Board Member – Cannabis Control Board State of Vermont

The State of Vermont is seeking individuals with experience in government regulation, legislative affairs, administrative rules, business, agricultural product production, and/or processing and distribution, for appointment to the State Cannabis Control Board (“Board”). The Board is newly created for the purpose of safely, equitably, and effectively implementing and administering the laws and rules regulating adult-use cannabis in Vermont. The Board is responsible for establishing, administering, and regulating a cannabis regulatory system for commercial cannabis cultivators, wholesalers, product manufacturers, retailers, and testing laboratories (together, “cannabis establishments”), as set forth in Act 164 of 2020 (the “Act”). The Board shall also take over responsibility for the regulation of medical cannabis dispensaries and the administration of the Medical Cannabis registry, currently administered by the Vermont Department of Public safety. Specifically, such responsibilities include but are not limited to:

Overview

Rulemaking in accordance with the Act;

Administration of a program for regulating licensed cannabis establishments;

Administration of the Medical Cannabis Registry;

Administration of a program for licensed medical cannabis dispensaries; and

Submission of an annual budget to the Governor.

The Board is composed of a Chair and two members—all appointed by the Governor after being vetted by the Cannabis Control Board Nominating Committee. This announcement seeks qualified candidates for all three Board positions.
Description
Board members are full-time exempt State of Vermont employees, and as such shall agree to serve at the pleasure of the Governor and shall be subject to the Governor’s Code of Ethics as well as the State Ethics laws. The individuals selected will be appointed for a term of three years and may serve for no more than three terms (for a total of 9 years). Candidates will be expected to develop a new complex regulatory system within a very tight timeframe established in the Act. Preferred candidates will have experience in administering complex regulatory systems and the ability to manage a start-up enterprise with responsibility for licensing, compliance, and enforcement. Board members will be responsible for developing and administering systems—through the administrative rulemaking process—for cannabis establishments, the Medical Cannabis Registry, and medical cannabis dispensaries. Selected candidates will work with the State Department of Human Resources to hire an Executive Director and work closely with the Executive Director, advisory committees, staff, State officials, and the public. Candidates should have excellent oral and written communication skills, be willing to occasionally travel, and able to meet strict deadlines. Candidates interested in the position of Chair should indicate that interest. The Chair must be prepared to testify on behalf of the Board before legislative committees, as well as prepare a weekly report for the Governor. Candidates must be committed to full-time employment with the Board.
Compensation
This is an exempt, full-time, position. Salary of the Cannabis Control Board Chair is established by statute and is expected to be $107,184.67. Salary of Cannabis Control Board members is also established by statute and is expected to be $80,388.50.
Minimum Requirements

Prior experience in business, finance, an agricultural enterprise, government leadership, and/or substantive legal or regulatory experience.

A commitment to protecting Vermont’s youth, keeping roadways safe, and equity in the development and implementation of the new cannabis marketplace.

Interested applicants must adhere to the following statutorily created restrictions:

Board members may not be an officer of, director of, organizer of, employee of, consultant to, or attorney for any person subject to regulation by the Board.

No Board member shall participate in creating or applying any law, rule, or policy or in making any other determination if the Board member, individually or as a fiduciary, or the Board member’s spouse, parent, or child wherever residing or any other member of the Board member’s family residing in his or her household has an economic interest in the matter before the Board or has any more than a de minimus interest that could be substantially affected by the proceeding.

No Board member shall, during his or her term or terms on the Board, solicit, engage in negotiations for, or otherwise discuss future employment or a future business relationship of any kind with any person subject to supervision or regulation by the Board.

No Board member may appear before the Board or any other State agency on behalf of a person subject to supervision or regulation by the Board or a period of one year following his or her last day as a member of the Board.

Equal Opportunity Statement
The State of Vermont is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. For a full copy of the EEOC policy, please see: http://humanresources.vermont.gov/labor-relations/equal-opportunity .