By Rob Williams
As you may know, Vermont is poised to become the first state to end cannabis prohibition and legalize and regulate cannabis through thoughtful, phased-in legislation. Governor Shumlin supports cannabis regulation, as does the Vermont Senate, which just passed S.241, a bill to legalize and regulate cannabis here in the Green Mountains. Poll after poll shows that a majority of Vermont citizens support an end to cannabis prohibition and a safer, saner approach to cannabis regulation here in Vermont.
All eyes are now on the Vermont House of Representatives, which takes up the cannabis regulation discussion the week of Monday, March 7. Maxine Grad, D-Moretown, is chair of the House Judiciary Committee where the cannabis discussion most likely will begin. We urge all Mad River Valley citizens who support cannabis regulation to contact Representative Grad and respectfully ask her to ensure that cannabis regulation is thoroughly vetted and passed out of their committee so that it will receive a thorough and democratic discussion on the House floor, given the widespread support for cannabis regulation among Vermonters from across the political spectrum. Please contact Rep. Maxine Grad,
Here are five good reasons why cannabis regulation makes good sense for Vermont:
1. Cannabis prohibition has been a failure: The federal war on drugs has made cannabis public enemy No. 1, despite cannabis being a safer, less addictive, less harmful alternative to tobacco and alcohol (both legal and regulated drugs), opiates and other harder schedule one substances. It’s time for a saner approach – legalization and regulation.
2. Cannabis regulation means a safer Vermont: In poll after poll, young Vermonters tell us that cannabis is easier to access than alcohol or tobacco (both legal and regulated drugs). Regulating cannabis will not only make it harder to obtain for Vermont youth, it will, over time, turn Vermont’s underground illegal cannabis economy into a legal, regulated, taxed and transparent cannabis economy providing more benefits for more Vermonters.
3. Cannabis regulation means Vermont jobs: As many as 4,000 new Vermont jobs, according to the RAND Report commissioned by the Vermont state government.
4. Cannabis regulation means agricultural opportunities: And will ensure a more diverse working landscape and more crop options for hardworking Vermont farmers.
5. Cannabis regulation means Vermont tax revenue: Tax money that will be used to fund drug prevention, education and treatment programs with a focus on opiate addiction.
To find out more, visit VTCC at www.regulatecannabisvt.org and raise your voice!
