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Vermont Legislature
Follow VPR's statehouse coverage, featuring Pete Hirschfeld and Bob Kinzel in our Statehouse Bureau in Montpelier.

On To The Senate For Decriminalization Bill

The Vermont House has given final approval to a bill that would remove criminal penalties for possession of up to an ounce of marijuana.

The bill passed Tuesday on a vote of 92-49 after being given preliminary approval on Friday. Instead of a criminal penalty, people caught with up to an ounce of pot would face a civil fine of up to $300. It also seeks to reduce the chances that anyone caught with up to 2 ounces would have a permanent criminal record, and defines a new crime of driving while smoking marijuana.

Possession on school property by someone 21 or older would still be a crime.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard Sears says he thinks the bill will get similar support in the Senate.

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