Little chance seen for VT legalizing pot this year

MONTPELIER – A state senator has filed a long-promised bill to legalize marijuana in the state, but the chairs of two key legislative committees are giving it little chance for passage this year.

Sen. David Zuckerman's bill would allow a Vermont resident 21 or older to possess up to an ounce of marijuana, two mature marijuana plants, seven immature plants, and any additional marijuana produced by the plants. Personal cultivation would have to be in a secure, indoor facility.

Zuckerman, a Progressive/Democrat senator who represents Chittenden County, believes that responsible use of marijuana should be treated like responsible use of alcohol.

"Vermont's prohibition of marijuana has failed," Zuckerman said in a statement. "Vermonters understand that marijuana is objectively less harmful than alcohol, and they are ready for a new approach."

"Part of the goal here is to actually undermine the illicit market," Zuckerman said.

Realistically speaking, Zuckerman hopes to see the bill pass next year, and he plans to work this year to start conversations and build momentum toward passage.

The 44-page bill contains provisions to address some concerns about marijuana legalization, such as the murky standards for youth-oriented marketing.

Under the bill, edible marijuana products would be prohibited from being packaged to appeal to people under 21 years old or to imitate non-marijuana products.

Marijuana would be labeled with messages such as "Consumption of marijuana impairs your ability to drive a car and operate machinery," "Keep away from children," and "Possession of marijuana is illegal under federal law."

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The bill also envisions a state Board of Marijuana Control and creates a regulatory structure for the cultivation, production, testing and retail sale of marijuana.

The state's general fund would take 60 percent of tax revenue from marijuana under Zuckerman's proposal; the rest would be dedicated for uses including alcohol, tobacco and marijuana education for youth and adults, criminal justice and substance abuse treatment, law enforcement, and marijuana research at the University of Vermont.

Zuckerman estimates that the tax structure would lead to roughly $20-25 million of revenue from in-state sales.

He expects a similar marijuana legalization bill to be introduced in the House of Representatives.

Sen. Richard Sears and Rep. Maxine Grad, the chairs of the Senate and House Judiciary committees, respectively, said they doubted such legislation would pass this year. They said there won't be enough time to give the complex issue adequate review. Zuckerman also acknowledged in an interview the measure has little chance of passing this year, with about a month to go before a key deadline for it to advance.

"I've heard comments from a variety of people that it is inevitable that this will happen," Zuckerman said. "Some of the question is when, and what will the process be to get there?"

Bills that don't pass this year — the first year of the two-year legislative term — are held over and can be acted on in the second. Zuckerman called passing the marijuana bill "a realistic possibility this biennium."