Vermont Senate Considers Loosening Cannabis Regulations
Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale, D-Chittenden Southeast, believes that isolation is the biggest killer in Vermont, and cannabis could be a solution. She is the lead sponsor of a bill that aims to loosen regulations on the state’s legal cannabis market. The bill would increase the amount of cannabis a customer can purchase at one time, from one ounce to two, and allow retailers to sell products with up to 200 milligrams of THC, double the current limit.
The bill would also introduce a new program that allows cannabis businesses to sell products at events, such as farmers’ markets or weddings, if they are approved for a permit. Additionally, the bill would allow for a trial program that lets people have recreational cannabis delivered to their doorstep, rather than having to visit a dispensary.
The bill’s proponents argue that these changes would help to increase access to cannabis and create more opportunities for community building. However, some have raised concerns about the potential impact on public health and safety.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has approved a bill that aims to bolster privacy protections surrounding the use of generative AI in healthcare. The bill would establish “neurological rights” for individuals and prevent their data from being used without their consent.
The House has also heard a second reading of a bill that aims to reform state laws around truancy and absenteeism. The bill would update Vermont’s laws, which have remained largely unchanged since the 1960s, and clarify how school districts and state agencies should handle student truancy and absenteeism.
Finally, the organizers of the Statehouse’s annual March Madness bracket competition have launched this year’s contest, with a deadline to lock in picks just hours away. Participants must hand in $5 to the lieutenant governor’s office or send it over Venmo to participate.
