David Yacovone – Vermont House, Lamoille-Washington

What, in your mind, is the ideal structure for a functional legal Tax and Regulate system? How would you work with other branches of government to create this kind of system?

I think using our liquor system might work, but I am not an expert and will listen to others, I am flexible.

How would you assess Vermont’s current medical marijuana program? How will you ensure that registered medical patients and caregivers have access to an abundance of high-quality cannabis products priced at or below market rates?
Keep the medical program and use some of the tax revenue to subsidize the price.
How will you ensure that people who’ve been disproportionately affected by prohibition (such as convicts and People Of Color) will have an equal opportunity to participate in Vermont’s legal cannabis industry? In particular, how will you work for statewide expungement of convictions for possession?
Ask the Attorney General to develop an expungement program that helps mitigate past injustices and promotes fairness.
How will you make sure that all Vermonters have equal access to joining the legal cannabis industry as small and startup businesses?
The system will be regulated but not designed to restrict small operators. In fact we can encourage them.
Do you think state can sustain both a medical and a recreational program – or would you combine cannabis regulations into one system?
I am open minded on this and will take the testimony into account. I am not locked into a position.
If tax-and-regulate is passed, how would you prefer to allocate cannabis revenues? To the general fund or to specific causes? If specific, please share any proposals.
I think to the general fund. Again I am flexible.
Would you allow Vermont towns to enact temporary moratoriums or outright bans on legal cannabis businesses?
I am hesitant to do this. It encourages people to drive far distances which could be problematic.