Marijuana Policy Project

Windsor County State's Attorney Robert Sand recently decided to send a 61-year-old woman to court diversion rather than prosecuting her for possessing and cultivating marijuana. The woman had no prior record, and there was no evidence that she was selling marijuana to others. Sand decided that his office's resources would be better spent prosecuting violent criminals and the woman would be better off in treatment than in jail.

Gov. Jim Douglas (R) responded to Sand's commonsense decision by ordering state law enforcement organizations, such as the Vermont State Police and Fish and Wildlife game wardens, to report all major marijuana arrests in Windsor County to the attorney general's office or to the U.S. district attorney.

You can read more about Gov. Douglas' decision here and here, and Rutland Herald editorials about the controversy here and here.

Please take a moment to write a letter to the editor defending Sand's decision and criticizing Gov. Douglas for wasting important law enforcement resources on nonviolent marijuana offenses. You can contact Zane Hurst by e-mailing Zane@mpp.org for help with your letter.

New medical marijuana law now in effect

On July 1, Vermont's new medical marijuana law took effect. This is excellent news for many seriously ill residents across Vermont. The new law allows seriously ill patients suffering from conditions that cause nausea, wasting, chronic pain, or seizures to apply for the program. It also increases the number of plants patients and caregivers are allowed to grow to two mature plants and seven immature plants. To read the full text of the new law, please click here.

There have been some changes made to the application as well. So if you are currently registered in the program, be sure to use the new application when it is time to renew your card. Please click here for more information on the new law and to download the new application forms. There are now separate applications for the patient and the physician. Both sets must be complete to be approved for the program.

Additionally, the new law reduces the nonrefundable annual application fee from $100 to $50. Although the registry fee was reduced, it is still more than some patients can afford. Patients who make below 150% of the poverty line or less, or have other circumstances that require assistance, can apply for MPP to cover their registry ID fees. Click here for more information on obtaining financial assistance for the program.

If you have any further questions about the new law, you can contact Zane Hurst by e-mailing Zane@mpp.org.

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