Vermont: Key Concessions Made on S.54 as Expungement Legislation Clears House Judiciary

Heady Vermont reports…..

 

The House and Senate are nearing a deal on S.54, legislation that would create a legal, regulated cannabis marketplace in Vermont. On Friday, House members of the bicameral legal sales negotiation panel unveiled their counteroffer to a proposed compromise that the Senate side offered last month.

S.54 Committee of Conference , 9-4-2020-01

Click on image to watch hearing

 

Also on Friday, the House Judiciary Committee approved cannabis expungements legislation, and a full chamber vote is expected this coming week.

The major disagreement remaining between the two chambers on S.54 is how to raise revenue from the new industry for municipalities. The Senate favors sending 2% of tax revenue from cannabis sales to towns that host pot businesses, while the House supports giving towns money in the form of licensing fees collected from cannabis businesses.

S.54
An act relating to the regulation of cannabis
Sen. Richard Sears, Sen. Timothy Ashe, Sen. Joseph Benning, Sen. Christopher Pearson, Sen. John Rodgers, Sen. Jeanette White , Sen. Rebecca Balint, Sen. Philip Baruth, Sen. Brian Campion, Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Ann Cummings, Sen. Ruth Hardy, Sen. Cheryl Hooker, Sen. Andrew Perchlik, Sen. Richard Westman
3/13/2020 – Speaker appointed Gannon of WilmingtonLaClair of Barre Town and Ancel of Calais as members of the Committee of Conference on the part of the House
                                                                                                     Sponsor(s)

Sen. Richard Sears

Sen. Timothy Ashe

Sen. Joseph Benning

Sen. Christopher Pearson

Sen. John Rodgers

Sen. Jeanette White

Additional Sponsors

Sen. Rebecca Balint

Sen. Philip Baruth

S-0054 As passed by the Senate Official

 

The last few conference meetings have largely focused on the economics of the cannabis commerce bill, the most recent legislative effort of several over the past few years, and how many tax dollars are projected to be allocated to various state programs and funds.

Members have also debated policies such as which regulatory body should be responsible for overseeing the state’s existing medical cannabis program, as well as reporting requirements for regulators charged with overseeing the industry.

While lawmakers still haven’t reached a final agreement, negotiators from both chambers made major concessions during Friday’s meeting.

Read more at. https://headyvermont.com/2020/09/06/key-concessions-made-on-s-54-as-expungement-legislation-clears-house-judiciary/?mc_cid=b3a3a509a2&mc_eid=9d689a81c4

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