Vermont’s Republican governor is ready to make history as he prepares to sign H.511 into law, which will legalize recreational marijuana. A long time coming, Gov. Phil Scott said he will sign the legislation before Monday’s deadline.
A noteworthy marijuana moment for the residents of Vermont, Gov. Scott announced Thursday his signing of the law will be a clandestine event. And once the governor puts pen to paper and signs the progressive bill into law, Vermont will become the first state to legalize adult-use marijuana through the state legislature rather than a voter initiative.
After H.511 is signed by Gov. Scott, Vermont residents over the age of 21 will be allowed to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants (4 immature plants and 2 mature plants).
Taking effect July 1, Vermonters will find that some marijuana-related activities are still legally frowned upon in the Green Mountain State.
Per H.511, any commercial cultivation or distribution of marijuana will remain a criminal offense in Vermont.
Accomplished through the state legislature as opposed to a voter initiative, Vermont’s legalization of adult-use marijuana will make them the ninth state to ignore the federal government’s archaic prohibition of marijuana. The first eight states to legalize marijuana in the U.S., in addition to Washington D.C., have all done so via a ballot initiative.
While Jeff Sessions and the Department of Justice grapples with widespread legalization and ignores the will of the American people, Vermont’s neighbor, New Hampshire, is also on the precipice of legalizing recreational marijuana through the same process.
credit:marijuana.com
