Vermont AG: Take more time on marijuana bill

April McCullum | Burlington Free Press

Show Caption Hide Caption VIDEO: Gov. Scott on why he'll veto marijuana bill Gov. Phil Scott said he's sending the marijuana legalization bill, S.22, back to lawmakers with suggestions. He says the bill doesn't do enough to protect children, among other concerns.

WILLISTON - Vermont's attorney general is worried that a legal marijuana bill could be rushed through the Legislature during a special veto session.

T.J. Donovan believes some form of marijuana legalization is inevitable — but he says lawmakers should focus on the state budget when they return to Montpelier on June 21-22.

Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a marijuana legalization bill but said lawmakers could find a compromise during the June veto session. Scott has also pledged to veto the state budget and property tax bills because of a dispute over teacher health care.

More: Vermont marijuana veto: What's next

Gov. Scott vetoes legal marijuana, but summer could bring compromise

"Here's my concern: Two days isn't a lot of time," Donovan said Wednesday after an unrelated news conference in Williston. "We need a budget first."

The attorney general has taken no formal position on the marijuana bill.

Donovan said he is ambivalent about removing penalties for marijuana possession in July 2018, as the bill that passed the Legislature would do. He wants Vermont to "go slow" on setting up a commercial marijuana market after considering issues such as public safety, a legal threshold for impaired driving, and taxation.

The bill that passed the Legislature would have created a commission to examine marijuana regulation and sales and report back by November 1. Scott says he wants to extend that timeline to at least one year. Donovan agrees.

"The commission should be as long as it takes to get this thing done," Donovan said.

After the veto, Scott met with lawmakers and marijuana legalization advocates for what he called "very productive" discussions.

If no bill passes, Scott said Wednesday that he would consider setting up a marijuana regulation commission through an executive order.

Contact April McCullum at 802-660-1863 or amccullum@freepressmedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @April_McCullum.

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