Maine Makes History as 1st State to Adopt Right-to-Food Amendment
Maine will go down in the history books as the first state to adopt an amendment to the state constitution that gives residents the right to raise their own food.
Over the past several years, there's been a lot of concern about the corporatization of our nation's food supply. Many people feel that the future of our food is in jeopardy, as 'Big Brother' continuously restricts the supply chains. So more and more people are turning to their own ingenuity to raise their own food. Whether it's as big as a herd of cows, or as small as a flock of chickens, residents are finding ways to become more self-reliant.
Supporters say this amendment is a good start toward wrestling control away from the large landowners and corporations. They say this will ensure that residents can grow their own vegetables, and raise livestock to provide food for their tables.
Critics say the wording of the amendment is too vague. They believe it doesn't do enough to include guidelines for food safety and prevent animal cruelty.
On Tuesday the overall reaction was favorable as the amendment question passed, making it the first of its kind in the nation. It's not the first time Maine has made history with a food-related election question. in 2017, Maine voters approved a food sovereignty law that was the first in the nation. The law allows local governments to approve small food producers to sell directly to customers on-site. Since then, other states in the nation have enacted similar laws, but Maine was the first.
In other results from Tuesday's election, Mainers voted 'yes' to put a stop to the Clean Energy Corridor, and approved a transportation bond question. CMP's transmission line proposal isn't finished, however, as litigation will continue.