Vermont House Speaker Mitzi Johnson, a Democrat, has appointed Rep. Ann Pugh and Rep. Maxine Grad to the governor’s Marijuana Advisory Commission. The appointments by Johnson are required under the executive order creating the commission.
Pugh, a Democrat, serves as the chair of both the House Committee on Human Services, and the Joint Legislative Child Protection Oversight Committee. Pugh voted against the measure to legalize cannabis possession, up to 1 ounce, by adults 21-and-older in the state, which was ultimately passed by the legislature, but vetoed by the governor.
Grad, also a Democrat, chairs the House Committee on Judiciary and sits on the Joint Legislative Justice Oversight Committee. Grad voted in favor of the legalization proposal.
Grad and Pugh are the latest commissioners to be named; earlier this week Republican Gov. Phil Scott announced that the commission would be headed up by the former chairman of the Vermont Democrats Jake Perkinson and Burlington-based attorney Tom Little.
The Senate Committee on Committees will also make two appointments along with the Secretary of Agriculture or a designee; the Commissioner of Health or a designee; the Secretary of Commerce and Community Development or designee; the Commissioner of Taxes or designee; the state Attorney General or designee; and the Executive Director of the States’ Attorneys and Sheriffs, or designee.
The first meeting of the commission is set for Oct. 1; Gov. Scott has indicated he wants an initial report by Jan. 15, 2018.
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