In the wake of the disastrous July 2023 storms, the tragic reality of more frequent extreme weather events as the result of human-caused climate change, and the lack of Federal dollars available to state-licensed cannabis farms and businesses for disaster relief, the Vermont Growers Association (VGA) is establishing the Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund to serve as a permanent relief fund for Vermont-licensed cannabis farms and businesses impacted by natural and unnatural disasters. Inspired by our good friends’ NOFA-VT‘s Farm Emergency Fund, the VGA Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund is a collective action initiative for the industry, by the industry.

The total assessment of the impact of the July 2023 storms and ongoing summer extreme weather events will take several months to complete, but what we already know is that over 157 licensees responded to the Cannabis Control Board and VGA’s storm assessment forms, with new submissions coming in each month. We estimate Vermont-licensed cannabis farms and businesses have lost over $10,000,000 in infrastructure, crop and product loss, equipment, and tools from the July storms and ongoing extreme weather events this year. Every license type is impacted by human-caused climate change extreme weather events, from outdoor and indoor cultivators, manufacturers, product makers, wholesalers, and retailers – the entire supply chain will require relief now and moving forward. Only through robust community action, mutual aid efforts, increased resiliency, and public and private relief initiatives, such as the VGA Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund, will the local adult-use cannabis industry fully recover, rebuild, and thrive.

In true Vermont fashion, VGA, its members, and the still-emerging cannabis industry recognize the importance of coming together during times of need, with local licensees generously stepping up to support one another. Sam Bellavance, Founder at Sunset Lake Cannabis, a Tier 5 Outdoor Cultivator, and VGA Business Member says of the Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund, "We feel it's our responsibility to be there for our fellow cannabis farmers, especially after the historic flooding in July. We hope that our contribution to VGA's Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund will help get our friends and neighbors in the Vermont cannabis community back on track."

VGA offers different noteworthy ways for those in the industry to support the Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund besides direct financial contributions. Formulation Station, a Tier 2 Manufacturer and VGA Business Member, has launched a product partnership that is donating 100% of the proceeds to the fund.“As mutual aid and community support have long been a core component of our ethos, our team felt that we could not sit idly by while our peers suffered in the face of disaster” said Co-Owner Bobby Berg. “Instead of directly donating what we could afford, we decided to leverage that money and our experience in making water-soluble tinctures to launch a new product that could generate exponentially more support for the fund than we could individually muster” continued Co-Owner Kyle Rapoza. “Highwater” a 200mg maple flavored water soluble tincture is available at select retailers across Vermont. Eddie Furci from Winooski Organics, a retailer, and VGA Business Member says, "Our store’s amazing budtenders are donating a portion of their tips this month and Winooski Organics is matching that amount to support the VGA Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund, and we plan to round up for the month of October because we know folks are hurting and the emergency fund will become an important apparatus to the local industry."

The VGA Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund is available to assist Vermont-licensed cannabis farms and businesses of every type who are in financial need after having been adversely affected by natural and unnatural disasters, and we hope to open the grant by later this year. Licensees may request up to $8,000 in grants that do not need to be repaid. The grant application window does not close, applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and reviewed by a grant review committee with representatives from VGA staff, the VGA Board of Directors, and the regulated industry. Applicants may submit multiple applications within a calendar year. 

Learn more about VGA’s Vermont Cannabis Industry Emergency Fund.