BURLINGTON, Vt. (WCAX) – Two years ago, Vermont became the 11th state to legalize adult-use cannabis. Now, adults 21 and over can legally purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries — and it’s big business, exceeding expectations.
In 2023, dispensaries sold $58 million worth of products, generating $11 million in tax revenue. This year — as of October — sales reached $128 million, generating $25 million in tax revenue, which comes from a 14% excise tax and the state’s 6% sales tax.
In this week’s edition of 802 News, Mark Johnson spoke with James Pepper, chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board, about the progress and potholes in the two-year experiment, and some of the ideas the board hopes to implement in the future.