With marijuana legalization shortly to be a reality in the state for people over the age of 21, towns have been left to grapple with the issues of where to allow retail establishments, what kinds of restrictions could or should be placed on the enterprises, how to prevent newly legal products from falling into under-aged hands, and how to enforce the new laws.

Healthy Lincoln County, the Lincoln County Regional Planning Commission, Lincoln Health and the Boothbay Region Community Resource Council have put together a workshop for town officials, law enforcement, public health advocates and the public to sort through the legal, zoning, medical and health, law enforcement, and prevention aspects of this new business opportunity — and challenge — in Lincoln County towns.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 25 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the LCRPC office at 297 Bath Road in Wiscasset, across from Big Al’s. There is no cost, and refreshments will be provided.

Anyone wishing to attend should RSVP by Monday, Jan. 24 to Patricia at 563-1330 or patriciab@mcdph.org.

Two local attorneys with municipal experience will present a program entitled “Municipal Issues in Legalized Marijuana.” The attorneys, Ted Kelleher and Amy Tchao, are both of Drummond Woodsum in Damariscotta.

Their presentation will be followed by a question and answer period with a panel of local resource professionals, covering planning and zoning, health and medical issues, law enforcement, and substance use prevention.

Marijuana for personal consumption and personal sowing and harvesting will be legal as of Jan. 30, but the Legislature has proposed legislation, L.D. 88, which may extend the period allowed to conclude rulemaking for sales, retail establishments and commercial growing until February 2018. If the bill passes, towns will not have to have new ordinances developed until that date. If it does not pass, the Legislature will have to conclude rulemaking by September.

The delay would not apply to medicinal marijuana or edibles, nor to personal possession and homegrown plants, seedlings, or seeds.

At least one Lincoln County town — Newcastle — has declined any moratoria on marijuana sales or establishments or commercial growing, and the current owner of the Mason Station plant in Wiscasset has expressed an interest in establishing a marijuana-growing and sales facility there, although the site would need extensive cleanup first.