Vermont Governor on Marijuana Legalization: It’s What ‘Enlightened States’ Do

Yeah, that helps to explain Texas' problem, and Louisiana, and Mississippi, and Alabama, etc. We're ruled by a bunch of Cro-Magnons who are more interested in opposing Obama and denying women and minorities rights than in looking out for their citizens.

So, we're headed to Colorado again....from Time magazine

Vermont Governor on Marijuana Legalization: It’s What ‘Enlightened States’ Do

In the next few weeks, as Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin nears the end of his time in office, his state could make history. If he has his way, Vermont will become the first state in the union to legalize marijuana through its legislature. The four states that have already legalized recreational pot—Colorado, Washington, Oregon and Alaska—all did so by taking the issue to voters through ballot initiatives. The Vermont Senate passed a marijuana legalization bill in February and it is currently being debated in the House.

What makes it more cautious and sensible than others?

What I meant by that is: No edibles. And you can only have a small amount of marijuana at one time, an ounce or less. Tax rates that are low enough to drive out the black market drug dealers. No smoking lounges. In other words, avoiding the pitfalls and embracing a more logical policy. About one in eight Vermonters admit to buying recreational pot on a monthly basis. We decriminalized an ounce or less, so you virtually get less of a criminal penalty for buying [small amounts of] pot than you do speeding on the highway. Although we wish you wouldn’t smoke pot, just like we wish you wouldn’t drink too much, we’re going to let you do it without getting in trouble with the law—but you still have to go buy it from a drug dealer? They don’t care what they sell you from their cache, whether it’s marijuana or other drugs. They don’t care how young you are. That’s why we moved to a regulated market for alcohol.