Vermont becomes the 11th U.S. state with a legal cannabis market

The list of US states that have legalized cannabis welcomes a new member: Vermont.

Republican Governor Phil Scott announced that he will allow a bill legalizing cannabis sales to become law without his signature, according to a press release from the governor's office. Cannabis sales in Vermont are not expected to begin before October 2022.

Although the Vermont legalized the possession and consumption of cannabis in 2018., legislators at the time refused to authorize any framework for the legal production and sale of adult-use cannabis.

In September, Vermont lawmakers gave their final approval to the establishment of cannabis production and sales.

«The importance of Vermont's decision to legalize and regulate cannabis sales, especially in a state with a Republican governor and through the legislative process, cannot be overstated,» said the executive director of Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) Steven Hawking.

«This is a historic decision that adds to the momentum of our movement and underscores its breadth and depth, and most importantly, it comes as other state legislatures are poised to seriously consider legalization in the very near future.»

Although Scott refused to sign the SB54 Bill, stating that it did not address his multiple concerns, he nevertheless allowed the measure to become law. He summarized his doubts in a letter to the Senate:

• He believes the new law creates an «uneven playing field,» which he says will «disproportionately benefit existing Vermont dispensaries.»
• He is not convinced that vaping does not pose a public health threat.
• He would have liked stricter marketing conditions to prevent cannabis from being appealing to minors.
• He considered the timeline «aggressive» for the appointment of members to the cannabis control board by January 8, 2021.
• It advises increasing funding and training for law enforcement to address a potential increase in impaired drivers.

The governor signed a separate bill, the Senate Bill 234, which facilitates the automatic expungement of minor cannabis convictions. This law will take effect on January 1, 2021. The measure is expected to lead to the expungement of the criminal records of more than 10,000 people convicted of possessing 56 grams or less of cannabis. Separate provisions of the bill reduce penalties for offenses involving the possession of more than 28g but less than 56g of cannabis and/or the cultivation of three plants to a civil fine.

Only Washington D.C. remains to have legalized cannabis without regulating its sale.