In Town Meeting Day votes this week, Vermont voters greatly expanded the number of towns where retail sales of cannabis will be permitted to anyone 21 and older.
“It’s a very important moment for Vermont,” remarked James Pepper, chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board.
“We want Vermonters to be able to access this product close to their home as opposed to having these cannabis deserts around Vermont,” he added.
While several smaller towns said no, Tuesday’s vote greatly reduced the distances between towns that have decided to allow cannabis retail in their future.
Essex, the second-largest community in the state, approved the sale of recreational cannabis by a wide margin, 3,589-2,473.
Over 40 communities who considered retail cannabis on Tuesday, at least 25 said yes, according to a tally by VTDigger.
Among the other larger communities that said yes were Barre (767-463), Bristol (513-264), Hartford (1,152-748), Manchester (591-355), Milton (1,060-895) and Springfield (715-632).
Other towns that voted to pass the proposals included: Bolton (114-63), Derby (200-165), Fair Haven (285-230), Fayston (129-78), Ferrisburgh (294-172), Grand Isle (316-223), Marlboro (201-94), Moretown (326-207), Pittsford (323-313), Poultney (298-258), Proctor (125-102), Putney (384-263), Rockingham (318-187), Wallingford (269-228), Waitsfield (297-160) and Wilmington (173-85).
In Stratton, 20 people approved the measure, and Sheldon approved cannabis retail by two votes, 71-69.
“What this means really is that the board has a lot of work to do with these towns whose citizens have asked for this because there are a lot of questions out there,” Pepper said. “Towns don’t know where their authority is, where the board’s authority is.”
