Vermont becomes 9th state to legalize cannabis, first by way of state legislature

jct74

Published on 01-22-2018 03:16 PM

and it was signed into law by a Republican governor too

Vermont Becomes the Ninth State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana
Today the governor signed a bill that eliminates penalties for possession and home cultivation.

Jacob Sullum
Jan. 22, 2018

Today Vermont Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill making his state the ninth to legalize marijuana for recreational use and the first to do so through the legislature rather than a ballot initiative. The new law, which takes effect on July 1, allows adults 21 or older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana in public, to grow up to six plants (two of them mature at any one time) per household, and to keep whatever they produce.

"After more than 15 years of hard work by [the Marijuana Policy Project] and our allies in the state, adults in Vermont no longer need to fear being fined or criminalized for low-level marijuana possession and cultivation," says Matt Simon, MPP's New England political director. "Responsible adults will soon have the freedom to enjoy a safer option legally, and law enforcement will be free to concentrate on serious crimes with actual victims."

Unlike the initiatives that legalized recreational marijuana in Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, the Vermont law does not permit commercial production or distribution. But it creates a Marijuana Regulatory Commission (with the same membership as the advisory commission that Scott appointed last September) that is charged with studying "regulation and taxation of a commercial adult-use marijuana market that is economically sustainable, reduces the illegal marijuana market, [and] results in net revenues to the State after appropriate costs for education, public health and public safety have been deducted." The commission is required to produce a final report by the end of the year.

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50 Comments

Swordsmyth - 01-22-2018, 03:32 PM
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Take that Sessions!

TheTexan - 01-22-2018, 03:51 PM
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LOL crazy potheads. It's still illegal

jct74 - 01-22-2018, 04:59 PM
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"Live free or die" state needs to get with the program. Completely surrounded by 3 states that have legalized, plus Canada which will be legalizing this summer.

Anti Globalist - 01-22-2018, 05:00 PM
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41 more states to go.

oyarde - 01-22-2018, 05:47 PM
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Originally Posted by TheTexan

LOL crazy potheads. It's still illegal

LOL , Only safe in canada .

dannno - 01-22-2018, 05:54 PM
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Originally Posted by jct74

"Live free or die" state needs to get with the program. Completely surrounded by 3 states that have legalized, plus Canada which will be legalizing this summer.

You can ALMOST drive across the entire country with THC laden buds if you have a prescription..

pcosmar - 01-22-2018, 06:01 PM
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Originally Posted by TheTexan

LOL crazy potheads. It's still illegal

Not here..

now where is that shishkaberry?

Raginfridus - 01-22-2018, 06:15 PM
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Originally Posted by dannno

You can ALMOST drive across the entire country with THC laden buds if you have a prescription..

Do you deliver?

dannno - 01-22-2018, 06:33 PM
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Originally Posted by pcosmar

Not here..

now where is that shishkaberry?

That was the name of my roommate's cat about 12 years ago (I named her)

dannno - 01-22-2018, 06:39 PM
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Originally Posted by Raginfridus

Do you deliver?

Some day..

Swordsmyth - 01-22-2018, 07:12 PM
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Originally Posted by dannno

Some day..

You will need to use dog carts in Califonia:
California bans drone delivery services of legalized pot

Originally Posted by Swordsmyth

"Transportation may not be done by aircraft, watercraft, rail, drones, human-powered vehicles, or unmanned vehicles,"

They forgot dog carts.

jct74 - 01-22-2018, 08:39 PM
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Originally Posted by dannno

You can ALMOST drive across the entire country with THC laden buds if you have a prescription..

Oklahoma and Missouri are probably going to legalize by ballot initiative in 2018. If Indiana or Kentucky can somehow find a way, there will be a complete path.

Swordsmyth - 01-23-2018, 01:00 AM
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Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) on Monday signed into law House Bill 511, which legalizes the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and removes penalties for possession of up to two mature marijuana plants and up to four immature plants.

Although other states have legalized cannabis through ballot initiatives that have left the decision up to voters, Vermont does not allow for such a process. Over the past few years, lawmakers in the state have instead been working to address marijuana reform through legislation. A similar legalization bill made it to Scott’s desk in 2017, but the governor vetoed it, citing concerns with weak language on punishment for the sale of marijuana to minors and its establishment of a commission to study how a regulated cannabis market would work in Vermont.

The final version of H. 511 clarified civil penalties for the sale of marijuana to individuals under 21 years old and removed the commission entirely. Scott has instead created his own marijuana task force, which is examining the state’s involvement in recreational cannabis sales and focusing on developing comprehensive education, prevention and highway safety strategies.
“There must be comprehensive and convincing plans completed in these areas before I will begin to consider the wisdom of implementing a commercial ‘tax-and-regulate’ system for an adult marijuana market,” Scott said on Monday. “It is important for the General Assembly to know that – until we have a workable plan to address each of these concerns – I will veto any additional effort along these lines, which manages to reach my desk.”
Some state officials say the composition of that commission looks to be biased against marijuana, which means recreational weed faces an uncertain future in Vermont.
“There is frustration that the governor’s panels appear to be predetermined in opposition [to a tax-and-regulate model for marijuana sales] versus the sentiment of the House and Senate, which was to move forward,” said Vermont Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat.
The governor’s commission is expected to deliver a final report to lawmakers by the end of the year, which would guide them on future legislation to establish a market for cannabis. Under Vermont’s two-step process of legalization, it could be a while before the state sees its first legal marijuana sale, said Matt Simon, the New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project, a non-profit organization that advocates for cannabis reform around the country.

More at: https://www.yahoo.com/news/vermont-m...193656120.html

Voluntarist - 01-23-2018, 08:24 AM
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xxxxx

osan - 01-23-2018, 09:46 AM
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Legalization = partial FAIL.

DECRIMINALIZE, damn it!

osan - 01-23-2018, 09:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Swordsmyth

Take that Sessions!

That a North Korean missile?

shakey1 - 01-23-2018, 11:56 AM
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dannno - 01-23-2018, 12:04 PM
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Originally Posted by osan

Legalization = partial FAIL.

DECRIMINALIZE, damn it!

The problem is that "decriminalize" in the colloquial sense means that it is still illegal to grow or sell. For a libertarian, the word decriminalize sounds like you can grow 30 plants in your backyard and sell weed to your neighbor. Well, that is never going to happen because they are always going to want to regulate sales to children. But typically decriminalization bills will allow possession of small amounts and that is all.

I've always said they should make legalization bills which criminalize sales to under 18 without a prescription, and then just the regular sales tax.

pcosmar - 01-23-2018, 12:54 PM
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Originally Posted by dannno

I've always said they should make legalization bills which criminalize sales to under 18 without a prescription, and then just the regular sales tax.

Why..
I see no need to regulate it whatsoever.

It is harmless,, and on top of NO Harm,, it is beneficial. for food,for construction,for clothing,for medicine and for art.

It is a gift from God and forbidding it is criminal.

It needs to be part of the environment,, again.

opal - 01-23-2018, 01:00 PM
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I think the word I'd like to see across the board is UNSCHEDULE - get it off the scheduled prohibition list. Regulate the way dandelions are regulated.