A bill that would legalize marijuana for those 21 and older will receive a public hearing in Vermont’s House Judiciary Committee on Thursday, February 23rd.

The committee will hold their public hearing on House Bill 170 at 1pm on Thursday. The measure would legalize the possession of up to two ounces of cannabis and the personal cultivation of up to two cannabis plants, as well as a regulated system of cannabis retail outlets.

Below is a list of speakers that have been invited by lawmakers to either support or oppose the measure:

Michele Childs, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Council

Matt Simon, Legislative Analyst, Marijuana Policy Project

Major Glenn Hall, Commander, Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Vermont State Police



Robert Sand, Vermont Law School



Greg Nagurney, Attorney, Department of State’s Attorneys & Sheriffs

Laura Subin, Director, Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana

Tim Trevithick, Student Assistance Program, SAM-VT

George Merkel, Chief of Police, Vermont Police Association



Cary Giguere, Agrichemical Program Manager, Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets



Robin Weber, Senior Research Associate, Crime Research Group

Jay Diaz, Staff Attorney, American Civil Liberties Union – Vermont



David Cahill, State’s Attorney, Windsor County

Dr. Jill Rinehart, MD, FAAP, President, American Academy of Pediatrics, Vermont Chapter



Barbara Cimaglio, Deputy Commissioner, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Program,Vermont Department of Health

Shayla Livingston, Public Health Analyst, Department of Health



Marshall Pahl, Appellate and Juvenile Defender, Defender General’s Office



Monique McHenry, Executive Director, VT Patients Alliance

Legislation receiving a public hearing is a necessary step to it being passed out of committee; the vast majority of bills never receive a hearing.

Vermont is one of the five states we believe could legalize cannabis by next year.