Criminal Justice (Drug Policy)

H 105 expands Vermont's Youth Substance Awareness Safety Program to address underage alcohol and cannabis offenses for individuals aged 16 to 21. The bill requires first-time offenders to complete this program instead of facing immediate fines or license suspensions for violations like possessing alcohol, consuming cannabis, or driving with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.02% or higher. Successful program completion avoids penalties, while failure results in civil fines ($300 for first offense) and license suspensions (30 days for first offense, 180 days for impaired driving). The program is administered by the Department of Health’s Division of Substance Use Programs and focuses on treatment needs rather than criminal penalties.

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.