Bill S.120 aims to combat the public health crisis of drug overdoses in Vermont by creating the Community Care, Health, and Safety Special Fund, which will provide grants for community-based harm reduction services and support for individuals with substance use disorders. The funding for this initiative will come from 40 percent of the cannabis excise tax and a portion of the Opioid Abatement Special Fund. The bill also seeks to eliminate criminal penalties for possessing and dispensing personal use amounts of regulated drugs, ensuring that individuals found with such quantities receive information about health services and incentives for participating in needs assessments.

To implement these changes, the bill establishes the Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to determine benchmark personal use supplies for regulated drugs and oversee grant distribution. It amends existing laws regarding the possession and distribution of various controlled substances, introducing provisions that protect individuals possessing amounts equal to or less than the benchmark personal use supply from criminal or civil penalties. The bill also clarifies penalties for unlawful possession and distribution, maintaining strict penalties for larger quantities while reducing penalties for personal use amounts. Additionally, it creates two special funds for substance use prevention and mandates the development of health needs screening protocols, emphasizing harm reduction services and community care resource centers. The bill outlines a phased implementation timeline, with certain sections taking effect upon passage and others on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 18-4201, 18-4202, 18-4231, 18-4232, 18-4233, 18-4233a, 18-4233b, 18-4234, 18-4234a, 18-4234b, 18-4235, 18-4235a, 18-4774, 32-7909