[A] bill to tax and regulate cannabis sales was voted out of the Senate Judiciary Committee by a vote of 4-1 on Friday, sending it to the Senate money committees for review.
The legislation, which would create a state cannabis control board and levy a 10 percent excise tax, was approved after a brief discussion and vote on whether to include language to allow medical dispensaries to sell recreational cannabis before retail businesses are up and running.
Sen. Alice Nitka, D-Windsor, was the lone committee member to vote against the bill, S.54.
On Wednesday, the committee was split on the question of giving medical dispensaries an advantage over competition. That proposal was voted down 4-1.
In the House, the draft of its cannabis tax and regulate bill already has language to allow medical cannabis dispensaries to receive temporary licenses to sell to the public before other businesses do.
Support for the bill is widespread in the Senate, which has long favored a marijuana market. There is also momentum in the House, which had previously put the brakes on tax and regulation legislation.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Sen. Dick Sears, D-Bennington, said he expects the bill to be on the Senate floor before Town Meeting Day.
Gov. Phil Scott has said he is in no rush to roll out a recreational cannabis market, and that it is imperative that legislation includes funding for educational prevention programs and roadside impairment testing. The Senate bill currently includes no mention of roadside testing.
The House passed a saliva testing bill last year, but it faced criticism from many Democrats and civil rights organizations because the tests merely indicate the presence of THC in a person’s body, and does not determine impairment. The saliva testing legislation ultimately died in the Senate.
