All posts by Kate Zawidzki

Senators will listen to testimony January 19 and 20

The Senate Judiciary Committee wants to hear what people in Vermont think about the idea of ending marijuana prohibition and replacing it with a system of sensible regulations. Public hearings have been announced for Tuesday, January 19 in Burlington, and Wednesday, January 20 in St. Johnsbury. Here are the locations and times:

Tuesday — University of Vermont, Davis Center, Grand Maple Ballroom (4th Floor), 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday — St. Johnsbury Academy, 1000 Main Street, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Three hearings will already have taken place Monday in southern Vermont. According to an article in the Bennington Banner, “The goal is to get opinions from people who cannot easily get to Montpelier… People will be asked to sign in before they speak and limit their comments to between five and eight minutes in length.”

If you are able to testify in favor of replacing prohibition with a sensible, regulated approach in Vermont, please do so! Here are some talking points you may find helpful. The more professional and respectful presence we can bring to the public hearings, the better legislators will hear our message

Event, News

Southern Vermont will host three public hearings on marijuana policy!

January 13, 2016 Kate Zawidzki Leave a comment

Senators will listen to testimony in Bennington, Brattleboro, and Springfield on January 18

The Senate Judiciary Committee wants to hear what people in southern Vermont think about the idea of ending marijuana prohibition and replacing it with a system of sensible regulations. Public hearings have been announced for Monday, January 18 at the following locations:

Bennington — Bennington Fire Facility, 130 River Street, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Brattleboro — Brattleboro Union High School, 131 Fairground Road, 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Springfield — Riverside Middle School, 13 Fairground Road, 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

According to an article in the Bennington Banner, “The goal is to get opinions from people who can not easily get to Montpelier… People will be asked to sign in before they speak and limit their comments to between five and eight minutes in length.”

Press Release

Vt. Marijuana Coalition Launches First Ads w/ Former AG

January 12, 2016 Kate Zawidzki Leave a comment

Vermont’s Former Top Law Enforcement Official Backs Effort to End Marijuana Prohibition in 2016, Appears in Ads Highlighting the Benefits of Regulating Marijuana

* Extended statement below from former Vermont Attorney General Kimberly Cheney — one ad attached and others at http://RegulateVermont.org/Cheney *

MONTPELIER — A former top state law enforcement official has thrown his support behind the effort to end marijuana prohibition in Vermont in 2016. The Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana launched its first ads of the year on Tuesday, featuring former Vermont Attorney General Kimberly Cheney highlighting the benefits of regulating marijuana.

The coalition held a news conference at the Vermont State House to formally announce Cheney’s endorsement, display one of the ads, and express support for the vision Gov. Peter Shumlin laid out last week during his state of the state address. The ads can be viewed online at http://RegulateVermont.org/Cheney.

Cheney served as Vermont attorney general from 1973 to 1975. Previously, he served as an assistant attorney general and was elected Washington County states attorney. He has held a variety of other civic positions and is a member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP). Cheney is available for phone interviews and can be reached via Matt Simon at 202-905-2025 or [email protected].

On Thursday, Gov. Shumlin said Vermont “[has] the capacity to take this next step and get marijuana legalization done right” in 2016, and he promised state lawmakers he will work with them to “craft the right bill that thoughtfully and carefully eliminates the era of prohibition that is currently failing us so miserably.”

Statement from former Vermont Attorney General Kimberly Cheney:

“As a former attorney general of Vermont, I am committed to bringing awareness to the failures of marijuana prohibition and working toward a safer Vermont. We can’t expect a different result by doing the same failed action over again. The only hope lies in a fundamentally different approach; without further delay, the Vermont Legislature should move forward with plans to regulate marijuana in 2016.

“Under current prohibition laws, marijuana isn’t controlled, so consumers don’t know what they’re getting. It is sold by criminals who don’t ask for proof of age and might expose consumers to other illegal drugs. Meanwhile, our enforcement officials waste their time punishing adults for simple marijuana possession.

“In a tightly regulated system, marijuana will be tested, labeled, and properly packaged. It will be sold by licensed businesses that ask for ID, sell only to adults, and do not expose consumers to other more harmful substances. Plus, law enforcement will be able to spend more time addressing serious crimes instead of enforcing failed prohibition laws.

“As we have in so many other ways, Vermont can once again be a leader, showing how a carefully crafted law can be a victory for justice and public safety.”