Scott says lawmakers have 'come a long ways' on retail pot bill

In a sign that he may support the measure, Gov. Phil Scott said Friday that lawmakers have addressed many of his concerns and “come a long ways” in crafting the legislation that would create a legal retail market for marijuana in Vermont.

House and Senate negotiators reached a deal on the bill that would tax and regulate marijuana, S.54, earlier this week. It still needs to be approved by the Senate before it is sent to Scott’s desk.

At his Friday press conference, the governor didn’t say whether he would veto the measure, or let it become law. But he noted that lawmakers went further to address the problems he had with the marijuana bill than with the Global Warming Solutions Act — legislation he vetoed earlier this week.

“As I reflect on the Global Warming Solutions Act and the difference between the two bills and them addressing the concerns I had with marijuana regulation and taxation bill versus the Global Warming Solutions act, it’s a stark difference,” the governor said.

Read more: https://vtdigger.org/2020/09/18/scott-says-lawmakers-have-come-a-long-ways-on-retail-pot-bill/