Maine is on-track to potentially become the first state in the Nation to adopt a “right to food” law. The bill regarding this legislation passed with a 2/3 majority in Maine’s House and Senate.  As a result, the measure will be on the ballot this November for Maine voters to decide whether food should be treated as unalienable right in their state.  On the referendum, the measure will require a simple majority to pass and will be proposed as such: 

“Do you favor amending the Constitution of Maine to declare that all individuals have a natural, inherent, and unalienable right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health, and well-being?”

If passed by Maine voters, the amendment in Maine’s Constitution will read that: “All individuals have a natural, inherent and unalienable right to food, including the right to save and exchange seeds and the right to grow, raise, harvest, produce and consume the food of their own choosing for their own nourishment, sustenance, bodily health and well-being, as long as an individual does not commit trespassing, theft, poaching or other abuses of private property rights, public lands or natural resources in the harvesting, production or acquisition of food.”

Critics contend that the amendment could produce unintended consequences for animal and food safety.  Moreover, they contest that the amendment is so broad that certain judges could interpret the law in such a way that the government has to have food available at all times for anybody that wants it.  From a practicality standpoint, critics such as State Sen. Russell Black (R-Wilton) believe that this simply may not be feasible.  Senator Black voted against the measure and posited, “This is so vague, how are the courts going to interpret this? An inherent right to food. Are people going to be able to go to town government and say, ‘I don’t have food. I don’t have seed and I don’t have a place to grow it. I want you to take care of that for me.’”

Nonetheless, the bill has largely drawn bipartisan support across the aisle in Maine. “You have to have a right to food because food is life,” said Sen. Craig Hickman, (D-Winthrop), the sponsor for the bill and an organic farmer who has long championed the cause. “This is a foundation we are putting in the constitution.” 

Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham, (R-Winter) Harbor, agreed with Senator Hickman.  “Jumping ahead 25 or 50 years into the future, could we see our government creating roadblocks and restrictions to the people’s right to food?” Faulkingham wrote. “Will the government be telling people what they are allowed to eat and where they can grow it?”

Mainers will make the final decision on a “Right to Food” law on Nov 2.

Voters will decide if Mainers have a constitutional right to food