Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin said on Thursday he would seek to legalize marijuana through the legislative process, instead of through the ballot box, for the first time in the United States.
In his State of the State address, the Democratic governor said more than 80,000 Vermonters reported using marijuana last year, contributing to a black market. He said legislators needed to proceed step by step to regulate marijuana.
“That’s why I will work with you to craft the right bill that thoughtfully and carefully eliminates the era of prohibition that is currently failing us so miserably,” he said, according to a copy of the address on his website.
Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana after holding voter referendums. Vermont is among almost 20 states that have decriminalized marijuana possession.
(Vermont Governor Supports Legalization of Cannabis – Weed Finder™ News | Article Credit: Reuters)