Vt. Medical Marijuana Dispensary Bill Dies in Legislature

Lack of support in the Vermont House of Representatives has doomed a bill that would have established up to five medical-marijuana distribution centers, the Barre/Montpelier Times-Argus reported April 2.

“It became clear to us that the other body wasn’t interested in taking it up this year, so we ordered it to lie,” said Senate President Peter Shumlin. “With such a tight timeline to get our work done, I want to focus our attention on bills that both chambers are going to pass.”

Vermont passed a medical-marijuana law in 2004 that allows residents with illnesses like multiple sclerosis and cancer to use the drug legally for medical reasons. The law also allows medical users to grow marijuana for personal use, but set up no legal system for distribution of medical marijuana.

Opposition from law enforcement officials helped sink the “compassion center” legislation in the House.