Vermont to Be First State to Legalize Marijuana Through Legislation
Vermont is set to legalize adult use of marijuana. The House of Representatives voted on the 11th of Janurary to legalize possession and home cultivation of marijuana plants. The measure would not allow marijuana sales, but the Green Mountain State is poised to make history as the first state in the nation to legalize marijuana by legislation, as opposed to being done by the popular vote. Vermount will become the ninth state in the country to allow recreational marijuana.
Every other state, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Maine and Massachusetts, along with Washington, D.C., bypassed reluctant lawmakers to legalize recreational marijuana via ballot initiative.
Republican Gov. Phil Scott is planning to sign the bill this week. The legislation would allow adults (21 and up) to possess up to one ounce of marijuana or five grams of hash, and for the cultivation of up to two mature and four immature plants in one’s home. It would remain illegal to smoke cannabis in a public place or while operating a vehicle.
The bill doesn’t permit commercial sales.
All eight states that legalized marijuana via ballot initiatives have or will soon have regulated sales and cultivation up and running. Only Washington D.C., which legalized adult use in 2014, doesn’t have a regulated market. While selling cannabis products is technically not permitted in D.C., a thriving ‘gift economy’ has emerged thanks to a loophole: A store can sell a T-shirt for $45, and give some cannabis as a ‘gift’ with the purchase.”