Just and Equitable Taxation and Regulation of Cannabis
As the implementation of Act 164, Vermont’s Taxation and Regulation of Cannabis Law, continues to be approximately 2 months behind schedule - Rural Vermont and our coalition have been quite active in the legislature over these past two weeks prior to cross-over providing testimony in support of our proposed amendments to Act 164.
Members of our coalition from the Vermont Growers’ Association, the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, NOFA VT, and Trace VT were present and presenting in the Sen. Judiciary, Sen. Government Operations, and Sen. Agriculture Committees. We have been working with Senators Sears and White (Chairs of the Senate Judiciary and Senate Government Operations Committees respectively) to consider our agricultural proposals to S.25, an Act Relating to Miscellaneous Cannabis Regulatory Procedures. Our coalition partner the VT Racial Justice Alliance has a bill in the House, H.414 - An Act Relating to Cannabis Social Equity Programs (which comprehensively includes the coalition’s racial equity proposals) - and has also been working to bring language from that bill into S.25. Our original intention was to have all of our proposals in one bill - however, we have been unable to achieve that to this point, and continue to work towards this outcome.
It has been a primary goal of our coalition to be given time in an agricultural committee, and we were briefly given that opportunity last week in Senate Agriculture - thanks to the support of the Senate Judiciary and Senate Government Operations Committees which felt that our proposals were in the domain of the Agricultural Committee. However, after providing testimony which multiple committee members supported based upon its “merit” - we left with the messages that it was too late in the process, and too politically unfeasible to include any of our suggestions. They also felt that some of our goals could be addressed through the CCB rulemaking process - which we expressed concerns about.
We are disappointed by the inaction of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and the very limited time which has been devoted to agricultural understanding, equity, and access in shaping this law. By the end of the week, we will know if our advocacy has affected any substantive change in S.25 which will be carried through to the House after Cross-Over. We understand that given this law is in its infancy, it will continue to be actively reformed legislatively and through rulemaking for years to come. We will continue to work legislatively - and in the eventual rulemaking process - to address racial equity, economic equity, and agricultural access in VT’s cannabis regulations.
What can you do?
- Voice your support for cannabis being regulated as an agricultural product and the amendments to S.25 and Act 164 being proposed by the coalition of Rural Vermont, The Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, NOFA VT, the Vermont Growers Association, and Trace VT by contacting your representative and members of the House and Senate Agriculture and House Ways and Means Committees.
- Consider providing public comment in the Rulemaking Process which will be undertaken by the Cannabis Control Board (potentially this late Summer or Fall)
- Continue to monitor this issue and be in touch about your ideas and concerns!