Vermont's Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) on June 6 signed into law a bill passed by the state legislature that decriminalizes the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis or five grams of hashish. Shumlin's signature make Vermont the 17th state to remove criminal penalties for possessing small quantities of cannabis—including all of its neighboring New England states except New Hampshire. "This change just makes common sense," Shumlin said as he signed the bill. "Our limited resources should be focused on reducing abuse and addiction of opiates like heroin and meth rather than cracking down on people for having very small amounts of marijuana." (Drug War Chronicle, June 6)
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Vermont kills legalization bill
The Vermont House rejected a marijuana legalization proposal on May 3, scuttling the hopes of legalization advocates for major drug reform after promising votes in the state Senate earlier this year. If passed, Vermont would have been the first state to legalize marijuana through the legislature, rather than by referendum. (HT)Vermont gov to veto legalization bill
Gov. Phil Scott (R) said May 24 that he will veto a bill to make Vermont the ninth state to legalize recreational cannabis, but said he is willing to work with the legislature on a compromise. (AP)Vermont House Republicans block legalization bill
An effort to legalize cannabis in Vermont appears dead for the year after Gov. Phil Scott's veto, because the House of Representatives refused to take up a new version of the bill. (Burlington Free Press, June 21)