On Your Own; Your Legal Right @ Eighteen On Your Own formatted final version | Page 34

caused by you or your friends if you used their home for a party or if you
still live at home or are supported by them.
Drugs
Many drugs, like heroin or cocaine, are always illegal. That means that you
can be charged with a crime for possessing, selling, or giving them away
under any circumstances. Other drugs, like some strong painkillers, may
be legally sold, but only with a prescription from a doctor and only to a
patient with a legitimate medical need to use them. Even though
prescription drugs are sometimes legal, it is still a serious crime to possess,
sell, or give them away if they were not prescribed to you personally by a
medical professional.
It is also important to remember, though, that Vermont laws are designed
to encourage those suffering from substance use disorder to seek help.
Vermont has one of the most expansive Good Samaritan laws in the
nation. People who call 911 for help, or people who are overdosing, are
protected from being charged for drug possession.
When it comes to selling or transferring drugs to others, the penalties are
much more severe. You can be sentenced to multiple years in prison for
selling a small amount of cocaine, even for a first conviction. If you are
convicted of selling these drugs on the grounds of a school, an additional
10 years can be added to your sentence. Vermont law does not distinguish
between a person who is selling a drug for profit and a person who simply
gives the drug to a friend without receiving any compensation. In both
situations, the person is subject to the same penalty.
Marijuana
In 2018, Vermont legalized marijuana, allowing individuals over the age of
21 to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow two mature marijuana
plants in their own home. Beyond these allowances, important limitations
remain in place. You may not smoke or consume marijuana in a public
place, including streets and parks. It is a civil violation to possess
marijuana while under the age of 21. Neither your employer nor your
landlord is required to allow your recreational use of marijuana.
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