Informational Material: Cannabis Regulated Market

Mark Hughes

As a coalition of local organizations and businesses working to increase racial and economic equity, criminal justice reform and repair, and agricultural access in the coming regulated cannabis market in Vermont – we’ve developed these informational materials to help you understand the timeline for this process, the entities involved and their responsibilities and accountability, as well as how you can get involved to ensure that this is a fair, equitable, and accessible regulatory system and market.

ACT 164 INFO SHEET

The rollout of Act 164 leading up to the 2021 legislative session and eventual rulemaking.

  • ON OR BEFORE NOV. 1:  Appointments to the Cannabis Control Board Nominating Committee shall be made.
  • ON OR BEFORE NOV. 4:  The Governor shall send the names of candidates for the Cannabis Control Board to the Nominating Committee.
  • ON OR BEFORE DEC. 18:  The Committee shall send the names of well-qualified candidates to the Governor. 
  • ON OR BEFORE JAN. 8:  The Governor shall appoint members to the Cannabis Control Board.
  • ON OR BEFORE JAN. 15:  The Senate shall take up the issue of the confirmation of the Governor’s appointments to the Board. 
  • ON OR BEFORE JAN. 19:  Board members shall begin their terms.
  • ON OR BEFORE APRIL 1:  The Cannabis Control Board shall propose sweeping recommendations to the General Assembly
  • ON OR BEFORE MAY 1:  Members of the CCB Advisory Committee shall be appointed.
  • ON OR BEFORE JUNE 1:  The Cannabis Control Board shall initiate rulemaking.

What do these Committees and Boards do?

  • The Cannabis Control Board Nominating Committee is created for the purpose of “assessing the qualifications of applicants for appointment to the Cannabis Control Board.”  The Committee consists of 7 members: 3 appointed by the Executive Branch, 2 appointed by the House, and 2 appointed by the Senate, with members serving 2-year terms. The members elect their own chair, have full access to legislative services, and hold public meetings with a quorum of 4 members.  The Committee will submit their final 3 candidates back to the Governor on or before December 18 for his selection. 
  • The Cannabis Control Board is created within the Executive Branch for the purpose of “safely, equitably, and effectively implementing and administering the laws enabling access to adult-use cannabis in Vermont.” Duties include rulemaking, administration of licenses, administration of the Medical Cannabis Registry, administration of Medical Cannabis dispensaries, and submission of an annual budget to the Governor. The Board consists of 3 members – 1 chair and 2 members – appointed by the Governor to serve 3-year terms. It will also include 1 Executive Director, and 1 Administrative Assistant. None of its members – or their family members – may have a conflict of interest in the industry being regulated.
  • The Advisory Committee is created within the Cannabis Control Board, has no stated purpose, duties, or authority, and the members have no defined terms.  It consists of 12 members:
  • one member with expertise in public health appointed by the Governor, 
  • the Secretary of Agriculture, Food and Markets or designee, 
  • one member with expertise in laboratory science or toxicology appointed by the Governor, 
  • one member with expertise in systemic social justice and equity issues appointed by the Speaker of the House, 
  • one member with an expertise in women and minority-owned business ownership appointed by the Speaker of the House, 
  • one member with an expertise in substance misuse prevention appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees, 
  • one member with an expertise in the cannabis industry appointed by the Senate Committee on Committees, 
  • one member with an expertise in business management or regulatory compliance appointed by the Treasurer, 
  • one member with an expertise in municipal issues appointed by the Treasurer, 
  • one member with an expertise in public safety appointed by the Attorney General, 
  • one member with an expertise in criminal justice reform appointed by the Attorney General, and 
  • the Secretary of Natural Resources or designee. 

What can you do to affect racial, economic, and agricultural equity and justice in Act 164?

  • Do you want to serve on the CCB Nominating Committee?
  • Do you want to serve on the CCB?
  • Do you want to testify to the legislature about amending the legislation or the CCB as part of the rule-making process?

If so – let us know!

Sign up to participate here.