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PORTLAND, M.E. (WBZ NewsRadio) — A new ballot question in Maine could put people in charge of how and what food they decide to eat.
Known unofficially as "the 2nd amendment of food", the amendment declares that all people have a "natural, inherent, and unalienable" right to produce and consume food how they choose. The proposed amendment is not without controversy, however.
Supporters of the amendment believe in an era of corporatization threating local farms and growers, this will guarantee their right to grow and raise food under their own terms. Opponents believe the language is vague and could lead to issues with food safety and animal welfare.
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This isn't the first time Maine voters tried to give more rights and control to local farmers. In 2017, Maine enacted a food sovereignty law that allowed smaller farms to sell directly to customers on site instead of through stores or markets. This law was the first of its kind in the nation.
The proposed amendment has bipartisan support from democrats and republicans in both the Maine state Senate and House. It will appear on the ballot as Question 3, titled "Right to Produce, Harvest, and Consume Food Amendment."
Voters in Maine will vote on the amendment on Nov. 2.
WBZ's Jim Mackay (@JimMacKayOnAir) reports.
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