Vermont Lt. Gov Wants to Let Cannabis Cultivators Sell Directly to Consumers

Vermont Lt. Gov. John Rodgers (R) is calling on lawmakers to amend the
state’s cannabis laws to allow cannabis cultivators to sell their products
directly to consumers, Vermont Public Radio reports. Rodgers also wants the
law to be changed to allow cannabis to be consumed anywhere tobacco use is
allowed.

“We’ve legalized marijuana – cannabis – and there are people who have
apartments, have no place to smoke. You should be allowed to smoke cannabis
anywhere you can consume tobacco products.” — Rodgers to VPR

Rodgers told VPR that he wanted to allow growers to sell directly to
consumers because the businesses of many small cultivators are threatened
due to not having access to shelf space in the state’s dispensaries.

“Because the retailers now hold all the cards, they can ice people out,”
Rodgers told VPR. “They can pick and choose who they want to deal with, and
you’ve got a whole bunch of really good growers that don’t have enough
market.”

Rodgers is the only state-elected official in the U.S. who has a cannabis
cultivator license. He’s seeking the changes in the bill that passed the
House last month that it currently being considered by the Senate, which
would make changes to the state’s adult-use cannabis law, including
background check requirements, rules for license changes, and other
administrative reforms.