A Vermont House committee is backing away from the Senate's call to legalize marijuana.
The House Judiciary Committee voted 6-5 for a commission to study legalization.
It stripped out provisions expanding decriminalization, keeping those sections of Vermont law largely where they are.
Critics say the House bill still goes too far, because it calls for the study commission to propose a system to legalize, tax and regulate marijuana.
Under current law, possession of up to one ounce of marijuana draws a civil fine, but not a criminal charge. Cultivation remains illegal.
Earlier this year the Senate passed a bill that legalizes possession of up to an ounce of marijuana, but doesn't allow cultivation.
Copyright The Associated Press
