A marijuana plant at a Colorado growing operation. File photo by Brent Levin/Creative Commons
The county committee has voted to support legalization and to join the Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana. That organization lists a wide variety of supporters, but Windham’s is just the second Democratic committee to join those ranks.
County committee Chairman Brandon Batham said he pushed for a vote on marijuana legalization because “on issues like this, Windham County Democrats can’t afford to shy away.”
“It’s a steppingstone for us to send a message both to the state party and to our legislators that we’re serious about this issue and we have their back if they vote for legalization and regulation,” Batham said.
The state Senate in February approved S.241, a bill that legalizes possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for recreational use. The legislation also allows for licensed growers and retailers.
The final Senate vote was 17 to 12. Sen. Becca Balint, D-Windham, previously had voted against the bill but decided to support it after the measure was amended to allow for smaller-scale growing licenses.
Sen. Jeanette White, D-Windham, speaks in support of the marijuana legalization bill. File photo by Elizabeth Hewitt/VTDigger
“I think Windham County has always been on the forefront, and this isn’t a new issue for us,” he said. “We’ve elected a state senator for the past 14 years who is vocally leading on this. So we’re not scared of that.”
Windham County Sheriff Keith Clark also has said he backs legalization.
That’s not a common public position among police in Vermont, as several prominent law enforcement groups have cited public safety concerns associated with loosening pot laws. But Batham argues that marijuana should be legalized because “the drug’s already out there, and what we need to do as a state is to stop the black market in marijuana.”
So, at the March 14 Windham County Democratic Committee meeting in Brattleboro, Batham presented a short resolution supporting “the ongoing initiative in the Vermont Legislature to legalize and regulate marijuana for adult use.” After about 45 minutes of debate, Batham said, the vote was 12 in favor of legalization and four opposed.
Among those supporting the measure was state Rep. Tristan Toleno, D-Brattleboro. “I am in favor of a regulated environment (for marijuana),” Toleno said Tuesday. “I think it’s indisputable that the prohibition law for all drugs is a failure. I would be more interested in providing a regulated market.”
Toleno said he sees room for improvement in S.241 as it was sent to the House: For example, he wouldn’t mind seeing a “small home-grow option” as well as alternative retail models. But he also said he wants to see the bill pass during this session and would support it without such expansions.
“We’ve done a lot of work on this up until now,” Toleno said. “I would rather build off that work incrementally and not miss this moment.”
The Vermont Coalition to Regulate Marijuana also is pushing in that direction; there is a long list of political, legal, religious and business representatives who have joined on the organization’s website.
In addition to the Windham County Democrats, the Washington County Democratic Committee supports the coalition. But Conor Casey, executive director of the Vermont Democratic Party, said the statewide organization has not taken a position on legalization.
“Though perhaps the issue could come up as we take up our platform at the May convention,” Casey said.
In the meantime, some say S.241 will face a stiff challenge in the House, where it is currently in the Judiciary Committee. Toleno said he senses skepticism among some colleagues, though he noted that House members have not spent much time with the bill at this point.
Two House committees are scheduled to hold public hearings on the bill March 31.
Batham said he believes that Gov. Peter Shumlin’s continued lobbying for approval of S.241 could help push the bill through the Legislature.
“I think it’s worth noting that this bill has gotten as far as it has gotten because the governor has made it clear to the public and his allies in the Statehouse that he wants this passed,” Batham said. “And that’s certainly not a small thing.”
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