The Shumlin administration wants to talk about weed.
Administration officials announced a public hearing this week as part of their continuing look at marijuana legalization. A hearing on Nov. 12 will “provide Vermonters with the ability to contribute comments for a legislatively-mandated study on the issues involved with possible legalization of marijuana production, distribution and possession in the State of Vermont.”
Gov. Peter Shumlin has said that he wants to see how marijuana legalization works out in Washington State and Colorado before approving such a move here. But legislation passed this spring requires Administration Secretary Jeb Spaulding to report to the Legislature in January on the issues involved with legalization.
The administration contracted with the RAND Drug Policy Research Ceneter to help with the year-long study. RAND Co-Director Beau Kilmer will join Spaulding for the Nov. 12 hearing, which will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. with remote participation available at Vermont Interactive Technologies centers around the state.
