Petition in Support of a Licensed Cannabis Retailer in Ferrisburgh, Vermont

To the Vermont Cannabis Control Board:

We, the undersigned residents, customers, and supporters of Addison County, respectfully urge the Vermont Cannabis Control Board to approve the proposed licensed cannabis retailer in Ferrisburgh, Vermont.

Vermont established a regulated adult-use cannabis market with the goals of protecting public health, improving consumer safety, supporting local businesses, and reducing reliance on the illicit market. A licensed dispensary in Ferrisburgh advances each of these objectives by providing adults with access to tested, regulated cannabis products in a safe and professionally operated retail environment.

The proposed dispensary would offer several important benefits to the community:

Provide safe, laboratory-tested cannabis products that meet Vermont’s strict regulatory standards.
Keep consumer spending within Vermont while generating state and local tax revenue.
Create local jobs and support the regional economy.
Increase convenience for residents who currently must travel significant distances to purchase legal cannabis.
Encourage consumers to purchase through licensed businesses rather than the unregulated market.
Operate under the comprehensive oversight of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board, including security requirements, inventory tracking, age verification, product testing, and compliance inspections.
We understand that some members of the community have expressed concerns about locating a dispensary in Ferrisburgh. We respect those opinions. However, decisions regarding licensed businesses should be based on evidence, compliance with Vermont law, and the demonstrated ability of an applicant to operate responsibly.

Licensed cannabis retailers are among the most heavily regulated businesses in Vermont. They are required to verify that every customer is at least 21 years of age, maintain extensive security systems, track all products from cultivation to sale, comply with strict advertising limitations, and operate under ongoing oversight from the Cannabis Control Board. These safeguards exist specifically to protect communities while providing adults with access to legal cannabis. (Vermont.gov⁠)

A responsibly operated dispensary can become a positive member of the community by creating employment opportunities, supporting neighboring businesses, contributing to the local tax base, and providing a professional alternative to illegal cannabis sales.

Ferrisburgh deserves the same opportunity as many other Vermont communities to benefit from a regulated cannabis marketplace. Denying a compliant applicant does not eliminate cannabis use—it simply encourages consumers to spend their money elsewhere or seek products from the unregulated market, where there are no testing requirements, age verification, or consumer protections.

For these reasons, we respectfully ask the Vermont Cannabis Control Board to approve the proposed cannabis retailer in Ferrisburgh and allow this business to serve the community in accordance with Vermont law and the Board’s regulations.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Respectfully submitted,

The Undersigned Supporters of a Licensed Cannabis Retailer in Ferrisburgh, Vermont