The Vermont Model: Why Maine's Industrial Hemp Program Can Succeed

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The Vermont Model: Why Maine's Industrial Hemp Program Can Succeed
AUGUSTA, Maine (Apr. 7, 2016) – In February, the Maine Dept. of Agriculture issued rules for hemp farming as required by a law passed last year. This means that the industrial hemp program is very close to being established in the Pine Tree State …
Read more on Tenth Amendment Center (blog)

Bill To Create Industrial Hemp Pilot Program Clears Panel
A bill to allow the cultivation and distribution of industrial hemp for research was approved by the House Finance Committee on Friday. Senate Bill 2659 would create an industrial hemp pilot program that would allow licensed agents of the state Board …
Read more on Honolulu Civil Beat

Vermont is one step closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

Vermont is one step closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Vermont is one step closer to legalizing marijuana for recreational use. The Vermont Senate approved a bill Thursday that would end marijuana prohibition in the state. The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives for final approval, according …
Read more on Extract

Marijuana Legalization 2016: Eric Holder Says He Wants To Discuss
Colorado and Washington have both legalized recreational marijuana use in the past few years, and now Alaska, Oregon and Washington, D.C., have done so as well. A number of states have passed legislation allowing medical marijuana, and some have …
Read more on International Business Times

Friday: 1 Year Anniversary Of Marijuana Legalization In Washington, D.C.
This Friday marks the one year anniversary of the implementation of marijuana legalization in the District of Columbia. In the 2014 election, District voters overwhelmingly passed Ballot Initiative 71 with 70% support, legalizing the possession of up …
Read more on The Weed Blog (blog)

Vermont Moves Toward Decriminalizing Marijuana

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Vermont’s legislature on Monday approved a bill that would decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana, a measure the state’s governor expects to sign into law in the coming weeks.

The move sets up the New England state to be the 17th in the United States to remove criminal penalties for having small amounts of pot. It does not go as far as Colorado and Washington, which in November became the first states to legalize possession, cultivation and use of marijuana by adults for recreational use.

Vermont’s House of Representatives on Monday gave final approval to a proposal to remove criminal penalties for adult possession of up to one ounce (28.3 grams) of marijuana and instead penalize with a civil fine, similar to a traffic ticket. Persons under age 21 caught with pot would be required to undergo substance abuse screening.

The House’s action upheld changes to the bill last week by Vermont’s Senate, including a provision that decriminalized possession of up to five grams of hashish, a potent pot derivative.

“I applaud the legislature’s action to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana,” said Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin. “Vermonters support sensible drug policies. This legislation allows our courts and law enforcement to focus their limited resources more effectively to fight highly addictive opiates such as heroin and prescription drugs that are tearing apart families and communities.”

A spokeswoman said the governor will sign the bill into law “within a few weeks.”

Currently in Vermont, possessing up to two ounces of pot is a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in jail for a first offense and up to two years in jail for later offenses.

The measure was introduced in early February by state Representative Christopher Pearson of Burlington, with 38 co-sponsors from the Democratic, Republican and Progressive parties. A similar proposal also was introduced in the Senate.

The latest proposal is similar to “decriminalization” laws in California, Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New York, Oregon and Rhode Island, where private, non-medical possession of marijuana is treated as a civil, non-criminal offense, said NORML, a group that supports marijuana legalization.

Five other states — Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, North Carolina and Ohio — treat marijuana possession as a fine-only misdemeanor offense, NORML said.

Alaska also imposes no criminal or civil penalty for the private possession of small amounts of marijuana, after action by its state Supreme Court, said NORML.

Vermont already had legalized pot for medical use in 2004.

Editing by Scott Malone and Nick Zieminski

Source: Reuters (Wire)
Author: Zach Howard
Published: May 13, 2013
Copyright: 2013 Thomson Reuters

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