Vermont lawmakers consider banning cannabis concentrates

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The state’s recreational cannabis market is likely to go through some undesired changes

The recreational cannabis market in Vermont may soon be in for some significant changes. Cannabis concentrates may eventually be taken out of the equation, so adults will no longer be able to obtain them legally.

Last Thursday a meeting of the Vermont House Government Operations Committee was held. During the meeting, a vote was taken to amend bill H.548. The new text would remove solid cannabis concentrates exceeding 60% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) from the adult-use market in the state.

The Vermont Growers Association appears to disagree with this amendment to the legislation as it poses a danger to the state’s recreational market, as well as introducing significant risk and affecting a large number of local businesses and consumers. Added to all this, projected state revenues would be impacted and cannabis products will remain outside of a regulatory framework.

Should the measure pass, Vermont would become the first state in the country whose recreational market would have THC limits. The Vermont Growers Association is calling on lawmakers in the Conference Committee to give the green light to the Senate version of the same bill. Included there is a language that removes THC limits on solid concentrates.

Many of the concentrates (rosin and bubble hash) and concentrate-derived products (topicals and edibles) generally account for at least half of a state’s total recreational consumption market. All of these products are not only popular with consumers, but generate significant tax revenues month after month.