Vermont Gov. Phil Scott (R) allowed a medical cannabis expansion bill to become law without his signature, Vermont Public reports. The law allows existing retailers to qualify for a medical cannabis license to sell specifically to qualified patients who can access higher potency products without a sales tax.
In a statement to Vermont Public, James Pepper, chair of Vermont’s Cannabis Control Board, noted that some of the state’s qualifying medical cannabis patients have to make long trips to a medical cannabis dispensary. Pepper said that patients who live in the Northeast Kingdom region may have to drive as much as 2-and-a-half hours to access a medical cannabis dispensary.
“We actually don’t need to preserve the existing medical dispensary paradigm the way it was conceived back in 2011. However, patients still need the benefits of a medical program.” — Pepper to Vermont Public
Scott had voiced concerns that some of the higher potency medical cannabis products might find their way into the retail market, and has urged lawmakers to address those concerns next year.
The bill passed the Legislature on May 10 and took effect without Scott’s signature on June 10.
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