Vermont Lawmakers On The Verge Of Recreational Marijuana Legalization
A bill that would create a licensed recreational marijuana market in Vermont has gone to Governor Phil Scott's office. It is not that residents have not been able to legally possess and use cannabis for the past two years; they have simply acted without legal means to acquire it.
This legislation would change that, but Vermont lawmakers have failed to create a legal system for the sale of cannabis. If the Vermont legislature adopts and approves the legalization of cannabis in 2018, the state will be one of the first to end prohibition.
The new measure has long been a back-and-forth between the House and the Vermont Senate, with long back-and-forth pros and cons of the new measures.
It was a difficult compromise, and lawmakers have worked hard to address a wide range of concerns. The Republican governor has not indicated whether he will sign the bill, but he has said lawmakers have concerns he had, concerns that were far advanced. The bill has passed both chambers but still needs final approval by the Senate and the governor's office and the House of Representatives.
One of the conditions Scott demanded was a test for driving under the influence of cannabis, and the House proposed a roadside saliva test, which was applied for without a warrant and approved by the Senate.
Other notable aspects of the bill include a ban on the sale of cannabis to children under 18 years of age and the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes. It would also ban flavored vapor cartridges and give priority to cannabis licenses to those disproportionately affected by the war on drugs.
Those disproportionately affected by the war on drugs will be given priority for cannabis licenses under the package. Subin added, "Now is the time for Vermont to move forward, and if Governor Scott signs S. 54 and S-234, Vermont will take the first step toward legalizing recreational marijuana in the United States," said the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Regulation and Control (NORML), a nonprofit organization focused on regulating marijuana.
