Pot legalization defies party lines

In national polls, Republicans are still the biggest opponents of marijuana legalization, but that picture is rapidly changing in Vermont and elsewhere.

Vermont Senate Minority Leader Joe Benning is one of the state’s strongest proponents of legalization. The Republican from Caledonia has written opinion letters to local newspapers arguing that legalization will ensure safer pot products and give the state an economic boost. He is a member of a Senate committee that has been hearing testimony and crafting legislation to legalize recreational pot. The committee is scheduled to file the bill in January when the Legislature reconvenes.

“The issue has gone beyond just the ideological question into how to do it mechanically, and that conversation has given us a pretty good handle on what we think should be happening here,” Benning said.

Benning is a longtime supporter of legalized pot.

“I’ve been pretty much under this impression since 1975,” Benning said. “If anything has changed, it’s that the community has taken the time to look at this from a Vermont perspective.”

Younger vs. older Republicans

The changing political landscape is happening among his younger Republican counterparts in the Legislature.

“I think it’s going to be a very mixed bag,” Benning said of Republican support of legal pot. “The younger folks will probably go along with the idea. The older folks probably not.”

At age 25, St. Albans Rep. Corey Parent is the Legislature’s youngest Republican.

Although Parent is opposed to legalization, his view of marijuana has relaxed over time.

“I am more cautious in terms of waiting to see how legalization goes in Colorado,” Parent said. “To me, it is not black and white. I don’t want to see young kids getting in trouble and having a record for rest of their lives.”

Medical marijuana was legalized in Vermont in 2004. Two years ago, the state Legislature removed criminal penalties for possessing less than an ounce of marijuana and imposed civil fines instead.

Growing up in St. Albans, Parent witnessed high school classmates succumb to an opiate epidemic in the community. He saw those same classmates smoking pot. That was one reason Parent at one time was opposed to relaxing marijuana law. He said his view has since shifted toward decriminalization without legalization.

Rep. Paul Dame, R-Essex Junction, began supporting pot legalization in 2010 or 2011 before he was elected to the House.

“One of the reasons I came around to think a little bit differently on it was hearing arguments from other Republicans who actually were in support of it, which surprised me,” Dame said. “I was like, ‘Wait a minute, why are you on this side of the issue?

“A lot of times, we talk about the efficacy of government programs, and if you look at issues surrounding prohibition of marijuana, I don’t know that we have made things much better. It’s time to step back and look at what state government is doing and whether our policies are moving us in the right direction or the wrong direction. I think this is one of the cases where we need to reevaluate what we are doing.”

Vermont Republicans illustrate a national upswing in conservative support of marijuana legalization.

About 39 percent of Republicans favor legalization — a jump of 15 points from five years ago, according to a recent poll by the Pew Research Center.

Among Republican Millennials born between 1981 and 1996, 69 percent support legalization, according to the poll.

Democrats with reservations

Sen. Benning and other legalized pot supporters are up against at least one formidable Democratic opponent in the Legislature — Senate President Pro Tem John Campbell.

“I think there will be an objection by the majority party,” Benning said.

Gov. Peter Shumlin has long spoken in support of legalization, but other key Democrats are facing re-election bids.

“Whether Shumlin decides to go out with this in his pocket, I don’t know, but he is not running for election, and elections do funny things to people,” Benning said.

Campbell, who is a Windsor County deputy state’s attorney, said he opposes legalization but would stop short of using his power to block legislation in the Senate.

“We are in the middle of battling an opiate epidemic, and I think this is a bad message to send,” Campbell said. “While we are trying to curb a dangerous drug, we are trying to make this other drug legal.”

House Speaker Shap Smith, D-Morristown, said he still has reservations about marijuana legalization until he gleans more information about the effect of legalization in other locations. Marijuana is legal in Colorado, Washington, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia.

Sen. David Zuckerman, P/D-Chittenden, introduced legislation in January to legalize recreational pot, but the bill was sidelined before the session adjourned in May.

Sen. Richard Sears and Rep. Maxine Grad, chairs of the Senate and House Judiciary committees, have said there was insufficient time to adequately vet the controversial issue.

“I think it is important to understand whether legalization in other states has reduced the amount of marijuana being sold on the black market and whether those states have used this legalization as an opportunity to educate people about the effects of marijuana and whether it should or should not be used,” Smith said.

Smith said finding out that information and considering it will take time.

“I don’t see marijuana being sold legally in Vermont in 2016,” Smith said.

Past coverage

Vermont to study legalization of marijuana

Mixed feelings on marijuana legalization

Shumlin 'misspoke' on teen marijuana argument

Editorial: Get facts right on marijuana use

This story was first posted online Aug. 3, 2015. Contact Paris Achen at 802-660-1874 and pachen@freepressmedia.com. Follow her at www.twitter.com/parisachen and https://www.facebook.com/ColTrends.

Public meetings on cannabis legalization

Vermont Cannabis Collaborative, Vermont Home Grown and members of the Vermont Senate Committee on Government Operations are hosting the meetings to hear feedback from the public on ways to legalize and regulate recreational marijuana. Two more meetings are planned this year:

• St. Johnsbury: 5-7 p.m. Aug. 20, Catamount Arts Center, 115 Eastern Ave.

• Manchester Center: 5-7 p.m. Sept. 1, Northshire Bookstore, 4869 Main St.