S 120 Vermont Senate · 2025-2026 Regular Session

An act relating to funding support services for persons who use drugs and eliminating misdemeanor criminal penalties for possessing or dispensing a personal use drug supply

S 120 creates the Community Care, Health, and Safety Special Fund using 40% of cannabis tax revenue and opioid settlement funds to support community harm reduction services for people with substance use disorder. It eliminates misdemeanor penalties for possessing or dispensing small personal amounts of drugs, instead requiring law enforcement to provide service referrals and health assessments. The bill establishes a Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to define "personal use" quantities and prioritize health services over criminal penalties. This policy shift aims to reduce overdose deaths by redirecting resources from prosecution toward evidence-based harm reduction and treatment.
Bill status introduced 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
Floor Vote
Governor
Introduced Mar 13, 2025 Last action Mar 13, 2025
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Mar 13, 2025
Introduced
Read 1st time & referred to Committee on Judiciary
upper
3 primary · 0 co-sponsors

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