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Vt. Legislature Becomes First to Approve Marijuana
Posted by CN Staff on May 10, 2017 at 13:43:06 PT
By April McCullum, Free Press Staff Writer 
Source: Burlington Free Press
Montpelier -- Vermont has become the first state to have both chambers of its state legislature approve a recreational marijuana legalization bill.Vermont's bill, which would legalize small amounts of marijuana possession in 2018 and hint at the possibility of a taxed and regulated legal marijuana market, was approved by the Vermont House of Representatives on Wednesday afternoon by a vote of 79-66. The bill has already been approved by the Senate and will go directly to Gov. Phil Scott.
Other states have legalized recreational marijuana following a voter referendum, but no state has legalized marijuana through the legislative process, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures."I think it reflects that Vermont elected officials are more in touch with our constituents than a lot of elected officials in other states," said Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, who has worked on marijuana issues for the majority of his political career. "I think the public is ahead of us, but elected officials tend to be cautious when it comes to change."Wednesday's vote came after the Judiciary Committee voted 8-3 to support S.22, which was pitched as a compromise between the House and Senate approaches on marijuana. The proposal incorporates H.170, the House-supported bill that would legalize possession of up to one ounce of marijuana or several plants, but delays the effective date one year to July 2018.The bill also sets up a nine-member commission to study the best way to regulate marijuana in the future."There's no slam dunk of any kind," said Rep. Barbara Rachelson, D-Burlington, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, speaking about the prospect of a legal marijuana market. "It just is doing work that could be used next year or in subsequent years."Opponents of the bill worried that it lacked safeguards to prevent use of marijuana among people younger than age 21."The data indicates that our youth are using marijuana more infrequently, and I don't think we should put that in jeopardy at this point in time," said Rep. Scott Beck, R-St. Johnsbury, who voted against the bill.Under the proposal, nine people would be responsible for drafting a system to tax and regulate marijuana and submitting the plan to the Legislature. The end result would need to be a marijuana regulatory system that "increases public safety and reduces harm to public health."The Marijuana Regulatory Commission would include the following people: two members of the House of Representatives and one member of the public appointed by House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, two members of the Senate and one member of the public appointed by the Senate's Committee on Committees, Attorney General T.J. Donovan or his designee, Agriculture Secretary Anson Tebbetts or his designee, and one member appointed by Gov. Phil Scott."The administration will be at the table, along with the attorney general and others," said Rep. Maxine Grad, D-Moretown, chairwoman of the House Judiciary Committee. "With Massachusetts and Maine starting up in 2018, I think we need to continue this conversation."Republican Tom Burditt, R-West Rutland, was initially cautious about any legislation relating to government regulation of marijuana but changed his mind and supported the bill in Wednesday's committee vote. The remaining three Republicans on the committee were opposed.Gov. Phil Scott, who has repeatedly expressed concerns about marijuana and highway safety. Scott has the choice to sign the bill, veto the bill, or allow it to become law without his signature.The first-term Republican governor declined to say prior to the House vote on Wednesday whether he would veto the legislation."I don't believe this is a priority for Vermont," Scott said. "I believe that what we should be doing is trying to find ways to protect those on our highways, deliver a level of impairment that is consistent throughout the Northeast, as well as to address the edibles for our kids, before we move forward with legalization. Having said that, I'm going to review the bill as it's passed."This article will be updated.Source: Burlington Free Press (VT) Author: April McCullum , Free Press Staff Writer Published: May 10, 2017Copyright: 2017 Burlington Free Press Address: PO Box 10, Burlington, VT 05402 Contact: letters bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com Website: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/a4ByFw8cCannabisNews -- Cannabis Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/cannabis.shtml 
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Comment #7 posted by Hope on May 12, 2017 at 14:18:53 PT
We don't have that in Texas.
"I think it reflects that Vermont elected officials are more in touch with our constituents than a lot of elected officials in other states," said Lt. Gov. David Zuckerman, who has worked on marijuana issues for the majority of his political career. "I think the public is ahead of us, but elected officials tend to be cautious when it comes to change."
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Comment #6 posted by John Tyler on May 12, 2017 at 06:02:58 PT
Republicans
The Republicans are well known for their hypocrisy and their loyalty to the party over logic, common sense, common decency love of humanity, or love of country. Maybe, their overwhelming greed will motivate them to do the right thing, even if it is for the wrong reason, but I assume some are good people. 
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Comment #5 posted by John Tyler on May 12, 2017 at 05:51:14 PT
Meanwhile down in Fla.
Down in Florida things are happening. I saw this article in the Orlando Sentinel http://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-nsf-medical-marijuana-florida-buds-20170510-story,amp.html. 
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Comment #4 posted by Sam Adams on May 11, 2017 at 13:04:47 PT
exciting news
wow, this could be a major breakthrough. The law is a little weak but Vermont could be the first legislature to pass this. The governor is pretty quiet, I wouldn't be surprised if he lets it pass. It will come down to millions of dollars in tax revenue.  There must be stakeholders in state govt. lusting after the new revenue and lobbying the governor.It would be a fitting distinction for Vermont, they are most likely the biggest weed-loving state that has yet to legalize.
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Comment #3 posted by Hope on May 11, 2017 at 08:19:55 PT
I think of it as "Party think". 
They are so in with being a Conservative and terrified of being branded a Liberal (OMG!)and being Republican that they have "Party think". It's abnormal thinking. They've joined up with a group, they are in a club, a mob, and it's so exciting. They go along with it all... without even giving it serious thought. Just swallowing the propaganda and group think and party think lock, stock, and barrel. In other words... they bought it all. Personally, politically, and other ways, I have always liked to shop around. They don't, or can't. Lock, stock, and barrel. 
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Comment #2 posted by The GCW on May 10, 2017 at 21:24:44 PT
Vincent,
I and many here can relate to what You are feeling.I know and believe there are some good republicans BUT they are overwhelmed by what seems like a majority of bad people. & today that's the best case scenario. -The one constant pattern is republicans support caging responsible adults for using cannabis at a higher rate than other political parties.
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Comment #1 posted by Vincent on May 10, 2017 at 16:02:10 PT:
Republicans
Did you notice that the "no" votes came from the Republicans? What is it with those people? They are always such party-poopers. In the US Congress, the Republicans always run that "I'm a States rights guy" bull...they support ending abortion nationwide, they support discrimination against people that they don't like, etc. However, if a State chooses to legalize reefer, or same-sex-marriage, or abortion, right away they wanna call the Feds!!! Such phonies.
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