The Vermont Medical Cannabis Market Needs an Oversight Committee
Since 2015, the Vermont medical cannabis market has had an oversight body known as the Cannabis for Symptom Relief Oversight Committee (CSROC) to advise and assist policymakers by focusing on patient and caregiver interests in Vermont’s Medical Cannabis Registry.
In 2020, Vermont lawmakers passed Act 164 that legalized adult-use cannabis and formed a new state agency, the Cannabis Control Board, to develop rules and oversee the emergent commercial market. That law also tasked the board with overseeing the medical cannabis market, moving the program out of the Department of Public Safety but still keeping the CSROC active.
Then, in 2021, Vermont lawmakers passed Act 62, which dissolved the CSROC in March 2021 and tasked the Cannabis Control Board with a legislative report defining new members and duty recommendations for submission to lawmakers to consider before the 2022 session. On November 1, 2021, the Cannabis Control Board submitted its legislative report to the General Assembly that included its recommendations for a new oversight committee. The Board's recommendations to the General Assembly for the future committee include a 12-member advisory committee:
Six registered patients appointed with the intent to create an inclusive and diverse advisory entity, chosen by the CCB from a list of volunteers from the registry. Criteria should include, but not be limited to, geographical location, socio-economic status, and medical need.
Three registered caregivers chosen with the intent to create an inclusive and diverse advisory entity, chosen by the CCB from a list of volunteers from the registry. Criteria should include, but not be limited to, geographical location, socio-economic status, and medical need.
Two licensed healthcare professionals with knowledge of using cannabis for symptom relief appointed by the CCB from lists provided by the Board of Medical Practice and the Office of Professional Regulation.
One licensed cultivator with expertise in medical strains appointed by the CCB from a list provided by a Vermont cannabis cultivation advocacy organization.
According to its recommendations in its November 2021 legislative report, the term of each member shall be three years, except, that the term of one regular member expires in each ensuing year of the members first appointed, the terms should be staggered. As terms of currently serving members expire, appointments of successors should be in accord with the provisions of the original appointment. Members shall serve not more than two consecutive terms in any capacity.
Before lawmakers tasked the CCB with recommending a new oversight committee, GMPA took the task upon ourselves to tackle this issue ourselves, which included the following recommendation, which also served to advocate the CCB while it was drafting its November 2021 legislative report. We recommend a 10-person panel for the new Medical Cannabis Oversight Advisory Panel, comprised of the following appointees:
One state-registered patient to be appointed by each dispensary holding company (Slang, iAnthus, Curaleaf);
One state-registered patient to be appointed by each dispensary holding company (Slang, iAnthus, Curaleaf);
One state-registered patient to be appointed by each dispensary holding company (Slang, iAnthus, Curaleaf);
One registered nurse to be appointed by American Nurses Association-Vermont;
One naturopath to be appointed by the Vermont Association of Naturopathic Physicians;
One nurse practitioner to be appointed by the Vermont Nurse Practitioner Association;
One state-registered cultivating patient to be appointed by the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition (Vermont Growers Association, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, Rural Vermont, Trace, NOFA-VT, Green Mountain Patients Alliance);
One state-registered cultivating caregiver to be appointed by the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition (Vermont Growers Association, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, Rural Vermont, Trace, NOFA-VT, Green Mountain Patients Alliance);
One non-state-registered cultivating patient to be appointed by the Vermont Cannabis Equity Coalition (Vermont Growers Association, Vermont Racial Justice Alliance, Rural Vermont, Trace, NOFA-VT, Green Mountain Patients Alliance);
One cultivation expert, or one lab science expert, appointed by the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets Hemp Program.
Lawmakers in the State House have yet to act on forming a new oversight committee, but with the CCB's recommendation, our recommendations, and the fact that the medical cannabis program is likely to take more of a focus during the 2024 legislative session, we plan to restore an oversight committee to the medical program for its future viability.
