Sunset Lake Cannabis, located in South Hero, Vermont, is redefining cannabis cultivation with a strong focus on sustainability and community engagement. Emerging from a dairy farming background, the company is owned by local farmers who are committed to environmentally responsible practices. Founded by Sam Bellavance, whose family previously supplied milk to Ben & Jerry’s through their Caring Dairy program, Sunset Lake Cannabis transitioned from dairy to hemp and now to cannabis after Vermont legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021.
The company, which already had a successful CBD line, expanded its operations to include premium recreational cannabis. In December 2023, they launched Lake Effect Vermont, a farm store dispensary that provides direct access to their full product range, including cannabis flower, pre-rolls, and edibles. The dispensary also features carefully selected items from other local producers, supporting the regional cannabis economy.
Sunset Lake Cannabis emphasizes sustainability at every level of production. Their methods include sun-grown cannabis in living soil, eliminating the use of artificial lighting and energy-intensive grow rooms. They are Vermont’s first cannabis company to achieve Climate Neutral Certification through collaboration with Change Climate, an international nonprofit. The company uses a mixture of dairy manure and spent grain from a local brewery for fertilization, significantly reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. Pest control strategies integrate natural predators such as assassin bugs and trichogramma wasps, and cover crops like clover and timothy grass enhance soil health and attract pollinators.
Rev Baker, the Director of Marketing at Sunset Lake, stated, ‘We’re proud to let the Vermont sun do the work. It’s better for the planet and better for the plant.’ This approach not only prioritizes environmental stewardship but also promotes local agricultural practices.
In addition to their ecological initiatives, Sunset Lake Cannabis actively contributes to the welfare of the Vermont community. The company supports local food banks, disaster relief efforts, and advocates for causes related to criminal justice reform and land stewardship. They are members of various organizations, such as Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility and Vermont NORML, and their co-founders hold leadership positions within these groups.
‘We’re not just growers; we’re advocates, neighbors, and stewards,’ Baker emphasized. ‘We believe in a cannabis industry that’s fair, sustainable, and deeply rooted in community.’
For those interested in supporting local agriculture and exploring sun-grown cannabis, Lake Effect Vermont is open seven days a week at 6 South Street, South Hero, VT. The dispensary offers discounts for veterans and medical cardholders, along with exclusive in-store products. Customers can expect high-quality cannabis from the same farmers who produced Sunset Lake CBD, reflecting the same dedication to quality and integrity. The dispensary also features a range of products from small local growers, underscoring their commitment to the Vermont cannabis community.
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