Cannabis Taxation and Regulation Update

We continue to work with our coalition to introduce amendments addressing racial equity, criminal justice reform, economic equity, and agricultural access into Act 164.  As we do so, we are also mindful of the requirement for municipalities to “opt-in” to allowing cannabis retail establishments in their boundaries via town meeting or another warned meeting.  As we see towns move forward with resolutions, our coalition partner VT Growers’ Association has made this helpful “opt-in guide” to help folks understand that process more.

In Rural Vermont’s introductory presentations to both the House and Senate Ag Committees this January, we reminded committee members that they never took testimony on this legislation despite this being a fundamentally agricultural issue - providing no appropriate place or opportunity for farmers or cultivators (and their advocates) to testify.  We requested that they take testimony from the agricultural community on this issue.  We also brought up that despite cannabis meeting all definitions of an “agricultural product” under the RAPs, despite it being principally produced on the farm, and despite the fact that hemp and crops for alcohol, biofuels, and more are not only considered agricultural - but some of them have their own Briefs in the VT Agriculture Strategic Plan (recently released) - cannabis in VT law is not considered an agricultural crop or product.  We also brought up some of the consequences of this for farmers – in particular those whose land is in current use, or in agricultural easements who will not be allowed to grow cannabis on that land (other than an extremely marginal allowance for some land in current use).  

We remain saddened and frustrated with the lack of willingness of representatives across the legislature to even allow time for our community to speak for, and represent, itself on this issue from an agricultural access and economic equity perspective.  We are hopeful that legislation advanced by our coalition partner the VT Racial Justice Alliance and Justice For All will gain more traction among representatives in relationship to our racial equity concerns and suggestions.

It appears as though the process to name a Cannabis Control Board, and all that follows (rulemaking, Advisory Board naming / seating, etc.) is behind by approximately 6 weeks.