AAPVT News

Senate re-confirms Marijuana legalization on third reading

The Senate today reconfirmed on third reading its passage of legislation that would legalize marijuana.  The legislation, initially passed Friday by a vote of 21 to 9, would create a system to regulate and tax retails sales of marijuana - largely mirroring legislation passed last year by the senate - while also allowing home-grown marijuana and small-scale farming operations. 
 

New AAPVT member e-newsletter

Introducing the first issue of AAPVT's new member e-newsletter. Topics in this issue include tomorrow's House floor vote on marijuana legalization, a new "In the Statehouse" section on aapvt.org, and free “curbside” child psych phone and e-mail consultations.

Check out the first issue here. 

AAPVT launches “In the Statehouse” section on website

In an effort to help keep Vermont’s pediatricians up-to-date on issues of importance to them being debated but the Vermont General Assembly, the AAPVT has launched a new section on its website. 

Dr. Jill Rinehart discusses the primary care shortage on VPR

AAPVT Chapter President Dr. Jill Rinehart recently appeared on VPR’s Vermont Edition to discuss the oncoming shortage of primary care physicians in the state and what that means for Vermonters’ health.  Dr. Allan Ramsay also took part in the program, appearing first, while Dr. Rinehart joined to program at the 17:50 mark. 

For more information and to listen to the program, click here. 

Dr. First honored by Vermont Medical Society

The Vermont Medical Society honored Lewis First, M.D., FAAP, with its Distinguished Service Award during the 203rd VMS annual meeting held Nov. 5, in Burlington, Vt. 

Annual collaborative meeting to be held Nov. 4-5; Registration now open

Registration for collaborative meeting between the American Academy of Pediatrics Vermont Chapter, Vermont Academy of Family Physicians, Vermont Psychiatric Association, and the Vermont Medical Society is now open. 

The meeting will be held during the 203rd VMS annual meeting, Nov. 4-5, at the Hilton Burlington in Burlington, Vt.
 
For more information, including hotel reservations, schedule of events, leadership award honorees and event sponsors, click here. 

House rejects marijuana legalization, home grow

The Vermont House widely rejected the Senate's proposal to legalize recreational use and sale of marijuana Tuesday night (May 3), while also more narrowly shooting down legislation that would have decriminalized the posession of two marijuana plants for home, personal use.

VT House to vote on marijuana legalization

Senator Dick Sears amended a bill on criminal procedure (H.858) to include the original Senate language of S.241 (an act to regulate marijuana), as well as the addition of homegrown/cultivation licenses.
 
The full text of the current version of the bill can be found on Pages 4-57 at the following link:  http://legislature.vermont.gov/assets/Documents/2016/Docs/JOURNAL/sj1604...
 

House passes modified version of marijuana legalization bill

Today the House Judiciary Committee passed a version of S.241, six votes to five, that does not legalize marijuana as proposed by the Senate’s version of the bill.  It does however create a commission that will recommend to the Governor and General Assembly pathways for the eventual legalization for adults over the age of 21. 

Vermont's largest newspaper says legalization shouldn't happen this year, raises a number of questions and concerns

The Burlington Free Press editorial board has published and editorial calling on the Vermont General Assembly to "wait until we know more and are better prepared to handle the consequences," while simultaneously raising a number of questions and concerns about legalization, including the impact on youth use rates. 

Read the editorial here. 

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