Vermont may be First to Legalize Marijuana via Legislation

Vermont could soon be feeling the Bern… err, burn – it could become the first American state to legalize recreational marijuana use through legislation. Other states had legalized smoking the plant via voter initiatives.

“It sends an important message that legislatures don’t have to be afraid of this, it’s not a third rail anymore,” said Jeff Laughlin, a software programmer from Barre who is in his 30s.

According to a recent Vermont Public Radio poll, 55% of Vermont residents supported the bill. Only 32% were against. Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska all legalized marijuana use via voter initiatives, while four other states are set to vote on the issue.

State reps could take up a bill passed by the state Senate last month, which would legalize the purchase and use of the plant by adults above the age of 21, in the year 2018. The bill however, still prohibits users from actually growing marijuana at home, or selling foods containing the plant. A tax of 25% would also be exacted from sales of the plant, money which will fund drug law enforcement and drug education programs.

The problem is that politicians have to pass the bill by the end of May, and nobody knows if there is sufficient support in the Democrat-controlled House to finish the job.

“It makes for a much more thoughtful and measured approach,” said a sponsor of the senate bill, State Senator Jeanette White. “We got to work out the details, we got to ask the questions first and put the whole infrastructure in place before it happens.”

Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark notes that many people already use marijuana illegally; unless the laws are reformed, this sort of minor illegal activity could prevent people from being willing to aid law enforcement when they are investigating serious crimes.

“If it’s one in eight, to me that tells me that we need to change, that society for the most part is accepting it. If 12 or 13 percent of the population is not being open with law enforcement when we’re out trying to investigate serious crimes, then that is holding us back from working with our communities.”

The bill, however, isn’t without its critics.

“Many of our members are opposed to this proposal and I don’t know that it can be changed enough for them to change their minds,” said the House Republican leader, Representative Donald Turner. “I don’t feel there is a good argument for legalizing it at this point.”

Executive director for Smart Alternatives for Marijuana – Vermont, Debby Haskins, believes that Vermont should first tackle the problem of rising rates of opioid drug usage. “The questions that keep coming up for me is, how will this make Vermont healthier and how will this improve the quality of life? I don’t think this bill does it. It’s the wrong direction for us to be heading.”

Sources: Reuters

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