HARTFORD — Town officials plan to hold a “Cannabis Town Hall Meeting” on Monday evening to discuss how Hartford might be affected when the sale of recreational marijuana in Vermont becomes legal next year.
Among the issues to be discussed are whether the town might “opt in” to allow a private retail dispensary in town, as Windsor did at Town Meeting in March, and also how growers might be affected as well.
“We want to get it on the ballot for March for the town to decide what they want to do,” said Hartford Selectboard Vice Chair Joe Major, who is moderating the forum and said he is himself uncertain on the measure. He said he wants to learn more about how a dispensary might benefit revenue in Hartford and if there would be any zoning restrictions, such as keeping a licensed cannabis retailer away from a school zone.
The state Cannabis Control Board last month issued proposed rules for licensing and regulating cannabis establishments.
The Control Board says opt-in votes apply only to retail establishments, which could start selling in October, or existing medical marijuana dispensaries, which might start retailing in the spring, but does not impact the ability of other licensed businesses — such as cultivators, manufacturers or wholesalers — to operate in a town.
Major acknowledged that Hartford’s location at the crossroads of interstates 89 and 91 and proximity to New Hampshire, where recreational marijuana remains illegal, could be attractive to people in the cannabis industry.
“New Hampshire, quite frankly, has had no indication of getting involved in this, and so, at least for the immediate future, (Hartford) could be lucrative for a business owner,” Major said. “I’m all for business, but I’m (also) all for if the townspeople don’t feel comfortable with this being in the community.”
The town hall meeting, which is co-sponsored by the Selectboard and the Hartford Community Coalition, runs from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Hartford High School auditorium, and will also be held virtually at https://catv8.org/ or on Zoom at https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89804911405, but only in-person attendees at the high school will be able to ask questions.
Panelists slated to appear include Kimberly Gilbert of the Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional Commission; Janet Potter of the Hartford School District; Alan Budney of the Geisel School of Medicine; Stephanie Waterman from Grow Pro; Dave Silberman, an attorney and High Bailiff of Addison County who has long favored legalizing and regulating cannabis; and Hartford Director of Planning and Development Lori Hirshfield.
John Gregg can be reached at jgregg@vnews.com or 603-727-3217.