By Monterey Bud

 

Vermont’s elected officials appear on track to make theirs the first state to legalize marijuana through the legislative process in early 2018.

A potential game-changer for the marijuana reform movement, Vermont’s Coalition to Regulate Marijuana is specifically requesting registered voters contact their elected official in the House of Representatives and “urge them to support passage of H. 511.”

While Vermont’s legislative efforts to legalize adult-use marijuana almost gave the Green Mountain State some historic bragging rights in 2017, Gov. Phil Scott (R) ultimately vetoed legal marijuana in May.

But as the New Year approaches, hopes remain high Vermont’s bill will pass both the House and Senate by early January, and will quickly receive Gov. Scott’s signature. During a December interview with Vermont Public Radio, Scott noted, “I made that commitment.”

A promise made to the people of Vermont, Gov. Scott explained that before he could support any legislative attempt to regulate, tax, and allow the retail sales of recreational marijuana, the matter of driver impairment would need to be addressed.