Legalizing Weed: 6 Quotes From Lawmakers After Pot Became Decriminalized in Vermont

In 2013, Vermont decriminalized the possession of small amounts of pot, up to an ounce, replacing criminal penalties with civil fines. Unsatisfied with those measures, Vermont lawmakers who support legalizing weed are now suggesting reinstating Prohibition in retaliation.

1. “I applaud the Legislature’s action to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana. Vermonters support sensible drug policies. This legislation allows our courts and law enforcement to focus their limited resources more effectively to fight highly addictive opiates such as heroin and prescription drugs that are tearing apart families and communities.”
– Gov. Peter Shumlin, said in statement prior to signing the bill into law

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2. “I think that if this is the process it takes to get to where I think we should be, which is legalization, regulation and taxation, then that’s the step that I’m willing to take.” 
– Rep. Tony Klein, D-East Montpelier, according to Valley News, on his support of decriminalization. Klein also said that "he had not consumed alcohol for 28 years or any other recreational drug for longer than that."

And so it began in April 2015, Vermont lawmakers threatened to make booze illegal if pot was not legalized. The state known for maple syrup and rolling green hills may be one of the first states to legalize rolling a different type of green.

3. "Whereas prohibiting the sale and possession of alcohol is a laughable suggestion, the commonsense reaction against this idea should be the same logic we use to consider the continued prohibition of marijuana."
– Rep. Chris Pearson, P-Burlington, told The Associated Press

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4. "[I would like] to point out that we currently have a drug that is legal and is way more dangerous than pot, and [I'm] just trying to shine a bright light on this and say 'get moving.'"
– Rep. Jean O'Sullivan, D-Burlington, to the AP

5. "One can experiment with alcohol, as many do, and use marijuana, as many do, and turn out to be a positive and productive member of our society. Certainly, I've not hidden the fact that I recreationally used while I was in college, and yet I turned out to be a productive business person."
– Sen. David Zuckerman, P-Chittenden, sponsor of Senate Bill 95, which would legalize the possession, use and sale of recreational marijuana in the state for those 21 and older, to The Huffington Post

6. “My bias on legalization is towards legalization. I believe that it’s the right thing to do for Vermont at the right time. ... The question is how do we move to a smarter approach that doesn’t promote addiction, that doesn’t promote abuse, and really accepts the reality, which is, it’s not like we’re saying yes marijuana or no marijuana. What we’re really asking is, ‘Do we want to continue having an illegal market for marijuana that you can get, or do we want to do this in a smarter way.’”
– Gov. Peter Shumlin, to the Vermont Press Bureau, responding to a Rand Corp. study on marijuana legalization and revenue

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