A proposal to convert a former diner in Sharon, Vermont, into a marijuana dispensary has been rejected by voters. The decision was made on Tuesday, with 137 residents voting against the proposal and 135 voting in favor. The proposed dispensary, which would have included an ice cream stand, was to be owned by Sean Trombly, a 31-year-old Chelsea resident who operates a cannabis cultivation operation.
Trombly had purchased the former Sandy’s diner building on Route 14 and had planned to renovate it to include a retail cannabis shop and an ice cream stand. However, the proposal was met with opposition from some residents, including Alexandre Bird, a 70-year-old Sharon resident who expressed concerns about the high levels of THC in modern cannabis products and the proximity of the proposed dispensary to schools.
The rejection of the proposal comes as the state’s Cannabis Control Board is set to stop issuing new retail and cultivator licenses effective October 25. Trombly had planned to operate two separate establishments in the Sandy’s building, one selling cannabis products and another selling food and ice cream and hosting food trucks.
Despite the setback, Trombly remains committed to his business and is considering alternative options for his property. “Ultimately, I’ll use the property for something, but cannabis is currently the only retail option I’m considering,” he said.
The rejection of the proposal in Sharon is a rare instance of a town voting against retail cannabis sales in Vermont. So far, 77 towns in the state have opted into retail cannabis sales, and the state has 86 licensed retail locations. The Upper Valley has seen a clustering of cannabis retailers in some higher-population areas, leading the control board to temporarily halt all retail and cultivation licenses beginning October 25.
