Status: Cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use.
Most Recent Vote/Upcoming Legislation: S.54
Description: Establishes a state-regulated retail marijuana market by 2021: Licenses for growers would be issued by December 2020.
History of Vermont Cannabis Legislation
2004: Vermont legalized medical marijuana under Governor James Douglas with Senate Bill 76.
2013: Governor Peter Shumlin signed HB200 which decriminalized the possession of 1 oz. of cannabis or less to a civil infraction.
2017: The Vermont house and the senate both voted on S.22 which would bring cannabis legalization to fruition.
2018: The Vermont house passed H.511, an amended version of S.22 on January 4, 2018. It legalized adult personal possession of 1 oz. of cannabis and allows individuals to cultivate two plants. The senate passed the bill on January 10, 2018 and it was signed by Governor Phil Scott on January 22. Implementing cannabis infrastructure is an ongoing process in the state.
Senator Patrick Leahy, Democrat
Stance: Pro Medical Marijuana, against recreational.
Phone: (202) 224-4242
Email/Website: www.leahy.senate.gov/contact/
Address: 437 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Next Election: 2022
Senator Bernard Sanders, Democrat
Stance: Pro full legalization on state and federal level.
Phone: (202) 224-5141
Email/Website: www.sanders.senate.gov/contact/
Address: 332 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510
Next Election: 2024
Representative Peter Welch, Democrat, At Large
Stance: Pro full legalization on state level, against federal legalization.
Phone: (202) 225-4115
Email/Website: https://welch.house.gov/
Address: 2187 50 Independence Ave SW, Washington, DC 20515