Source: http://fcccp.org/2018/06/22/vermonts-new-marijuana-law-act-86-goes-into-effect-on-july-1-what-does-it-mean-for-communities-families-employers-and-landowners/
Timestamp: 2018-07-22 20:02:59
Document Index: 732326025

Matched Legal Cases: ['§4230', '§4501', '§1001', '§4230', '§4230', '§4230', '§4230', '§4230', 'in fine', '§4230', '§4230', '§4230']

Vermont's new marijuana law, Act 86, goes into effect on July 1. What does it mean for communities, families, employers, and landowners? | Franklin County Caring Communities
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Vermont’s Marijuana Law
Vermont’s new marijuana law, Act 86, goes into effect on July 1. What does it mean for communities, families, employers, and landowners?
by Beth Crane | Jun 22, 2018 | Parents, Policy, Substances | 0 comments
Mt. Ascutney Prevention Partnership has compiled helpful facts to help navigate the new law:
Act 86: Eliminating Penalties for Possession of Limited Amounts of Marijuana by Adults 21 or Older
For adults 21 and older, the statute legalizes possession of:
Five grams of hashish
And cultivation of:
Two mature marijuana plants
Four immature (not yet flowering/no buds) marijuana plants
Harvested marijuana does not count toward the possession limit if:
it is stored in an indoor facility on the property where it was cultivated, and
“reasonable precautions” are taken to prevent unauthorized access. (18 V.S.A. §4230e(a)(3))
The law takes effect on July 1, 2018.
What Towns Need to Know
It is illegal to consume marijuana in a public place, including any:
street, alley, park, or sidewalk
public building (other than individual dwellings)
place of “public accommodation” as defined in 9 V.S.A. §4501 – this includes:
schools, restaurants, and stores
any establishment or other facility at which services, facilities, goods, privileges, advantages, benefits, or accommodations are offered to the general public
place where use or possession of a lighted tobacco product, tobacco product, or tobacco substitute as defined in 7 V.S.A. §1001 is prohibited by law
(18 V.S.A. §4230a(a)(2)(A)
Municipalities may adopt a civil ordinance to provide additional penalties for consuming marijuana in public places. (18 V.S.A. §4230a(b)(2)(D))
Landlords may ban possession or use of marijuana in lease agreements. (18 V.S.A. §4230a(b)(2)(E)).
Cultivation is permitted only with written consent of the property owner or the person lawfully in possession of the property (e.g., the leaseholder). Therefore, tenants may grow marijuana on rental property unless the lease agreement states that it is not allowed. (18 V.S.A. §4230e(b)(1)(A))
If a landlord decides not to ban marijuana cultivation on their property, renters may grow marijuana in their rental units under the following conditions:
each dwelling unit is limited to two mature plants and four immature plants, regardless of how many adults 21+ live in the unit
plants may only be grown in a secured enclosure screened from public view – access must be limited to the cultivator and adults 21+ who have permission from the cultivator
residents must take “reasonable precautions” to prevent unauthorized access to harvested marijuana and it must be stored in an indoor facility on the property where it was cultivated
(18 V.S.A. §4230e(a)(2), (3), (b)(1)(A),(B))
How to protect young children
If you have a child enrolled in a childcare or afterschool program, the statute establishes requirements specific to the type of facility.
If you are the parent of a teenager or young adult (under 21)
You can educate your child about what the law says. It is still illegal for persons under 21 to possess, use, or cultivate marijuana. If your child is under 21 and is caught with one ounce or less of marijuana or five grams or less of hashish, they are guilty of a civil violation and will be referred to the Court Diversion Program and must enroll in the Youth Substance Abuse Safety Program. Failure to complete the program successfully will result in fines and a driver’s license suspension.
It is illegal to use marijuana in a motor vehicle occupied by a child under 18 and it is illegal for the driver or passengers to use marijuana while the vehicle is in operation. The open container provisions of the law related to alcohol have been expanded to include marijuana, so it is also illegal for a driver or passenger to possess marijuana in an open container while the vehicle is in operation.
What happens when youth use marijuana at your house
The penalties for social hosting related to marijuana are similar to alcohol. If you host a party in your home that is attended by persons under age 21, and marijuana is consumed, you could face criminal and civil penalties.
It is illegal to give marijuana to persons under 21, or to create a “direct and immediate opportunity” for a person under 21 to consume marijuana. Violations carry penalties of up to 2 years in jail and fines of up to $2,000. As an adult, if you provide marijuana or enable marijuana consumption by a person under 21, and that person has a motor vehicle accident that results in death or serious bodily injury, the penalty is up to 5 years in prison and fines of up to $10,000. (18 V.S.A. §4230f(a)-(d))
In addition to the criminal penalties, the statute also establishes grounds for civil action for damages by the anyone (including spouses, children, employers, and others) who are injured in “person, property, or means of support” by a person under 21 who is impaired by marijuana. For example, if a teen goes to a friend’s house after school and consumes marijuana, then has an accident on the way home and runs into the side of a house, the owners of that house would have a right of action against any persons who dispensed or enabled marijuana consumption and caused impairment in whole or in part.
Primary and secondary schools may impose administrative penalties for possession of marijuana on school property. (18 V.S.A. §4230a(b)(2)(C))
Employers may prohibit or “otherwise regulat[e]” use, consumption, possession, transfer, display, sale, or growing of marijuana in the workplace.
(18 V.S.A. §4230a(e))
The Vermont attorney general has also published helpful information for employers looking to understand how the law affects places of business. Click on the link below for an article published by VermontBiz:
https://vermontbiz.com/news/2018/june/14/marijuana-law-guidance-employers-released-vermont-ag
and here for the link to the AG’s guide: http://ago.vermont.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Employer-MJ-Guidance-TOC.pdf
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