MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) – Republican Gov. Phil Scott on Wednesday vetoed a bill that would have made Vermont the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana but indicated that he was willing to work with the Legislature on a compromise.
Scott said he was sending the bill back with suggestions for another path forward and called for changes to be made to the proposal, such as more aggressive penalties for smoking pot while driving or in the presence of children.
“We must get this right,” said Scott, who is hoping the Legislature can make the fixes during a veto session in late June.
Scott has said he’s not philosophically opposed to marijuana legalization but has concerns about public safety, children’s health and how to measure impaired drivers.
Under the legislation, small amounts of marijuana would have been legal to possess and grow for anyone over age 21.