VT Senate pushes forward to make marijuana legal for adults, as well as VT, being the 9th state to do so. This is very significant because the state will be circumventing the ballot box, and making marijuana legal through the legislature.

                   Read full story below, originally published by Matt Schweich x Marijuana Policy Project

Earlier today, the Vermont Senate passed a bill that was approved last week by the state House of Representatives that would make marijuana legal for adults. In December, Gov. Scott indicated that he intends to sign H. 511 into law.

If signed into law, this will be the first time that a state has made marijuana legal through its legislature, rather than at the ballot box. This is an important milestone for our movement. MPP has been working with lawmakers in Vermont for years to bring this about, and we couldn’t have done it without your help!

This bill’s passage comes just days after Attorney General Jeff Sessions rescinded the 2013 Department of Justice guidelines directing federal prosecutors to avoid targeting businesses and individuals that are in compliance with state marijuana laws.

While no one can be exactly sure what federal enforcement will look like in the coming months, it is becoming clear that states will continue to assert their right to decide their own marijuana laws. In the coming years, we expect even more states to join those that have already made marijuana legal. Now is the time for Congress to pass comprehensive legislation that protects state marijuana laws from federal interference.