Vermont House Speaker Shap Smith is expressing doubt about whether marijuana legalization will pass this year. Smith tells The Associated Press there are several ways the measure could die.
The Senate in February passed a bill legalizing possession of up to an ounce by people 21 and older. The bill now is being reviewed by its third House committee. The first two, Judiciary and Ways and Means, disagree on whether pot should be legalized.
Smith says he can't recall a previous time in his eight years as speaker when a bill came to the House floor with two committees that had reviewed it directly opposed on its most important provision.
If the House can pass a bill, differences would have to be worked out with the Senate.
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