A new proposal by a city councilor suggests the legalization of marijuana and hemp in Burlington.
Progressive City Councilor Max Tracy believes the time is right for voters to weigh in on whether marijuana and hemp should be legalized or not. But don't expect that to have an impact you can see on the street.
"We're not going to legalize marijuana if over a fifty percent majority of Burlington voters approve this. We won't have dispensaries on in Burlington yet. That's for Montpelier to decide," Ward 2 Progressive Max Tracy said.
"What this resolution is really looking to do is just survey voters and get an understanding of where they sit on the issue."
Councilor Tracy says legalization is gaining momentum nationwide and it's time for Burlington to throw its voice into the mix. Tracy hopes his proposal will shape the conversation at the state level.
"If we can have that on the ballot in November I think that can prove very helpful to framing the debate in Montpelier come the next legislative session," Tracy said.
Law makers in Montpelier have already allowed for the cultivation of hemp but only if federal restrictions on the plant are removed. Hemp has less of the active ingredient in marijuana that gets users high and is used in products such as clothing and food. In Vermont medical marijuana is only legal in cases of severe illness. Tracy's plan also includes a tax on hemp and marijuana.
"These are new revenue streams that aren't being tapped that could be potentially tapped so to fully explore that is really, really important," Tracy said.
Before the issue makes it to Burlington voters City Councilors have to approve it for the November ballot.
They'll vote on the issue on Monday in a public meeting.
"I think we have a great opportunity to and like I said I've gotten a largely positive response from people," Tracy said.
Supporters of the resolution include councilor co-sponsors Democrat Ed Adrian and Democrat Norman Blais. Republican councilor Paul Decelles says he's against putting it on the ballot, but would be shocked if the resolution did not make it past the city council.
