Vermont becomes 9th State to legalize Recreational Marijuana

Posted by Sagar Satapathy on July 05, 2018.

Vermont became the ninth state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana.

According to the Burlington Free Press, Vermont was the first state to legalize recreational marijuana through its state legislature.

As per the new law went into effect Sunday, adults over 21 will be able to possess up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of marijuana, two mature marijuana plants and four immature, or nonflowering, plants

However, the new law does not set up a system to tax or regulate the production of marijuana.

The law has no provision for pot shops, meaning users must either grow it themselves or buy it from illicit dealers.

People, under the new law, are still barred from smoking marijuana in public places. Therefore, the renters need permission from their landlords to use and to grow the plant at their homes.

“The social paradigm shift has not moved far enough in Vermont to get to regulation and taxation,” said Laura Subin, director of the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana.

Vermont has no ballot initiative process, so advocates plan to press reluctant lawmakers to authorize retail marijuana sales during next year’s legislative session, she said.

The decision came in the face of increasing opposition toward marijuana from the White House.

Vermont decriminalized marijuana in 2013 and legalized medical marijuana in 2004.

The District of Columbia also has legalized recreational marijuana.

Alaska, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada, Oregon and Washington are the other states where recreational marijuana is legal.

The District of Columbia also has legalized recreational marijuana.

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