Republican Governor Phil Scott has signed a bill that will make Vermont the first state in the country to legalize marijuana through an act of the Legislature.
Scott said in a news release that he signed the bill with mixed emotions.
Scott said he thinks what Vermonters do behind closed doors is their own business, so long as they’re not hurting anyone. But he said he’s also worried about anything that might increase demand for the drug.
The Vermont law will allow people 21 and over to legally possess up to an ounce of cannabis. People will also be allowed to grow up to two mature cannabis plants at home.
Selling marijuana will still be illegal in Vermont, but many lawmakers say they’ll continue to pursue a taxed and regulated system for retail sales of cannabis products. Scott made clear on Monday that he won’t allow a commercial marijuana marketplace in Vermont until the state has more rigorous prevention and highway safety mechanisms in place.
The legalization law will not take effect until July 1 of this year. Vermonters will face civil and criminal penalties for possession and cultivation until that date.
This report comes from The New England News Collaborative, eight public media companies joining together to tell stories of a changing region with support from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.
