Walter Martone hopes that a cannabis store in Springfield could draw people to town from nearby Ludlow, which has twice voted against allowing cannabis retail establishments.
Ludlow is home to Okemo Mountain Resort. During ski season, some Okemo customers already come to Springfield to shop, according to Martone, chair of the Springfield Selectboard. He expects that the availability of cannabis would draw more visitors.
“Maybe because it’s not available in Ludlow, they might see that it would be worth coming here not just for that, but also because of the other things that we have in town,” Martone said.
Springfield is among the largest of at least 41 Vermont cities and towns that will decide on Town Meeting Day next Tuesday whether to allow cannabis retail establishments, according to a VTDigger survey of municipal clerks. Others include Barre City, Essex, Hartford, Manchester, Rutland Town, Rutland City and St. Albans Town.
Prior to this year, 33 cities and towns have already opted to allow retail establishments, according to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns.
Tuesday’s votes will occur as Vermont races toward legal cannabis sales, following passage in 2020 of a law regulating a cannabis marketplace. On May 1, medical dispensaries will be allowed to sell cannabis for recreational use. And on Oct. 1, anyone who obtains a license will be able to open a retail establishment to sell cannabis to adults 21 and older.
Martone said he supports hosting cannabis stores in Springfield not only because of potential ski traffic, but also because it would ensure that the town’s young adults would be able to buy cannabis free of potentially deadly additives such as fentanyl. Only those 21 and older would be allowed into Vermont’s cannabis retail establishments.
“Having a substance that is legal and that can be acquired in town would maybe help to prevent some of this black-market dangerous stuff from having as much of an audience,” Martone said.
He said he does not know whether his fellow voters will agree.
“I hear a great deal of interest about it,” Martone said. “Not a lot of people declaring at this point which direction they’re going in.”
In Essex — the most populous community to vote on cannabis retail establishments Tuesday — perhaps the most surprising revelation about the debate is that there does not seem to be much of one.
“I heard a lot about it a couple years ago,” said Rep. Tanya Vyhovsky, P/D-Essex. “I’m not hearing as much now. Honestly, it’s been pretty quiet, which is a little surprising to me. People aren’t saying much.”
Vyhovsky attributes the lack of debate to the fact that the legalization of cannabis possession in Vermont is settled.
“It’s been legalized for a while,” Vyhovsky said. “The sky didn’t fall.”
Similarly, said Rep. Lori Houghton, D-Essex, “I’m not hearing anything from constituents.”
Several other state lawmakers from other regions of the state offered similar assessments. Among them was Rep. Tommy Walz, D-Barre City, who in an email summed up the comments he’s heard as “ZILCH.”
Not everyone is convinced. In Hartford, one opponent raised the potential cost of additional policing if the town allows retail establishments.
“There’s potential need for even more police enforcement,” said Emily Zanleoni, executive director of the Hartford Community Coalition.
Zanleoni said she is also worried that if sales are legal, more minors will obtain cannabis from adults and that people do not understand how potent cannabis products can be.
She said she would prefer that Hartford wait to legalize cannabis retail sales until after the Legislature has funded the necessary staff at the Vermont Cannabis Control Board to enforce regulations.
Meanwhile, Essex Selectboard Vice Chair Patrick Murray said, “the majority are definitely supportive” of retail cannabis, although it’s “not been universal by any means.”
Those who oppose the measure who have spoken to him do not oppose cannabis sales per se but are concerned that retail establishments may end up close to schools, he said.
“These days, you find very few people who are like, ‘Marijuana is the devil’s drug,’” Murray said.
Other municipalities voting on cannabis Tuesday include Bolton, Bristol, Castleton, Chester, Derby, Eden, Fair Haven, Fayston, Ferrisburgh, Grand Isle, Hardwick, Leicester, Marlboro, Middlesex, Milton, Moretown, Mount Holly, New Haven, Norton, Pittsford, Poultney, Proctor, Putney, Richford, Rockingham, Sheldon, Stratton, Vernon, Waitsfield, Wallingford, Wilmington, Wolcott and Woodstock.
Kevin O’Connor contributed reporting.
Correction: Stockbridge will vote by Australian ballot on March 22. An earlier version of this story indicated an incorrect date.
