Still up for consideration in the House on Tuesday afternoon is a separate measure to decriminalize home cultivation of up to two marijuana plants. It’s unclear whether that will pass.
But first came a vote on the Senate’s version. By a 121-28 vote, the House nixed all provisions related to legalizing, taxing and regulating marijuana from the bill.
Though that effort passed the Senate 17-12 and had the support of Gov. Peter Shumlin, House leaders had long signaled that legalization lacked support among their members. Tuesday’s vote affirmed that.
Rep. Chris Pearson (P-Burlington) tried to persuade members otherwise, questioning why it’s OK for Vermonters to sip chardonnay in the evening but not use cannabis. It’s time to
“We are just in a wildly unhealthy area of dialogue about what it means and what it doesn’t mean,” Pearson said.
Rep. John Bartholomew (D-Hartland) agreed. “Prohibition has not worked and never will. It’s time to try something else,” he said.
House Judiciary Committee chair Maxine Grad (D-Moretown), whose committee has struggled to embrace legalization, argued that the Senate bill would open the door to a large-scale commercial marijuana market. “S. 241 is not the Vermont way,” she said.
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Let’s remember this vote. I will. My understanding of the “Vermont way” was that democracy still mattered and still worked. Although a clear majority of Vermonters support legalization, the House voted against it. I think the House misunderstands the “Vermont way.”
Only quotes from legalization supporters….. Why did it not pass?
Large scale growing operations may not be the “Vermont way”, but I would argue that incarceration of individuals for a victim-less crime is even less representative of the “Vermont way”. I also would imagine that the smokers out there really don’t care where their dank comes from, so long as it’s easy and legal to procure. I, however, lack the wisdom of the House members that voted “nay”; apparently a badly needed revenue stream isn’t that important. Taxing me into poverty, apparently is however. But alas, I’m bidding this state farewell next year. I’m just another young Vermonter that’s leaving because of our inept government.
We have a serious problem with Opiate addiction. So why keep sending pot users to dealers who also stock and sell far worse drugs?
Why keep millions of dollars in sales un-taxed?
Beats me. Perhaps you should find out how your rep voted and ask them.
“Not the Vermont way?” Marijuana production is essentially agriculture. Legal agriculture supporting legal jobs and a taxable, regulated distribution system isn’t the Vermont way? I’m thinking we should change our way.
All of this seems based on the notion that marijuana somehow doesn’t already exist. But in fact we already have a large-scale commercial marijuana market. We just aren’t in a position to regulate or tax it. I’m not seeing the wisdom.
It’s not just “democracy”, it’s representative democracy. Representatives are responsible for doing the right thing even if a majority of the citizens want them to do the wrong thing. That’s the Vermont way and I think flaws in the proposal made the House action the right thing in this case.
I’m for legalization, but this was a giveaway to corporations and large-scale growers. It limited product marketing to raw cannabis only, so there’d have been no option for innovation. It was unfair to regular citizens, and it guaranteed the continuation of some form of black market, since individuals could not grow for themselves, and costs will surely go sky-high for retail pot. Passing a bad law will mean we’re stuck with a bad law until a new legislature corrects the problems. Just like the Civil Union. It was compromise that led to a bad, unfair law, that was in place for 10 years before it was corrected to be full marriage for all to be fair to all Vermonters.
I have been told the it is the number 1 cash crop in Vermont. If people are so isolated from the facts I could believe it, BUT these are the people we chose to lead our state guess we are the ones in the dark over their do they own jails, like the Bush family? What are their motives and sources of information? We have come a long way from the old hippie days where is this attitude come from. I find it hard to believe people from 75 down have not experienced and know it can be beneficial. People are serving more time incarcerated for pot than child molesters how!why!. We need decriminalization and more time for law enforcement to other more serious crimes like Wall Street. crimes!
Look at Colorado people! This State needs all the revenue it can get.
Yea!
Kudos to the reps who voted against pot’s legalization and not being bullied (Gov. Shumlin) in approving a quickly thrown together bill JUST to increase VT’s revenue. There are other ways to increase our revenue and attract businesses to stay in Vermont. Before all the pro-marijuana smokers start crucifying me with their dislikes, please let me make a few points. Do I think pot has medicinal values? Yes and that access should be easier to obtain for those who really need it. Do I think that a small amount used for responsible adult recreation be decriminalized? I think so. One commentator referred to Colorado and it’s revenues. I have friends who live there and complain about the number of dispensaries that seem to be on every corner now. Colorado was also quick to approve a bill for revenue. Years later, Colorado is still grappling with revenue distribution, the promises they made and a huge surplus of pot and what to do with it. I am not a stranger to smoking weed. In the past I have experienced the euphoric feeling but I have also witnessed the bad side of smoking pot. The robbing of ambition and it leading to harder drugs when that buzz wasn’t enough. There is a reason why our police force and drug counsellors, who are on the front line, do not support legalization as we are already facing a serious drug problem. I also worry about our younger generation. It IS a mind altering drug and science proves that the earlier it is used, the more it stunts the brain’s growth, and they are our future generation. Let’s take the time for more research and table this bill so we can make a well-educated decision that benefits all….
It seems to me that the problem with marijuana is the hypocrisy with which the issue of legalization is treated. We are a society which allows (and in some quarters celebrates) alcohol abuse, and which promotes the profiteering of pharmaceutical companies. I believe that marijuana is a substance which can provide great benefit to individuals when they are allowed to grow and use it in moderation or by prescription, and taking more aggressive steps toward legalization will reduce our community’s vulnerability to alcoholism and opiate abuse.