The Vermont House of Representatives passed a first-of-its-kind bill by a 79-66 vote on Wednesday. If Republican Governor Phil Scott signs the bill it will become legal in July 2018 for Vermonters to carry a small amount of recreational marijuana—making this the first legalization of recreational marijuana law passed by a state legislature in the United States.
Under the legislation, small amounts of marijuana would be legal to possess and grow for anyone over age 21. Larger amounts would remain illegal.
A nine-member commission will develop a proposal to tax and regulate marijuana, and the proposal will be presented to lawmakers next year.
Before Vermont's vote, eight states and the District of Columbia had legalized the recreational use of small amounts of marijuana. The vote by Vermont lawmakers, however, was the first to legalize marijuana separate from a voter initiative.
According to Ballotpedia, Vermont is one of about 23 states that do not offer initiative or referendums to their citizens for vote and so, unlike Colorado and California, this was the only way a law like this could come into effect.
