Vermont legislature approves marijuana legalization bill

Vermont lawmakers on Wednesday approved a measure to legalize recreational use of marijuana, which if not vetoed by the governor would make the state the ninth to legalize the drug and the first to do so by legislation rather than ballot initiative.

The U.S. state's House of Representatives, by a 79-66 vote, approved the measure, which was attached to a bill increasing penalties for the possession and sale of the opioid drug fentanyl. The state's Senate passed the measure, which will take effect in July 2018 and allow adults 21 and over to buy and use the drug, last week in a 20-9 vote.

Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, has not yet said if he will veto the measure. His spokeswoman, Rebecca Kelley, told Vermont Public Radio on Tuesday that he was still reviewing the bill and had some concerns about people driving while under the influence of the drug.

Kelley did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.

"Vermont lawmakers made history today," said Matt Simon, New England political director for the Marijuana Policy Project advocacy group. "It's time for Vermont to move forward with a more sensible marijuana policy."

Opponents blasted passage of the measure and urged Scott to veto it.

"This is about opening the doors to a new addictive industry being funded by Big Tobacco that will install retail pot shops in Vermont neighborhoods," said Kevin Sabel, president of anti-pot group Smart Approaches to Marijuana. "We will continue to give a voice to parents, and public health and safety experts to encourage Governor Scott to choose people over profit and veto this harmful legislation." 

Neighboring Massachusetts and nearby Maine have also legalized the drug, doing so after statewide ballot initiatives showed that a majority of voters approved the idea. That was not an option in Vermont, where state law does not allow for ballot measures of that kind.

Lawmakers in nearby Rhode Island are contemplating a similar measure.

Approval of the legislation comes at a time that many public health advocates are focusing on the problems caused by rising rates of addition to opioid painkillers including heroin and fentanyl, which has been blamed for soaring numbers of overdose deaths.

Democrats control both houses of the Vermont legislature.

(Reporting by Scott Malone in Boston; Additional reporting by Ian Simpson in Washington; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)