Vermontijuana - Elevate the State

All is not lost for cannabis reform in Vermont in 2017 as major medical marijuana reforms have officially been signed into law by Governor Phil Scott on Thursday, June 8 via the bill known as S.16.

The law will make it considerably easier to become a patient with a new specialist referral program, add more qualifying conditions - including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - will increase the number of medical marijuana dispensary licenses, allow those license-holders to each open up an additional location and run those dispensaries as for-profit businesses with fewer restrictions.

Finally, we interview Kevin, a former Vermont resident who's since left the state to work in the cannabis industry in another New England state. After a severe back injury and years of failed pharmaceutical treatments, Kevin was able to successfully replace opiate and narcotic painkillers with medical marijuana and marijuana infused products.

In the latest installment, host and documented joint-roller Eli Harrington visits the Burlington Farmer's Market on UVM Graduation weekend for a 'man on the street' style interview asking Vermonters (and the tourists who pay the bills) what they think Governor Phil Scott should do with the bill on his desk and if they could ever envision cannabis at the Burlington Farmer's Market.

While at the Farmer's Market, we ran into a longtime friend and Burlington business maven, Cynthia Hausman of Cynthia's Spa, an entrepreneur currently researching how she might revitalize and preserve her family's organic farm land with a hemp crop AND who's spa currently offers hemp/cbd treatment options!

Finally, we speak to longtime farmer's market vendor and organic farmer (and Lt. Governor) David Zuckerman for a brief discussion of what he's hearing for feedback from constituents and if he could imagine cannabis at a farmer's market in the future.

In the latest installment, host and documented joint-roller Eli Harrington visits the Burlington Farmer's Market on UVM Graduation weekend for a 'man on the street' style interview asking Vermonters (and the tourists who pay the bills) what they think Governor Phil Scott should do with the bill on his desk and if they could ever envision cannabis at the Burlington Farmer's Market.

While at the Farmer's Market, we ran into a longtime friend and Burlington business maven, Cynthia Hausman of Cynthia's Spa, an entrepreneur currently researching how she might revitalize and preserve her family's organic farm land with a hemp crop AND who's spa currently offers hemp/cbd treatment options!

Finally, we speak to longtime farmer's market vendor and organic farmer (and Lt. Governor) David Zuckerman for a brief discussion of what he's hearing for feedback from constituents and if he could imagine cannabis at a farmer's market in the future.

On Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Vermont made history by becoming the first state to successfully pass a legalization bill via the state legislature (instead of a referendum, as with other states). The bill, S.22, would create a commission to propose a regulation bill for 2018 and by July 1, 2018, eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and home cultivation of up to two immature and four immature plants.

HOWEVER, none of this matters if Governor Phil Scott decides to veto the bill, which he may do. In this episode of the Vermontijuana podcast, host Eli Harrington dissects the Governor's latest responses to the cannabis question of "will he or won't he sign or veto the bill?", his philosophical stance on cannabis, and his priority issues for future cannabis regulation.

On Wednesday, May 10, 2017 Vermont made history by becoming the first state to successfully pass a legalization bill via the state legislature (instead of a referendum, as with other states). The bill, S.22, would create a commission to propose a regulation bill for 2018 and by July 1, 2018, eliminate all criminal and civil penalties for possession of up to one ounce of cannabis and home cultivation of up to two immature and four immature plants.

HOWEVER, none of this matters if Governor Phil Scott decides to veto the bill, which he may do. In this episode of the Vermontijuana podcast, host Eli Harrington dissects the Governor's latest responses to the cannabis question of "will he or won't he sign or veto the bill?", his philosophical stance on cannabis, and his priority issues for future cannabis regulation.

Host Eli Harrington shares a recap of the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) 2017 at their third annual Boston show, this year held April 22-23 at the Hynes Convention Center in the heart of Boston. Listen to Marc Shepard, NECANN President & Co-Founder discuss how he's built New England's largest cannabis trade show and gathering, why and how NECANN is growing exponentially and evolving as an event, and how legal changes in Massachusetts and Maine are shaping the future of New England.

Also hear interviews with convention participants themselves, including a chemist who talks about cannabis brain drain into legal states and the University of Vermont's pharmacology course offerings. Also hear from Corey Kupiec, the Vermont representative from the New England Veterans' Alliance (NEVA), who talked about what their organization is doing and the impact of events like NECANN for helping to create regional partnerships.

Host Eli Harrington shares a recap of the New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN) 2017 at their third annual Boston show, this year held April 22-23 at the Hynes Convention Center in the heart of Boston. Listen to Marc Shepard, NECANN President & Co-Founder discuss how he's built New England's largest cannabis trade show and gathering, why and how NECANN is growing exponentially and evolving as an event, and how legal changes in Massachusetts and Maine are shaping the future of New England.

Also hear interviews with convention participants themselves, including a chemist who talks about cannabis brain drain into legal states and the University of Vermont's pharmacology course offerings. Also hear from Corey Kupiec, the Vermont representative from the New England Veterans' Alliance (NEVA), who talked about what their organization is doing and the impact of events like NECANN for helping to create regional partnerships.

At the Heady Vermont Cannabis Advocacy Day in Montpelier, host Eli Harrington had the chance to interview Clay, a successful medical marijuana dispensary owner and operator who recently left his established business in Colorado to return to his home state of Vermont to start and raise his family.

In the interview, Clay shares his personal cannabis experiences, how he took a calculated risk in Colorado to pursue his passion, why he left, and what he hopes to accomplish back in his home state of Vermont.

This episode of the Vermontijuana Podcast is presented by the Vermont Cannabis Week and the Heady Vermont First Anniversary 4/20 Party

At the Heady Vermont Cannabis Advocacy Day in Montpelier, host Eli Harrington had the chance to interview Clay, a successful medical marijuana dispensary owner and operator who recently left his established business in Colorado to return to his home state of Vermont to start and raise his family.

In the interview, Clay shares his personal cannabis experiences, how he took a calculated risk in Colorado to pursue his passion, why he left, and what he hopes to accomplish back in his home state of Vermont.

This episode of the Vermontijuana Podcast is presented by the Vermont Cannabis Week and the Heady Vermont First Anniversary 4/20 Party

Host Eli Harrington takes a look at the last month of legislative maneuvering, where the Vermont legalization bill (170) is at presently, how it might still happen in 2017, and challenges supporters to join Heady Vermont in Montpelier for a lobbying day next week. Includes interviews from Matt Simon of the Marijuana Policy Project and audio testimony from legalization opponent Dr. Jill Rineheart, who told a committee that 'secondhand smoke is definitely a problem' and that 'big marijuana' is somehow behind a bill that would not allow any sales of cannabis...