By Guy Page
Voters in 41 communities considering voting ‘yes’ on retail cannabis at Town Meeting Tuesday March 1 might want to learn whether their community already has a ‘local option’ tax. Otherwise, almost all of the tax revenue will flow directly to the State, according to a report by the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT).
41 Vermont communities will put the Retail Cannabis Question to Town/City meeting voters on Tuesday, March 1. State law allows licensing of retail marijuana stores only after local voters have opted to permit retail marijuana stores in their town or city.
According to VLCT, only communities with existing ‘local option’ taxation will be able to reap the expected tax benefits from retail marijuana stores.
The Vermont League of Cities and Towns 2022 Vermont Town Meeting Day Preview states these 41 communities are considering whether to allow retail cannabis operations: Barre City, Bolton, Castleton, Chester, Derby, Eden, Essex Town, Fair Haven, Fayston, Ferrisburgh, Grand Isle, Hardwick, Hartford, Leicester Town, Manchester, Marlboro, Middlesex, Milton, Moretown, Mount. Holly, New Haven, Norton, Pittsford, Poultney, Proctor, Putney, Richford, Rockingham, Rutland City, Rutland Town, Sheldon, Springfield, St. Albans Town, Stockbridge, Stratton, Vernon, Waitsfield, Wallingford, Wilmington, Wolcott, and Woodstock.
These municipalities already have approved retail marijuana: Alburgh, Barton, Berlin, Bennington, Brandon, Brattleboro, Brownington, Burke, Burlington, Danby, Danville, Duxbury, East Burke, Jamaica, Johnson, Londonderry, Middlebury, Montgomery, Montpelier, Morristown, Pawlet, Peacham, Pownal, Randolph, St. Johnsbury, Salisbury, South Hero, Strafford, Sutton, Vergennes, Waterbury, Windsor, and Winooski.
The House of Representatives has moved forward a bill, H.701, that would cap municipal cannabis regulatory fees at $100, while capping state fees at $100,000. Fewer than 20 towns – those with VLCT 2022 Vermont Town Meeting Day existing option taxes in place – are set to share in the tens of millions of dollars in annual tax revenue retail cannabis is expected to generate, VLCT said.