Senate leaders in Montpelier say they're pushing to complete work on a bill to allow recreational marjiuana within two weeks and send it over to the House, but key questions must still be worked out.

Advertisement Vermont Senate moves closer to vote on legalizing marijuana Key committees to wrap up work in coming week Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The state Senate is inching closer to a vote on whether Vermont will join Oregon and Washington State and legalize recreational marijuana.At least six committees are holding hearings on elements of a proposal approved by the Judiciary Committee to begin allowing possession and sale of small amounts of marijuana, starting in January 2018.Watch this storyOn Friday, key senators said they hope the full Senate will vote on the bill the week of Feb. 16, so that if it passes the Senate, and it's not yet clear that it will, the House or Representatives will have enough time left in the 2016 Legislative session to act.Gov. Peter Shumlin supports the proposal. But key elements of the bill are still taking shape, including a proposed tax on recreational sale.Senate Finance Chairman Sen. Tim Ashe said his committee is likely to recommend a sales tax rate of between 20 and 37 percent."That sounds pretty good to me," said Bill Lofy, spokesman for Vermont Cannabis Collaborative, a group pushing for legalization. "I think it's really important to keep the tax low, as low as possible. The governor's right about that that we want to do everything we can to eliminate the underground market."Meantime, the Senate Economic Development Committee held hearings Friday on what recreational pot might do to the state's marketing and its tourism industry."(Marijuana) is already here," said Commerce Secretary Pat Moulton. "When one of the top 10 reasons Mad River Glen (ski area) kept its single chair was so you don't have to share your weed, that would suggest that it's already here and I'm not sure it's going to impact the tourism economy that greatly."Moulton and Lofy see potential for the University of Vermont and the state colleges to develop new technology around marijuana testing and therapies that don't exist now."I do see some opportunities here in terms of economic development and job creation," Moulton said.Next week the committee will hear from employers on issues that include whether Vermont rules restricting drug testing would need to be changed were pot to becomes legal."The bill does say there's nothing to require your employer to accommodate somebody using marijuana," said Sen. Richard Sears, the Judiciary Committee chairman.Sears also believes initial estimates for state revenue from marijuana sales was exaggerated -- and is likely to be no more than $25-$30 million annually.Much of that money is expected to be reserved for drug prevention and treatment programs, and to expand the Vermont State Police.