Vermont Gov. James Douglas refused to sign a bill that expands the state's medical-marijuana statute, but the measure became law anyway, the Barre Times-Argus reported June 2.

The bill had three main components: allowing people with chronic, debilitating conditions to use marijuana for medical purposes, increasing the number of marijuana plants patients can grow for their own use, and cutting the program's registration fee in half, to $50.

Under Vermont's Constitution, a bill passed by both houses of the legislature becomes law automatically if the governor does not take action on it within five days of receipt. "The governor has compassion for people who are suffering from debilitating diseases, but he can't in good conscience sanction a violation of federal law," said a spokesman for Douglas.