Four Vermont communities reject cannabis retail proposals
March 5, 2025
that people understand what the local impact is.”> both LEADERS say they’re in talks with their Canadian counter-parts about the situation. A HANDFUL OF VERMONT TOWNS CONSIDERED THE INTRODUCTION OF CANNABIS DISPENSARIES IN THEIR COMMUNITIES ON TOWN MEETING DAY YESTERDAY. HINESBURG, FAIRFAX AND CONCORD ALL REJECTED THE IDEA. WHILE WILMINGTON – WHERE THERE ARE ALREADY TWO DISPENSARIES VOTED AGAINST ADDING ANY MORE. THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD SAYS THIS IS PART OF THE REASON THE CANNABIS MARKET HAS BECOME SATURATED IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE STATE. NBC5S ANNA GUBER JOINS US LIVE FROM WINOOSKI… WHERE WE CAN SEE THE ISSUE THERE. ANNA? YOU CAN SEE PART OF THE PROBLEM JUST BEHIND WITHIN A ONE MINUTE WALK FROM EACH OTHER. MEANWHILE DRIVE 5 MINUTES TO BURLINGTON INTRODUCE NEW DISPENSARIES TO NEW COMMUNITIES THE CANNABIS SAYS IT’S OVERSATURATING THESE CITIES. A SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS ARE PRICE. EDDIE FURCI SAYS WINOOSKI ORGANICS WAS THE áONLY CANNABIS DISPENSARY IN WINOOSKI WHEN HE OPENED UP SHOP IN 20-22. <13;51;22;27 Eddi Furci, Winooski Organics Owner, :06 “You know, we figured it would be a good spot for retail. And there’s a lot of cars that pass by every day and it’s a busy area.”> NOW HE SAYS IF YOU DRIVE THROUGH THE ONION CITY… HIS IS ONE OF THREE DISPENSARIES YOU’LL FIND JUST WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS. INCLUDING ONE THAT’S MOVED IN RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO HIS STORE. <13;52;47;27 Eddie Furci, Winooski Organics Owner, :08 “You know, not there’s going to be four in Winooski in the next few months. There’s another that just opened in the circle. There’s another opening up on Main Street.”> HE SAYS THE INCREASE OF DISPENSARIES WITHIN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES IS GROWING CONCERN AMONG VERMONT CANNABIS RETAILERS. <13;52;56;22 Eddie Furci, Winooski Organics Owner, :03 “There, you know, might reach a point where it’s too saturated for sure.”> HEAD OF THE CANNABIS CONTROL BOARD JAMES PEPPER SAYS IT’S BECOMING AN INCREASING CHALLENGE AS TOWN’S VOTE AGAINST OPTING IN TO CANNABIS RETAIL. <00:00:29:13 James Pepper, Cannabis Control Board, :11 “The cannabis board strives for greater geographic distribution of these retail shops. But, you know, not in towns that don’t want them.”> FOR NOW PEPPER SAYS THE BOARD IS NOT ISSUING ANY NEW CANNABIS RETAIL LICNESES. BUT DURING THE PAUSE BOTH PEPPER AND FURCI ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO CONTINUE THE CONVERSATION. <00:07:01:10 James Pepper, :17 “To have these discussions at their select board levels, with their voters about do we want them kind of close to you know law enforcement, if there’s any public safety issues. Do we want them on the outskirts of town? Do we want them kind of away form the schools or parks or child care centers.”> <13;56;29;13 Eddie Fuci., Winooski Organics Owner, :12 “You know we just want a legal way to continue doing our business and become more part of the community that way. So I’d say just listen to what everyone has to say and be opened.”> THE CONTROL BOARD SAYS LAW MAKERS ARE DISUCSSING THE POSSIBILITY OF INSTATING A NEW LAW THAT WOULD PAUSE THE ISSUING OF CANNABIS RETAIL LICENSES FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. BUT FOR NOW THAT DECISION REMAINS WITH THE BOARD WHO
Four Vermont communities reject cannabis retail proposals
“The cannabis board strives for greater geographic distribution of these retail shops,” Pepper said. “But not in towns that don’t want them.”
On Town Meeting Day, voters in Hinesburg, Fairfax and Concord rejected proposals to opt-in to cannabis retail in their community. In Wilmington, where there are already two dispensaries, voters rejected adding any more. The decisions come as small business owners and the cannabis control board battle the challenges created by the limited options for sellers to open new cannabis businesses. Eddie Furci, owner of Winooski Organics, said when he opened up the shop in 2022, his was the only dispensary in Winooski. “You know, we figured it would be a good spot for retail,” Furci said. “There’s a lot of cars that pass by every day, and it’s a busy area.”And yet, today, Furci’s business is one of three you’ll find in a half-mile radius in the Onion City, one of which has moved in next door. “There’s going to be four in Winooski in the next few months,” he said. “There’s another that just opened in the circle. There’s another opening up on Main Street.” Furci said the increase in dispensaries within certain communities is a growing concern among Vermont cannabis retailers. “There might reach a point where it’s too saturated for sure,” he said. James Pepper, head of the Cannabis Control Board, already sees that point edging near. Pepper said it’s becoming an increasing challenge as towns vote against opting for cannabis retail. “The cannabis board strives for greater geographic distribution of these retail shops,” Pepper said. “But not in towns that don’t want them.”Since October, the board has decided to pause issuing new licenses to cannabis retailers. Pepper said that decision will stay in play for now while he encourages conversations around cannabis to continue. Meanwhile, Furci asks communities to listen to the small business owners looking to thrive in Vermont. “You know, we just want a legal way to continue doing our business and become more part of the community that way,” he said. “So I’d say just listen to what everyone has to say and be open.”
On Town Meeting Day, voters in Hinesburg, Fairfax and Concord rejected proposals to opt-in to cannabis retail in their community. In Wilmington, where there are already two dispensaries, voters rejected adding any more.
The decisions come as small business owners and the cannabis control board battle the challenges created by the limited options for sellers to open new cannabis businesses.
Eddie Furci, owner of Winooski Organics, said when he opened up the shop in 2022, his was the only dispensary in Winooski.
“You know, we figured it would be a good spot for retail,” Furci said. “There’s a lot of cars that pass by every day, and it’s a busy area.”
And yet, today, Furci’s business is one of three you’ll find in a half-mile radius in the Onion City, one of which has moved in next door.
“There’s going to be four in Winooski in the next few months,” he said. “There’s another that just opened in the circle. There’s another opening up on Main Street.”
Furci said the increase in dispensaries within certain communities is a growing concern among Vermont cannabis retailers.
“There might reach a point where it’s too saturated for sure,” he said.
James Pepper, head of the Cannabis Control Board, already sees that point edging near. Pepper said it’s becoming an increasing challenge as towns vote against opting for cannabis retail.
“The cannabis board strives for greater geographic distribution of these retail shops,” Pepper said. “But not in towns that don’t want them.”
Since October, the board has decided to pause issuing new licenses to cannabis retailers. Pepper said that decision will stay in play for now while he encourages conversations around cannabis to continue.
Meanwhile, Furci asks communities to listen to the small business owners looking to thrive in Vermont.
“You know, we just want a legal way to continue doing our business and become more part of the community that way,” he said. “So I’d say just listen to what everyone has to say and be open.”
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