Vermont Legalization Bill Clears Another Senate Committee

By Zachary Babin - February 16, 2016

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — A bill to legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana in Vermont by adults in the Vermont legalization bill has cleared a second state Senate committee.

The Finance Committee voted six-to-one on Friday to approve a measure previously passed by the Judiciary Committee on January 29. The Finance Committee, which writes tax policy for the state, added a 25 percent tax to marijuana before approving its version of the bill.

The measure now goes to the Appropriations Committee, which needs to review the costs associated with regulating the drug in Vermont. Then it would require approval by the full Senate before moving to the House, where its chances are said to be far from certain.