Vermont gears up for retail cannabis sales, but many businesses still waiting on licenses
Vermont is just five days away from legal retail cannabis sales.
But some shops are still waiting to receive the necessary licensing.
Every retail cannabis shop in Vermont needs a license from the state to get up and running, but many also need a local license.
Getting both has delayed openings for some stores in the state with many unable to open on Oct. 1.
"There are relatively few retailers and manufacturers in particular who have their licenses, even though we're just before the launch date of the retail market," said Catherine Burke, an attorney at Gravel & Shea.
Burke said it took time for the Cannabis Control Board to roll out the official application process for businesses, which caused some confusion.
"People didn't know necessarily what they were going to need," Burke said.
With some towns and cities, like Burlington, requiring an additional local license to sell, getting both approvals has pushed back openings for some businesses.
"You have to be approved by the city or the town, depending where it is, before the state will approve your application," Burke said. "But the city wants to see that the state has provisionally approved your application. So they are working in concert. They certainly are looking for many of the same things."
The approval process has left some retailers, like Brooke Jenkins, the COO at Green State Gardener, on the edge of their seats.
"We're ready, we're just waiting," Jenkins said.
Green State Gardener wants to expand into the dispensary business but they will not be able to sell on Oct. 1.
They have their Burlington license but are still waiting on the state's go-ahead.
"The final piece is just to have a site visit from the Cannabis Control Board and then we'll be licensed to open," Jenkins. said "So that's it! We're staffed, we're secured, we're ready to go! Just waiting for the final sign off."
Jenkins said that approval could come as early as next week and it would only take a couple of days to get Green State Dispensary up and running.
"Professionally, I've been waiting for this day for a long time so I'm just super excited," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said while she wishes the approvals could come a little faster, she thinks Vermont has been doing a great job.