Royalton is weighing retail cannabis sales after a neighboring dispensary owner asked the town to let voters decide. Something Wicked owner Shannon Morrill, who operates a Bethel shop at 269 Main Street, asked the Selectboard last week to place a retail cannabis sales question on a future ballot so her business could consider relocating or opening an additional location in Royalton.
Morrill told the board that many customers come from Vermont Law School and South Royalton and that several have said they would prefer to walk to a dispensary rather than drive. At her Bethel location, Something Wicked averages 20 to 30 customers per day and recorded $4,000 in revenue that would equal a 1% local option tax on last year’s sales. Morrill also reported that 36% of customers present out-of-state driver’s licenses, and some visitors come to Bethel primarily for the dispensary.
Vermont law and local process Vermont’s Act 164 (2020) allows retail cannabis where municipalities approve sales by majority vote. In the Upper Valley, Hartford, Bethel, Bradford, Fairlee, Randolph, Strafford, Windsor and Woodstock have voted to allow retail sales; Royalton has not.
Morrill asked the Selectboard to put the question on the Aug. 11 primary ballot. Selectboard Chairman Patrick Dakin said that ballot language must be warned 45 days in advance, which likely rules out August. Clerk Nell Gwin suggested the November ballot as an alternative. The Selectboard vice chair, Larry Trottier, told Morrill, “I think we should look into it and see what we can do for you.” The board plans a more detailed discussion at its July 14 meeting.
Local tax and revenue examples Royalton is also considering a 1% local option sales tax on the next Town Meeting warning. If voters approve both retail sales and a 1% local option tax, a dispensary would generate direct revenue for the town. Morrill said 1% of Something Wicked’s Bethel sales last year equaled about $4,000. Hartford, which approved retail sales in 2022 and a 1% local option tax in 2025, projects roughly $1.1 million this year from its 1% tax. Hartford’s town manager, John Haverstock, said that revenue is dedicated to property tax relief.
State tax structure and funds State-level taxes also collect revenue from cannabis. The Vermont Legislative Joint Fiscal Office reports that 20% of all cannabis sales already goes to the state. On top of that, a 6% state cannabis sales tax funds the Agency of Education’s Universal Afterschool and Summer Special Fund; the state projects $9.7 million to that fund in 2026. A separate 14% excise tax is expected to yield $22.6 million this year; 30% of excise revenue goes to the Department of Health’s Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund and 70% goes to the state general fund.
Economic and community impacts Morrill said a dispensary in Royalton could increase foot traffic for nearby restaurants and shops. She described cross-promotion in Bethel, where businesses refer customers to one another. Haverstock said he is not aware of negative consequences from Hartford’s dispensaries and emphasized that out-of-town visitors can help broaden the town’s tax base.
Public concerns and regulation Selectboard members and residents have raised typical concerns, including youth access. Morrill said licensed retailers reduce the illegal market by sourcing from licensed Vermont growers and offering regulated products. “People are willing to pay a premium to know they’re getting something safe and legal,” she said.
Timing and next steps Royalton officials must decide whether to put a retail cannabis sales question before voters and whether to include a 1% local option tax. Because of the 45-day warning requirement for ballot measures, August appears unlikely; November has been suggested. The Selectboard will discuss the issue at its July 14 meeting, and any move to put questions on a ballot would follow formal warning procedures and public notice.
Regional context Neighboring New Hampshire still prohibits retail recreational cannabis sales, which may direct some customers to Vermont towns that permit retail outlets. Towns that allow dispensaries report a mix of local and out-of-state customers, and some municipalities use local option taxes to fund property tax relief or other local services.
Morrill’s lease in Bethel runs through November. She said she hopes a clear town decision will allow better planning for Something Wicked’s future operations, whether that means expanding into Royalton or remaining in Bethel.
