Voters Across Vermont Say Yes to Cannabis Retail in Their Towns

ESSEX — More than 40 Vermont communities voted Tuesday on whether to allow cannabis sales locally once the state’s retail market begins this year, many the result of citizen-led campaigns to get the issue onto the ballot.

Essex, the second-largest community in Vermont and the biggest to hold a cannabis-related vote, approved the sale of adult use cannabis by a wide margin. A petition there was shy of the required signatures, but selectboard members allowed the item on the ballot since it was so close to Town Meeting Day.

Other larger communities that voted yes to cannabis on Town Meeting Day included Rutland (city and town), Hartford, Barre, Milton, and Manchester. This morning the Addison Independent reported that Bristol approved its measure by a 2:1 margin.

The few towns that rejected cannabis at the ballot included New Haven, Castleton, Eden and Swanton Village.

Across about 30 municipalities who reported results Tuesday night, some 36,200 voters favored retail cannabis, while 18,600 disapproved, VTDigger said Tuesday evening.

Two years ago, lawmakers approved a taxed retail market for cannabis in Vermont and Governor Phil Scott allowed the bill to pass without his signature.

In order to allow sales in their communities, cities and towns must vote on whether to allow sales. Before 2022 Town Meeting Day, 33 municipalities had approved retail cannabis. If communities approve it, businesses can start applying for a state license on April 1. A state board will review the license requests.

The Legislature is still discussing local fees, where municipalities can charge $100 for a retail permit. By state law, towns are not allowed to pass additional taxes on top of the 20% state tax. Towns with a 1% local option tax for restaurants and hotels will be able to collect 1% on cannabis as well.

Readers can find a working list of towns that passed cannabis retail, as well as our fully updated opt-in map below.

Editor’s Note: This post will be updated when new results come in. We previously listed New Haven as a yes vote but it has been corrected to a no. Have you seen additional voting results that aren’t on our list? Email us at [email protected] with your tips.

✅ TOWNS VOTING YES ✅ 
Essex: 3,589-2,473
Barre: 767-463
Hartford: 1,152-748
Milton: 1,060-895
Manchester: 591-355
Rutland City: 1718-1147
Rutland Town: 468-425

Bolton: 114-63
Bristol: 513-264
Cambridge: 348-248
Chester: 318-267
Derby: 200-165
Fair Haven: 285-230
Fayston: 129-78
Ferrisburgh: 294-172
Grand Isle: 316-223
Hardwick: 184-171
Marlboro: 201 – 94
Middlesex: 360-195
Moretown: 326-207
Pittsford: 323-313
Poultney: 298-258
Proctor: 125-102
Putney: 384-263
Rockingham: 318-187
Saint Albans Town: 830-755
Sheldon: 71-69
Springfield: 715 – 632
Stratton: 20 yes
Wallingford: 269-228
Waitsfield : 297-160
Wilmington: 173-85
Wolcott: 142-202
Woodstock: 448-387

🚫 TOWNS VOTING NO 🚫
Castleton: 351-306
Eden: 27-19
Leicester: 56-53
Mount Holly: 250-147
New Haven: 180-152
Norton: 19 no
Swanton Village: 125-119
Vernon

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