SHARON — Residents have renewed efforts to allow retail marijuana sales in town, filing a petition calling for a second vote on the issue.
Last week, voters rejected a ballot measure that would have allowed the sale of recreational marijuana products in the city by just two votes.
On Monday, the town clerk's office received a “petition to reconsider the retail cannabis opt-in vote,” Town Clerk Kathryn Sarter said Wednesday. The petition contains 72 valid signatures, meeting the 5% threshold of registered voters needed to encourage a vote.
The Oct. 15 vote itself was prompted by a petition started by Chelsea resident Sean Trombley, who owns a cannabis cultivation business called Trombley House of Cannabis. Earlier this year, Trombley purchased the former Sandy's Diner building on Route 14 with hopes of converting it into a retail pharmacy with an adjacent food and ice cream store.
Some residents who opposed last week's ballot measure cited increased traffic in town and the Sandy's building's proximity to Sharon's three schools (each about a mile away from the former cafeteria). expressed concern.
Supporters said allowing marijuana sales would be convenient and help the local economy. Vermont legalized recreational marijuana sales in 2022, but each town must “opt in” to allow sales through a public vote.
Mr. Sater did not say what the new voting schedule would be. According to Vermont Statutes 17 VSA §2643, city officials must be alerted to a special meeting within 60 days of receiving the petition.
Regardless of the outcome of the second vote, Trombley's plans to open a retail dispensary will be delayed due to the suspension of new retail and cultivation licenses, which will take effect Oct. 25. The suspension of new licenses was imposed by the Cannabis Control Commission. An effort to protect businesses by preventing market oversaturation in the state's most populated areas. There is currently no timeline for how long the suspension will last.
Christina Dolan can be reached at cdolan@vnews.com or 603-727-3208.
