An Act To Create An Exception To The Prohibition Of Tobacco Sales In Retail Establishments Containing Pharmacies For Certain Small Grocery Stores

This bill creates an exception to Maine's rule prohibiting tobacco sales in retail stores that also contain pharmacies. It specifically allows certain small grocery stores (defined as those with annual sales under $2 million) to sell tobacco if they operate a pharmacy at the same geographic location they occupied before July 7, 2025. The key mechanism requires these stores to maintain their pharmacy's physical location unchanged since that date to qualify for the exception. The exception is designed to take effect April 1, 2026, aligning with another law's implementation date.