For the first time, a U.S. state has legalized marijuana with the stroke of a pen, not a vote at the ballot box. Although other states have legalized cannabis through ballot initiatives that have left the decision up to voters, Vermont does not allow for such a process. Over the past few years, lawmakers in the state have instead been working to address marijuana reform through legislation. A January HuffPost/YouGov poll showed that 55 percent of Americans favor legalizing marijuana both nationally and in their own states. Without a system to tax and regulate cannabis sales in Vermont, all commerce involving marijuana would remain underground.

Source: Huffington Post January 22, 2018 19:43 UTC