Pubdate: Wed, 18 Nov 2015 Source: Burlington Free Press (VT) Copyright: 2015 Burlington Free Press Contact: http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/632 Author: April Burbank MARIJUANA PITCHED FOR YOUNG VT ENTREPRENEURS Entrepreneurs are pitching marijuana as a cash crop that would keep college graduates in Vermont and create thousands of jobs. The Vermont Cannabis Collaborative says in a new report that if Vermont lawmakers bring "oeorder to the chaos" of the underground illegal marijuana market, business opportunities would abound. "oeThis provides a whole new industry for our young millennials coming out of college and trying to find what to do in Vermont to jump in and become the next Steve Jobs, to become the next Ben and Jerry's, to become the next Seventh Generation," Alan Newman, a founder of Seventh Generation and Magic Hat Brewing Company, said Wednesday. Newman spoke during a news conference in Burlington one day after legalization opponents rallied at the Statehouse in Montpelier. BURLINGTON FREE PRESS Marijuana-legalization foes want to talk science Newman and other members of the Vermont Cannabis Collaborative group have been working for months on recommendations for a legal marijuana industry in the state. The resulting report, titled "oeWhat Cannabis Can Do for Vermont," suggests that any large-scale marijuana-growing operation should be at least 51 percent owned by Vermonters and certified as a benefit corporation, meaning the business would consider social and environmental values in addition to profit. The proposed Vermont marijuana economy also would include home growers with six or fewer plants, and artisanal craft growers with seven to 99 plants. The idea is to create a market unlike the kind that Ohio voters recently rejected, which would have allowed just 10 commercial growers. "oeWe think we have a chance here to grow an economy based on Vermont values, based on Vermont tradition, and one that embraces the already-existing infrastructure that can really help keep young people here and make Vermont an attractive place to live," said Bill Lofy, former chief of staff for Gov. Peter Shumlin. Lofy's former boss is publicly coy on whether he will push a legalization bill during his final year as governor. Shumlin, a Democrat, favors legalization and last year accepted thousands of dollars of campaign contributions from the groups that are calling for legalization, but he has hesitated to set a date. The governor promised this week to make up his mind by January. "oeI gotta be candid with you," Shumlin said Monday. "oeI'm focusing on a lot of other things, like the budget, creating jobs. We will get to that, but I haven't made a decision." Creating jobs is among the goals of the Vermont Cannabis Collaborative, which argues that legalization would create as many as 4,000 positions, because the industry would need growers, architects, lawyers, marketing experts, security experts and more. The group used a custom economic model to estimate the total market at about $250 million, assuming 50,000 pounds of marijuana would be consumed annually. Vermont Cannabis Collaborative spokesperson Bill LofyBuy Photo Vermont Cannabis Collaborative spokesperson Bill Lofy speaks in favor of marijuana legalization at a news conference in Burlington on Wednesday. (Photo: GLENN RUSSELL/FREE PRESS) Under the Cannabis Collaborative proposal, marijuana tax revenue would go toward genetics research at the University of Vermont and Vermont Technical College, public education campaigns and "" another Shumlin priority "" opiate addiction treatment. Debby Haskins, a substance-abuse counselor and legal-marijuana opponent, agrees that Vermont needs more money for opiate addiction treatment, but she said she doesn't understand why the state would pay for it by legalizing another drug. Haskins gathered like-minded Vermonters at the steps of the Statehouse on Tuesday to highlight their concerns about public safety and health impacts of legalization. "oeOther than the money issue, the financial issue, what other redeeming qualities are there?" Vergennes Police Chief George Merkel, a member of the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana Vermont, asked at the Tuesday gathering. Vermont Cannabis Collaborative cites several benefits, including scientific research and public safety. "oeFrom a safety perspective, having a regulated industry actually assures that we have some sense of what we're consuming," Lofy said. Vermonters are split on marijuana legalization, according to a recent Castleton Polling Institute survey, with 56 percent in favor. Both sides are rallying members to flood legislators' phones and email inboxes. Will Raap, founder of Gardener's Supply Company and the Intervale Center, said the Vermont Cannabis Collaborative has operated on a $20,000 budget, funded by donations by 80 to 90 people. The organization will disband as a formal group later this year, following Wednesday's report release. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom