The legislation proposed by the LePage administration would add restrictions governing the 1,700 small caregivers who grow and distribute the drug.

AUGUSTA — The economic and political tensions within Maine’s thriving medical marijuana industry were on full display Friday as patients, suppliers and regulators sparred over proposals by the LePage administration to add teeth to rules governing marijuana caregivers.

In a sweeping set of proposals released this week, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services seeks to limit the amount of marijuana caregivers can distribute to patients, allow the department to investigate caregiver operations and stiffen penalties for violations.

The proposals also would require caregivers – individuals permitted to grow and dispense medical marijuana – who cultivate it for family members to register with the state.

While representatives for larger, more tightly regulated marijuana dispensaries praised the proposals as “leveling the playing field,” caregivers and patients called them regulatory...