Vermont's Legislature on Wednesday became the first in the country to vote to legalize the recreational use of marijuana.

The legislation, which passed the House by a 79-66 vote, would allow adults to possess and use small amounts of the drug beginning next year. The bill was identical to one passed last week by the Senate that also sets up a commission to study the best way to regulate marijuana.

The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Phil Scott, whose spokeswoman said he's not philosophically opposed to legalizing marijuana but must be sure the bill answers certain public safety and health questions.

"He'll review the bill when received to determine if those questions are addressed," spokeswoman Rebecca Kelley said after the vote.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) oversees the medical marijuana cardholder registry for patients and regulates medical marijuana dispensaries, processors and grow sites.

Their role includes administering the Oregon Medical Marijuana Act by overseeing the registration, database, tracking and reporting requirements for patients, growers, processors and dispensaries.

The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program is part of the Center for Health Protection.

The recreational marijuana industry is expected to take a sip of less than one per cent initially out of annual Canadian alcohol sales once it becomes legal, a new analysis says.

The Anderson Economic Group, a business consulting firm in New York, says legalization of marijuana would sap $160 million out of the country’s $22.1 billion booze sector, rising as use of the drug expands.

While there are numerous unknowns governing the sale of marijuana, the Anderson Economic Group based its projections on alcohol sales in U.S. states that have legalized the drug. It also took into account a host of factors in Canada including spending patterns, income and demographics.

A special task force to inform the Tourism Ministry on using cannabis tourism for the promotion of the sector, is to be established.

Tourism Minister Edmud Bartlett said that although cannabis is still subject to Schedule I of the United States Controlled Substances Act – the most tightly restricted category reserved for drugs not currently accepted for medical use – the government is satisfied that the industry can benefit from the nutraceutical value of the drug.

“We are going to designate an area and, while I am not creating the policy, I am indicating that within that framework there is going to be discussions,” he said.

The Legislature, Gov. Charlie Baker and Treasurer Deborah Goldberg continue to play a game of cat-and-mouse when it comes to marijuana regulation.

On Nov. 8, 2016, Massachusetts voters approved a ballot law legalizing possession and use of marijuana, and authorizing a retail pot industry. But 183 days later, the question of who will be in charge over overseeing the marijuana industry remains up in the air.

In December, the Legislature and Baker delayed implementation of that law by six months, passing a statute that left Goldberg in charge of regulation while pushing back from March 1 to Sept. 1 the deadline for her appointments to the Cannabis Control Commission created under the ballot law.

We spoke to a public policy expert on how Canadians view cannabis today, and how this opinion is evolving.

Malta, a small island country near Italy has had its Labour Government pressing for cannabis reform for quite a while. Pot remains illegal in the country, however, possession of the plant has been largely decriminalized. Prime Minister Joseph Muscat wants to take that one step further through the “regularization” of recreational cannabis use within the country. He and a growing number of federal agencies are looking to conduct a “national discussion” on legalization.

In Bud Farms: Grass Roots, you’re farming bud in a fairly optimistic future where potheads have formed their own nation. While the game appears to be just another weed-themed Farmville clone, Bud Farms actually has a lot of heart.

Adults in Vermont are one step closer toward being able to consume marijuana without worrying about going to jail after the House passed a measure this week aimed at legalizing recreational cannabis. Although only by a slim margin, the bill was approved with a 71 to 74 vote Tuesday.

An early start to recreational marijuana sales in Nevada cleared the final state hurdle Monday, paving the way for the program to roll out in under two months.

The Nevada Tax Commission adopted temporary regulations proposed by the Department of Taxation that will allow the state to issue recreational marijuana licenses by July 1. Most of the regulations were copied from the state’s medical marijuana program.