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WEBVTT . BRIAN/STEPH, TODAY THE SENATE APPROVED THE BILL 23 TO 5 LIVE IN MONTPELIER TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN. . BRIAN/STEPH, TODAY THE SENATE APPROVED THE BILL 23 TO 5 BRIAN/STEPH, TODAY THE SENATE APPROVED THE BILL 23 TO 5. NOW INSTEAD OF "MARIJUANA," THE BILL CALLS IT CANNABIS... AND THE LEGISLATION WOULD CREATE A 'CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD.' THE BOARD WOULD, STARTING IN 2021, WOULD REGULATE ANY GROWING, TESTING OR SELLING OF CANNABIS. SELLERS WOULD HAVE TO GET A LICENSE. THERE WOULD ALSO BE A 16 PERCENT EXCISE NBC5 NEWS AT 5:00 STARTS NOW VERMONT IS ONE STEP CLOSER TO MAKING MONEY ON RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA. GOOD EVENING EVERYONE. I'M BRIAN COLLERAN. AND I'M STEPHANIE GORIN. STATE SENATORS GAVE PRELIMINARY APPROVAL TO THE BILL THIS AFTERNOON. IT SETS UP A SYSTEM TO TAX AND REGULATE THE SALE OF POT. NBC FIVE'S RENEE WUNDERLICH IS LIVE IN MONTPELIER TO BREAK IT ALL DOWN. . BRIAN/STEPH, TODAY THE SENATE APPROVED THE BILL 23 TO 5. SENATE APPROVED THE BILL 23 TO 5. NOW INSTEAD OF "MARIJUANA," THE BILL CALLS IT CANNABIS... AND THE LEGISLATION WOULD CREATE A 'CANNA

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A bill making its way through the Vermont Legislature would tax and regulate recreational cannabis in the state.The Senate approved the bill, which uses the term cannabis, not marijuana, passed on a 23-5 vote Thursday.The legislation would create a cannabis control board, which would, starting in 2021, would regulate any growing, testing or selling of cannabis.Sellers would have to get a license.There would be a 16 percent excise tax, and an optional 2 percent tax for towns that choose to host a retailer.The cannabis control board would also regulate edibles and put limits on advertising.These are all things a majority of the Senate support, but some are concerned that this bill doesn't have anything about impaired driving."We have nothing in this bill to address the safety on our highways for our police department and our public safety and that bothers me," said Sen. Dick Mazza, D-Colchester.But Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Sears, D-Bennington, said sobriety on Vermont's roadways has been a problem before legal cannabis."The problem of roadside safety is here whether we legalize or don't legalize. If this bill fails, we still have a problem," Sears said.Other senators expressed concern about the fact the state doesn't know how much of a profit a marijuana market would bring."Imagine if you were a manufacturer, and you are producing a product to sell on the market," Sen. Randy Brock, R-Swanton, said. "You probably would not begin to advertise but you're going to church without knowing what it's going to cost."Others are worried there's nothing in this bill about educating kids against using drugs.To be clear: the tax and regulate bill is only for recreational cannabis -- not hemp or medical marijuana."There are eight states who have legalized cannabis, we're looking at those eight states and they're taxing and regulatory structures are as diverse as anything you've ever seen. There is no right path that says this is the best way to tax, the next way to regulate," Sen. Finance Chairwoman Ann Cummings, D-Montpelier, said.This is the sixth time Vermont's Senate has approved a bill like this.But it could soon be the first time it gets through the House.The final Senate vote is Friday.