Ask about advertising to increase cannabis tourism in the state and Scott Sparks will tell you, “It’s extremely complicated.”
Scott Sparks – owner of Vermont Bud Barn, a cannabis retail shop; Vermont Hempicurean, a store specializing in Vermont CBD products; and Vermont Grow Barn, a grow supply store (all located in Brattleboro) – is a businessman who recognizes the value of Vermont’s craft products and progressive culture.
In January 2022, capitalizing on the upcoming legalization of cannabis sales and the “Vermont vibe,” Sparks moved Vermont Hempicurean from his downtown Brattleboro location to an 1870 barn on Route 9 west of the city center.
“It screamed Vermont to me,” Sparks said, referring to the barn.
The location plays well – high visibility, easy access, and plenty of parking – a great place, Sparks will tell you, to host music shows, something Sparks did on the large lawn to the side of the barn before he opened Vermont Bud Barn in October 2022.
Current Vermont regulations prohibit public consumption of cannabis, meaning only adults who own a house or land can use cannabis legally, a law that is not uncommon in other states but is seen as having many implications such as inequity, racialized enforcement, and hindering cannabis tourism.
“I could lose my license if someone consumed cannabis on my property,” Sparks said, acknowledging a percentage of adults use cannabis at music concerts, adding, the percentage would probably increase when a cannabis retail shop is just steps away from the event.
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