Vermont advocates urge excise-tax reinvestment, direct market access and agricultural status for cannabis

Members of the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition told a House committee Friday that the state's regulated cannabis market remains incomplete and is producing financial strain for small growers, patients and legacy producers.

Reverend Mark Hughes, executive director of the Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, told the committee “we envision a Vermont cannabis market where black and brown and poor folks are assured an equitable opportunity for success within every aspect of the industry,” and urged lawmakers to prioritize equity and community reinvestment.

The coalition asked lawmakers to direct a share of cannabis excise-tax revenue to community supports and small-business assistance, preserve the legal status Vermont granted some cultivators under Act 158, and create pathways for small producers to sell directly to customers. “There is a collapse. There is a lot of pain in the market right now amongst licensees, notably our small producers,” said Jeffrey Pizzitello, executive director and cofounder of the Vermont Growers Association.

Why it matters: Coalition members said current market structure — including limited direct-market access, high compliance costs, restricted access to federal funding and a concentration of retail outlets — prevents many small producers from surviving in the regulated economy and discourages legacy producers and customers from transitioning above ground.

Key requests and context - Excise-tax reinvestment: Ornela Mata Figueroa, co-director of the Land Access and Opportunity Board (LAOB), said the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) recommended dedicating a…