Montpelier, VT — Vermont lawmakers have opted not to approve a pilot program that would have allowed licensed cannabis cultivators to sell their products directly to consumers, according to a report from Vermont Public Radio (VPR). The proposal, backed by Lt. Gov. John Rodgers, was met with significant opposition from legislators who expressed concern that the initiative would shift the state’s focus from regulating cannabis to actively promoting its use.
The pilot program would have enabled cultivators to operate at venues such as state fairgrounds to sell directly to consumers—a move some lawmakers saw as excessive. State Rep. Jim Harrison (R) was among the critics, telling VPR that the program would have allowed cannabis businesses to “literally take over” public fairgrounds, and framed it as “promoting cannabis, not controlling cannabis.”
Despite rejecting the direct sales model, lawmakers did pass a broader cannabis bill that includes technical updates to the state’s adult-use law. These changes aim to strengthen regulatory infrastructure and address operational challenges across Vermont’s growing cannabis market.
Key provisions of the new legislation include:
- Mandatory Fingerprinting and Background Checks: All individuals applying for an industry identification card must now undergo background screening.
- Regulation of Hemp Products: Oversight of hemp-derived items is now under the jurisdiction of the Cannabis Control Board.
- Labeling Requirements: Cannabis products must now include both “harvested on” and “packed on” dates to ensure consumer transparency and product traceability.
- New License Category: A “trim and harvest service” license has been established, carrying a $500 annual fee. This license allows individuals or companies to provide specialized post-harvest services to growers.
- Contingency Planning for Businesses: The bill includes guidance for license transfer procedures in cases of death, disability, bankruptcy, or insolvency of cannabis business owners.
House Government Operations Chair Matt Birong (D) acknowledged that while he personally supported the direct-to-consumer provision, the priority was to solidify the industry’s regulatory foundation.
“Other provisions in the bill were important for just the structural maintenance and dialing in the industry as a whole,” Birong said. “So we took something instead of nothing.”
Lt. Gov. Rodgers—who holds the distinction of being the only elected official in the U.S. with a cannabis cultivator license—had championed the proposal as a way to level the playing field for small growers. Rodgers noted that many cultivators struggle to get shelf space in retail outlets, as dispensaries can be selective in choosing suppliers. “You’ve got a whole bunch of really good growers that don’t have enough market,” he told VPR.
Although the direct sales plan failed to gain enough traction this session, ongoing debate around market access, equity, and the role of state oversight continues to shape Vermont’s evolving cannabis landscape.
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