VT Becomes 11th State to Legalize Personal Use Marijuana Sales, ME Legal Sales Start Tomorrow, More... (10/8/20)

The Virginia legislature has passed bills limiting the ability of police to use the odor of marijuana as the pretext for a warrantless search, Vermont has approved a legal adult use marijuana marketplace, and more.

Maine Begins Recreational Marijuana Sales on Friday. Nearly four years after state voters approved marijuana legalization, pot will be available at retail outlets beginning Friday. Adults 21 years of age or older with a valid ID will be able to purchase up to 2.5 ounces of a combination of marijuana and marijuana concentrate that includes no more than five grams of marijuana concentrate.

Vermont Becomes 11^th State to Legalize Recreational Marijuana Market.Gov. Phil Scott (R) announced that he has allowed legislation to tax and regulate recreational marijuana sales to go into effect without his signature. He had hinted at a possible veto over racial equity concerns, but instead has stood aside. Vermont now becomes the 11^th state to allow recreational marijuana sales, although sales are not expected to actually begin until October 2022.

Virginia Legislature Bars Police from Using Marijuana Odor as a Pretext for a Search. The legislature has passed Senate Bill 5029 and House Bill 5058, which would severely restrict police from using the odor of marijuana to justify warrantless searches. The bill specifies that "no law-enforcement officer may lawfully search or seize any person, place, or thing solely on the basis of the odor of marijuana and no evidence discovered or obtained as a result of such unlawful search or seizure shall be admissible in any trial, hearing, or other proceeding." The move comes after the state decriminalized marijuana possession earlier this year. The bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Ralph Northam (D).