On January 16, 2015 the ball got rolling on the legalization of marijuana. Researchers from the Rand Corporation presented Vermont legislators with a comprehensive report. The report brought forth the options the state of Vermont has when it comes to marijuana regulation. The report, which was authorized by the legislature in 2014, revealed that approximately 80,000 Vermonters are regular marijuana users, and that between regular and irregular users, $125 million to $225 million is spent each year buying cannabis from illicit markets. The researchers estimated that Vermont could reap between $20 million and $75 million per year in taxes if it decides to regulate.
Following the release of the report, Governor Peter Shumlin stated that he “favors legalization and [wishes] for the Vermont state legislature to move forward in a responsible fashion.” Additionally, Commissioner of Public Safety, Keith Flynn, has said he supports taking “a hard look” at the idea. Health Commissioner, Harry Chen has said he is “open” to the idea also. Attorney General, William Sorrell and many legislators have gone further by saying they support regulating marijuana in a similar way to alcohol. Clearly, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the prospects for ending marijuana prohibition in Vermont.
Legislation is moving quickly as the bill has passed committee and shall be presented to the State Senate floor by law supporter Senator David Zuckerman. Zuckerman told USA Today, “I think there is a wait-and-see attitude on the part of many, but there’s also a let’s-get-there-and-get-it-done attitude.”
Students of Southern Vermont College (SVC) have responded to the news favorably, in fact many have used phrases such as “about time” and “it’s been a long time coming” to express their exasperation over the length of time it has taken the United States as a whole to legalize.
With marijuana already available for purchase in dispensaries located in Colorado, Washington and even our nation’s capital Washington D.C. the clock is ticking towards the time where all fifty states will see the benefits of legalization. However, students at SVC will be more than happy to at least be able to smoke regularly in the state of Vermont.