Legislative Update

Two issues Winooski Partnership for Prevention is closely following this legislative session is how the state plans to regulate and tax cannabis, and the push to raise the legal purchasing age of tobacco products to 21.

The prevention community is concerned about the implications opening the market in Vermont will have on adolescent substance use.

On the other hand, we are excited to see momentum around the tobacco 21 bill, an issue that prevention coalitions around Vermont have championed for years. 

Opening the market

The Vermont Senate passed legislation Friday that would establish a taxed and regulated market for cannabis sales.

The bill, S.54, would allow for dispensaries to set up shop as soon as 2021. Sales of the drug would be taxed at a combined tax rate of 18 percent - a 16 percent excise tax and two percent local option tax.

This does not meet the 26 percent tax rate  recommended by the Governor's Marijuana Advisory Committee.

Due to this, the bill does not include ANY funding for youth substance use prevention OR public safety programs to prevent and identify impaired driving on the roadways.

In addition, the bill places zero restrictions around advertising to youth. Based on what we already know about the impact of advertising of substances on youth, prevention coalitions are concerned recreational marijuana ads will be the next to fall into their line of sight.

We should consider the impact increased availability, greater social acceptance and the possibility of lower prices will have on adolescent use, however intentional or unintentional it is. 

The current bill also includes language that places the burden on municipalities and residents to pay for and organize ballot questions if they want to be able to restrict marijuana/Cannabis retail in their communities.

Based on what has been proposed, medical dispensaries also expect that their business will transition from medical to retail.

Tobacco 21

The Vermont Senate is taking steps to implement protective factors in kids' lives in other legislation.

Last week, the Senate advanced legislation which would raise the legal purchasing age of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21.

In a recent Seven Days article, Senator Debbie Ingram said the bill is designed to reduce smoking rates in Vermont.

Research supports this. National data show about 95 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before they turn 21.

Research also shows that kids often turn to older friends and classmates as sources of cigarettes. Increasing the tobacco age to 21 would reduce the likelihood that a high school student will be able to legally purchase tobacco products for other students and underage friends.

Stay tuned to hear how the Vermont House of Representatives reacts to these bills later in the session.