The House shot down a Senate bill Tuesday that would have legalized the sale and possession of marijuana starting in 2018.
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
change the conversation about marijuana, he said.
“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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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.
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….