Proposal supported by state's top law enforcement officials would replace criminal penalties for simple marijuana possession with a civil fine similar to a traffic ticket
By Steve Elliott
Hemp News
The Vermont House Committee on Judiciary approved on a 9-2 vote Wednesday a bill that would decriminalize possession of limited amounts of marijuana. The full House is expected to vote on the measure on Friday.
Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell and Public Safety Commissioner Keith Flynn testified in favor of the bill, and Governor Pete Shumlin has also expressed support for such a proposal.
"The people of Vermont and the state's top law enforcement officials agree that it is time to adopt a more sensible approach to marijuana policy," said Matt Simon, a legislative analyst for the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). "Police and prosecutors have more important things to worry about than arresting and prosecuting adults simply for possessing a substance that is objectively less harmful than alcohol."
H. 200, introduced by Rep. Christopher Pearson (B-Burlington), with a tri-partisan group of 38 cosponsors, would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and replace them with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket. Those under age 21 would be required to perform community service and to attend a drug awareness and safety program.
