S.278

An act relating to cannabis

Sponsors: Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale , Sen. Alison Clarkson, Sen. Martine Gulick, Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sen. Richard Westman, Sen. Rebecca White

Last Recorded Action: 5/26/2026 - Action Calendar: Favorable with Amendment

Committee Activity - Meeting Full List

Regular Session 2025-2026

Thursday, February 12, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

10:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Committee Discussion

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

11:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Testimony

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association
David Silverman, Chief Executive Officer, Union Bank

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

9:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Damian Fagon, Policy Director, Parabola Center for Law and Policy
Nathan Davidson, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Timothy Egan, Vermont NORML
Jean Hamilton, Director of Program Development, Land Access and Opportunity Board
Ornella Matta-Figueroa, Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, Land Access and Opportunity Board
Jessilyn Dolan, Co Founder, Green Mountain Patients' Alliance
Dave Silberman, Director, Vermont Cannabis Action Fund
Miriam El Guemri, Owner, Tea House Dispensary
Sara Farnsworth, Owner, Full Circle Farm
Ethan Kramer, Co-owner, Tilia Hills Farm
Chris Lillie, Owner, Green Mountain Sativa
Sam Bellavance, Chief Executive Officer, Sunset Lake Cannabis
Josh MacDuff, Co-owner, Mountain Girl Cannabis
Glauke Cooijmans, Prevention Coordinator, Mount Anthony Union Middle and High School
Janet Potter, Student Assistance Provider, Hartford Middle School
James Trimarchi, Director of Planning, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Rick Hildebrant, Commissioner, Department of Health

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

9:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Joint Hearing with House Government Operations in Room 11.
Testimony will be heard from growers, advertisers, doctors, retailers, and events licensees. The meeting will be live-streamed from Senate Economic Development's YouTube.
https://legislature.vermont.gov/committee/streaming/senate-economic-development-housing-and-general-affairs.

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Damian Fagon, Policy Director, Parabola Center for Law and Policy
Nathan Davidson, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Timothy Egan, Vermont NORML
Jean Hamilton, Director of Program Development, Land Access and Opportunity Board
Ornella Matta-Figueroa, Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement, Land Access and Opportunity Board
Dave Silberman, Director, Vermont Cannabis Action Fund
Miriam El Guemri, Owner, Tea House Dispensary
Sara Farnsworth, Owner, Full Circle Farm
Ethan Kramer, Co-owner, Tilia Hills Farm
Chris Lillie, Executive Director, Green Mountain Sativa
Sam Bellavance, Chief Executive Officer, Sunset Lake Cannabis
Josh MacDuff, Co-owner, Mountain Girl Cannabis
Glauke Cooijmans, Prevention Coordinator, Mount Anthony Union Middle and High School
Janet Potter, Student Assistance Provider, Hartford Middle School
James Trimarchi, Director of Planning, Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Rick Hildebrant, Commissioner, Department of Health

Friday, February 20, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

10:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Finish Walk Through

James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

Friday, February 27, 2026

Committee(s):: Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs
10:15 AM: S.278 - An act relating to cannabis
Damian Fagon, Policy Director, Parabola Center for Law and Policy
Ross Gordon, Policy Chair, Origins Council
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Julie Hubbard, Board Member, Cannabis Control Board
Gabriel Gilman, General Counsel, Cannabis Control Board
Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association
Dave Silberman, Director, Vermont Cannabis Action Fund

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

11:45 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Testimony

Rick Hildebrant, Commissioner, Department of Health

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

10:15 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Section by section walk through

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association
Graham Unangst-Rufenacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont
David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Working Vermont
Jill Sudhoff-Guerin, Founder, Maidstone Public Relations

Thursday, March 12, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

10:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Testimony, walk-through and fiscal note preview

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association
David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Working Vermont
Jean Hamilton, Director of Program Development, Land Access and Opportunity Board
Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Friday, March 13, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

8:30 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Vote

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association
Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
David Mickenberg, Lobbyist, Working Vermont
Jean Hamilton, Director of Program Development, Land Access and Opportunity Board
Julie Hubbard, Board Member, Cannabis Control Board

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Committee(s):: Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs
10:30 AM: S.278 - An act relating to cannabis
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Gabriel Gilman, General Counsel, Cannabis Control Board

Wednesday, March 18, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Finance

5:30 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Ted Barnett, Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

-

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Vote

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Appropriations

1:00 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Vote

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Sponsor, Sponsor

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

10:40 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Amendment 1.2

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

11:45 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Straw Polls

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

Tuesday, March 24, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Finance

3:00 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Possible amendment testimony

Sam Bellavance, Chief Executive Officer, Sunset Lake Cannabis
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Ted Barnett, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office

Thursday, March 26, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

10:20 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Amendment

Sen. Scott Beck, Senator
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sponsor

11:45 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Committee Discussion of Amendment

James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Graham Unangst-Rufenacht, Policy Director, Rural Vermont

Friday, March 27, 2026

Committee(s):

Senate Committee on Economic Development, Housing and General Affairs

-

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Amendment

Sen. Tanya Vyhovsky, Sponsor
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1:10 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Introduction and walk-through

Sen. Kesha Ram Hinsdale, Reporter and Sponsor, Senate Economic Development, Housing, and General Affairs Committee
Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

11:20 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Witness testimony

Julie Hulburd, Commissioner, Cannabis Control Board
Gabriel Gilman, General Counsel, Cannabis Control Board

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

2:30 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Witness testimony

Dave Silberman, Director, Vermont Cannabis Action Fund
Jill Sudhoff-Guerin, Policy and Communications Consultant, Vermont Medical Society
Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association
Mariah Flynn, Coalition Director, Burlington Partnership for a Healthy Community
Tim Tierney, Director of Recruitment and International Trade, Agency of Commerce and Community Development
Nathan Davidson, Senior Economic Development Specialist, Agency of Commerce and Community Development

Tuesday, May 5, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

2:00 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Witness testimony

Shayla Livingston, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
Tony Folland, Clinical Services Manager and State Opioid Treatment Authority, Department of Health
Amy Turncliff, Founder and President, RockFern Scientific Consulting
Mark Anderson, Sheriff, Past President, Vermont Sheriffs' Association
Jean Hamilton, Director of Program Development, Land Access and Opportunity Board

Friday, May 8, 2026

Committee(s):: House Committee on Human Services
1:15 PM: S.278 - An act relating to cannabis
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Shayla Livingston, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health
Tony Folland, Clinical Services Manager and State Opioid Treatment Authority, Department of Health
Dave Silberman, Director, Vermont Cannabis Action Fund
Jill Sudhoff-Guerin, Policy and Communications Consultant, Vermont Medical Society

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

1:10 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Section by section mark-up

Tucker Anderson, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Julie Hulburd, Commissioner, Cannabis Control Board
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Geoffrey Pizzutillo, Executive Director and CoFounder, Vermont Growers Association

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

10:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Mark-up continued

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

11:05 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Committee discussion

11:25 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Committee discussion and vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Committee(s):: House Committee on Ways and Means
3:10 PM: S.278 - An act relating to cannabis
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Human Services

11:25 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Review amendment

Shayla Livingston, Interim Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health

Friday, May 15, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Ways and Means

3:20 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

vote

Kirby Keeton, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Barnett, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board
Rebecca Sameroff, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Taxes

Wednesday, May 20, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

11:30 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Rep. Nugent amendment walk-through and straw poll

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

11:40 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Rep. Birong amendment walk-through

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

1:00 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Rep. Birong amendment draft 2.1 walk-through, testimony and straw poll

Gabriel Gilman, General Counsel, Cannabis Control Board
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Appropriations

1:50 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Walk-through and vote

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Barnett, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
Rep. Lucy Boyden, Reporter, House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

Friday, May 22, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

11:00 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Rep. Tagliavia amendment walk-through

Rep. Michael "Mike" Tagliavia, Sponsor of the Amendment
Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel

11:50 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Rep. Tagliavia amendment testimony

James Pepper, Chair, Cannabis Control Board

12:10 PM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Rep. Tagliavia amendment committee discussion

Friday, May 22, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Ways and Means

9:50 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Amendment straw poll

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel
Ted Barnett, Senior Fiscal Analyst, Joint Fiscal Office
Rep. Matthew Birong, Sponsor of amendment
Rep. Kate Nugent, Sponsor of amendment

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Committee(s):

House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs

9:15 AM

S.278 - An act relating to cannabis

Rep. Tagliavia amendment committee discussion and possible straw poll

Sophie Zdatny, Legislative Counsel, Office of Legislative Counsel