Vermont's Senate is debating marijuana legalization legislation on Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2016. (Denver Post file)

Vermont marijuana legalization bill to be debated by full Senate

MONTPELIER, Vt. — A bill to legalize possession of up to an ounce of marijuana by adults in Vermont is up for debate in the state Senate.

UPDATE: Vermont’s Senate has OK’d the measure. Get the details

The measure is up for preliminary approval on Wednesday and if it clears that hurdle, a final vote would be held on Thursday on whether to send it to the House. With most bills, preliminary approval is the stage at which most floor debate happens.

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the bill on a 4-3 vote on Monday after it had previously won approval in the Judiciary and Finance committees.

One of the yes votes in the Appropriations Committee was Republican Sen. Diane Snelling. Snelling said she voted yes to bring the bill to the full Senate, but plans to vote against it on the floor.