Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) has vetoed legislation that would have legalized marijuana for recreational use, delivering a blow to legalization backers who hoped Vermont would be the next domino to fall. Scott told reporters during a press conference Wednesday that he is not strictly opposed to legalization, but he said he would ask the […]
Vermont
Vermont on the Verge of Legalizing D.I.Y. Recreational Marijuana
Vermont is on the verge of becoming the ninth state to legalize the recreational use of marijuana, but, being Vermont, it is taking an earthier, grow-it-yourself approach — one that could become a model for others. Vermont is not asking voters to approve a ballot proposal and it is not allowing for-profit businesses to grow […]
Vermont Governor in the Hot Seat; Has Five Days to Decide on Legal Marijuana
Today, S. 22, a bill to legalize cannabis in Vermont for adults over 21, landed on Republican Governor Phil Scott’s desk – potentially making the state the first in the country to legalize marijuana through the legislative process, and not a ballot initiative. The bill has already been approved by both chambers of the state […]
Vermont Legislature Passes Bill to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
A measure legalizing marijuana use in Vermont cleared the state’s legislature on Wednesday. Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) has said the legislation is not “a priority for Vermont” and has not made a final decision as to whether he will sign it. The measure makes Vermont the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana use among […]
Vermont House Approves Marijuana Legalization Bill
Late Tuesday evening, the House approved a bill that would legalize possession of marijuana for adults. The measure, H.170, would remove all penalties for adult possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. It would also allow adults to grow up to two mature and four immature marijuana plants per household. The legislation would not, […]
Legalization in Vermont Stands Poised on the Precipice
Last year, the Vermont Senate passed a bill for comprehensive marijuana legalization, but it never made it through the House. Now the Senate is in a similar spot with another bill – this time with a better hope for passage. The House Judiciary Committee this year sponsored another bill, H-170, which would eliminate penalties for […]
Vermont Senate Votes in Favor of Marijuana Legalization
The Vermont Senate voted 21-9 on Friday to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana, a permissive stance on pot senators acknowledged the House is unlikely to embrace. “We know that prohibition has not worked,” Sen. Jeanette White (D-Windham) said. “Let’s make it safer, less accessible to kids.” The vote came in response to an amendment White […]
In Hopes To Reduce Stigma, Vermont Governor Pardons 192 Marijuana Convictions
Nearly 200 of the approximately 450 people who asked Gov. Peter Shumlin of Vermont to forgive their misdemeanor marijuana convictions had their wish fulfilled this week. In one of his final acts in office, Governor Shumlin on Tuesday pardoned 192 people convicted of marijuana possession, fulfilling a promise he made early last month to consider […]
Legislative Support For Legalization in Vermont Seems to be Fading
Key legislative leaders said Monday they doubted they could muster support in the House for a Senate-passed bill legalizing marijuana in Vermont, and delayed until Tuesday a vote on compromise legislation calling for expanded decriminalization. But prospects even for that measure — replacing criminal penalties with fines akin to a traffic ticket for possession of […]
Vermont Senate Approves Marijuana Legalization, Keeps Bill Moving Ahead
On Wednesday afternoon, the Vermont Senate became only the second legislative body in the nation to approve a bill that would legalize the sale and possession of marijuana. But the narrow vote spotlights the controversial nature of the legislation. And proposal still faces staunch opposition in the House. It wasn’t all that long ago that […]
