A coalition of activists has said it is seeking a veto from Scott on grounds that the bill fails to address the historic racism in cannabis prohibition, or provide economic justice to smaller growers. Those concerns led Sen. Dick McCormack, D-Windsor, to oppose the bill.

"Systemic racism is not about animosity or superstition," McCormack said. "It's about the negative racial impacts of policies and practices in our system. Failure to address these racial impacts is a sin of omission." (9/22/20)

On supporting a marijuana legalization bill:

“Bottom line is that it has the state backing off of its policy of harassing people who smoke marijuana,” McCormack said. “They’re out there in our state by the thousands.” (2/22/16)

"I'm not so naive as to think that marijuana is a completely harmless drug," he said. "It's responsible for some of the worst poetry every written. And as a musician, I can tell you it wreaks havoc on the drummer's ability to keep the tempo."

But he added, "The harm that is done to actual people's lives because they're pot smokers is not done by pot-smoking. The harm that comes to people's lives because they're pot smokers comes from the state. The problems in their lives do not come from lighting up a joint. It comes from getting caught." (2/14/08)

Email: rmccormack@leg.state.vt.us

Web: https://legislature.vermont.gov/people/single/2022/14625

Phone: 802-828-2228