MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin says he supports and will sign onto an effort to allow doctors to prescribe medical marijuana and pharmacists to fill the prescriptions.
Shumlin is joining an effort by Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee and Washington Gov. Christine Gregoire to petition the federal Drug Enforcement Administration to change marijuana’s current status as illegal under federal law to prescribe or dispense for medical use.
Vermont’s current medical marijuana law requires the small number of very sick people the state makes eligible to receive it to register with the Department of Public Safety and sets up other special procedures for them to get the drug.
The governors’ proposal would make medical marijuana much like other prescription drugs.
