaders embrace the recreational marijuana businesses others rejected? The answer is simple, Council Chair Kevin Freeman said: Empty spaces don't grow a downtown.
"There were quite a few vacant storefronts in Presque Isle that had remained vacant for a long time — years, in fact," Freeman said. "City Council looked at the vacant stores and felt it was an opportunity for economic development for Presque Isle."
Coincidence or not, Presque Isle's Main Street has blossomed with activity and new stores over the past four years. The newcomers include clothing shops , redevelopment and a new restaurant at the Northeastland Hotel, a home product store , men's hair salon , and more. Marijuana stores nestle among them.
Presque Isle's eight cannabis businesses include four medical shops: Northern Maine Flower, which was the first, along with Cloud 9, Richardson's Remedies and Star City Wellness. Full Bloom Cannabis and Royal Leaf Apothecary sell recreational pot. The city also has two cultivation facilities.
The city council approved a ninth business last month . Chad Junkins, who operates organic gardening store Here We Grow and marijuana cultivation facility Northern Euphoria, plans to close Here We Grow and open a medical marijuana shop in its place.
Presque Isle is one of few Aroostook municipalities to approve recreational pot sales.
Caribou voted to ban retail marijuana shops within city limits, but has two medical dispensaries: Safe Alternatives on the Presque Isle Road and Richardson's Remedies on the Bog Road. Houlton recently adjusted its regulations to keep medical shops only, and Fort Fairfield banned marijuana businesses altogether.
The Presque Isle City Council passed a marijuana ordinance four years ago, allowing the cultivation and sale of recreational pot. Grand Isle approved recreational sales three years ago.
Full Bloom Cannabis owner Steve Rusnack opened The County's first recreational marijuana store in Grand Isle in 2021 and soon expanded to Presque Isle, opening the city's first retail weed shop .
Royal Leaf Apothecary, the city's second recreational shop, opened that same year. Traffic is vigorous, including tourists and Canadian customers, said Matt Nida, one of the store's managers.
"It's growing every day and we're on a very steady incline," Nida said. "The business community response has been really good and we support each other's stores."
When Presque Isle first embraced marijuana, officials reported little opposition. Some have wondered if so many pot stores in town can all survive, but all of them remain open. And with another on the way, the Star City's cannabis commerce seems to be thriving.
Council Chair Freeman said there's been no talk of limiting the number of marijuana businesses. There's no cap on pizza restaurants or tractor dealerships, for example, and it isn't the council's job to limit competition, he said.
The council hasn't received complaints about any of the businesses, he said.
"These [are] stores with the lights on, employees working inside, locations that owners have invested tens of thousands of dollars in renovations to make viable businesses that are contributing to our tax base," Freeman said. "That all adds up as a plus to me."
