VT H0189

Eliminates criminal and civil penalties for possessing or dispensing regulated drugs (cocaine, heroin, fentanyl, LSD, methamphetamine, etc.) in amounts at or below a "benchmark personal use supply" to be determined by a new Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board

Creates the Community Care, Health, and Safety Special Fund to provide grants for harm reduction services, overdose prevention centers, drug-checking programs, peer counseling, and substance use treatment, funded by 40% of cannabis excise tax revenue and 15% of Opioid Abatement Special Fund disbursements

Establishes a 13-member Drug Use Health and Safety Advisory Board composed of harm reduction providers, substance use treatment experts, and individuals with lived drug use experience to set personal use thresholds and distribute grant funding

Requires law enforcement to provide health needs screening information and referrals to VT Helplink for individuals found with personal use quantities, with $50 gift card incentives for completing voluntary screenings

Creates the Substance Use Prevention Special Fund to receive 30% of cannabis excise tax revenue (up to $10 million annually) for prevention programming, effective January 1, 2026