Vermont decriminalization bills introduced with support from Governor Shumlin
Governor Peter Shumlin’s support for decriminalization became a major issue in the 2012 election season, but challenger Randy Brock’s anti-decriminalization stance did not appear to earn him many votes, as Shumlin cruised to an easy victory in November. Shumlin’s re-election, along with positive outcomes in several House and Senate races, should have decriminalization advocates feeling very good about the prospect of passing a decriminalization law in 2013.
In late January, a tripartisan group of nine senators introduced S.48, which would reduce the penalty for possessing an ounce or less of marijuana to a fine of up to $100. Then, in early February, a tripartisan group of 39 representatives introduced H. 200, which would reduce the penalty for possessing up to two ounces, and as many as seven plants (two of which may be mature), to a fine of up to $100.
Please click here to contact your representatives and senators and ask them to support reducing penalties for marijuana possession!
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Poll shows support for reducing possession penalties
A Public Policy Polling survey of Vermont voters conducted February 11-12, 2012 showed strong support for reducing marijuana possession penalties. Sixty-three percent support “a change in the law to provide for a fine of up to $150 without jail time for those who possess an ounce or less of marijuana for personal use.” (Current Vermont law provides for a jail term of up to six months and a fine of up to $500.) Only 29% said they opposed the reform.
The poll also found that 74% of respondents believe marijuana is as safe or safer than alcohol. Only 15% of those surveyed said they believe alcohol is safer. Complete poll results are available here.
Dispensary implementation moves forward
In 2011, with support from Gov. Shumlin, we had a chance to improve on Vermont’s medical marijuana law and we took it. With the help of patients and advocates throughout Vermont, the legislature passed S. 17, a bill authorizing up to four medical marijuana dispensaries, meaning patients in Vermont will finally have a safe, legal way to obtain their medicine without having to grow their own.
The department received five applications this year, and it announced September 12 that two applicants have been granted conditional approval. One applicant, Champlain Valley Dispensary, has been approved for Burlington and hopes to be open and serving patients within six months. A second applicant, Patients First Inc., has been approved for Waterbury. The department determined that other applicants did not yet meet its standards. If four applicants are not approved this year, the application process will be reopened in 2013.
To view the rules for the Vermont Marijuana Program (VMP), please visit the Vermont Criminal Information Center website.
70% of Burlington voters say they support ending marijuana prohibition
In the 2012 general election, voters in Burlington overwhelmingly approved a ballot question indicating support for ending marijuana prohibition. Seventy percent of Burlington voters said “Yes” to this question: “Shall the people of Burlington support the legalization, regulation, and taxation of all cannabis and hemp products?”
Congratulations to BTVGreen for getting this question on the ballot and getting it passed!
Non-medical marijuana laws in Vermont
Vermont’s marijuana laws (18 V.S.A. § 4230) are relatively harsh given the state’s relaxed reputation. Possession of less than two ounces of marijuana is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500. The good news: first-time offenders are eligible for deferral of their sentence. The bad news: second time offenders can be sentenced to two years incarceration and a fine of up to $2,000.
So, are these harsh penalties working? According to this excellent summary by Jon Gettman, Ph.D., the arrest rate for marijuana offenses in Vermont went up over 4% annually from 2003 to 2007 — but rather than reducing marijuana use, past-month use rates actually went up during this period, from 52,000 to 54,000. This shows, as MPP has known for some time, that marijuana penalties and enforcement patterns have little to no impact on marijuana use rates. The state could better protect its citizens by decriminalizing marijuana and freeing up valuable law enforcement resources to combat violent crimes and other real threats to public safety. It takes less than a minute to ask your legislators to do just that.
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