The proposed 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 cannabis excise tax revenue 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, thereby reducing stigma and encouraging individuals to seek help. Individuals found in possession of personal-use quantities will receive information about available services and may be incentivized to participate in needs assessments.

Additionally, the bill establishes the Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board to oversee the distribution of grants and determine benchmark personal use supplies for regulated drugs. It amends various sections of Vermont statutes regarding the possession and distribution of controlled substances, introducing provisions that exempt individuals from penalties for possessing amounts equal to or less than benchmark personal use supplies. The bill also creates the Substance Use Prevention Special Fund to support substance use prevention programming and mandates the development of health needs screening protocols for individuals in contact with law enforcement. Furthermore, it stipulates that unspent cannabis excise tax revenues will be transferred to the Substance Use Prevention Special Fund by April 1, 2026, ensuring effective utilization of funds for substance use prevention.

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