The Vermont Senate has given final approval to S. 241, a bill that would legalize cannabis in the state and regulate its possession, distribution, and cultivation by adults who are 21 or older. The law now moves to the House of Representatives.
S. 241 would legalize the possession of up to an ounce of marijuana. It would also establish a regulatory system that would include licensed cultivation sites, testing laboratories, and retail storefronts. The law does not currently allow commercial edibles production or include the home cultivation of cannabis, though a specialized commission would further investigate both of these issues if the bill becomes law.
“We applaud the Senate for advancing this important legislation,” said Matt Simon, the Marijuana Policy Project’s New England political director. “Like most Vermonters, most members of the Senate recognize that prohibition is a failed policy. They voted to regulate marijuana because it will make our communities safer.”
“We are confident that House members who take an objective look at the evidence will arrive at the same conclusion as their colleagues in the Senate,” he said.
Poll results were released on Monday by Vermont Public Radio that indicate 55% of Vermonters approve of a law to end cannabis prohibition — only 32% said they opposed such a move.