One day soon, Tito Bern hopes to be growing cannabis on a property he recently purchased in Addison County. And he’d like to sell his product at a storefront somewhere in Burlington.

He’s already talking to building owners in the city about spaces for his potential cannabis shop, and is considering buying a retail space of his own.

Bern, who owns the Bern Gallery, a smoke shop and glass blowing business in Burlington, said his “whole world just revolves around cannabis.”  For years, he has grown the plant for himself and others as a patient in Vermont’s medical marijuana market.

“Being an entrepreneur is definitely my number one inspiration, so naturally being an entrepreneur in this new taxed and regulated market is super super exciting to me,” Bern said.

“I can’t wait to bring real organic cannabis to the world,” he added.

Bern is one of many entrepreneurs who are hoping to open a cannabis business next year, when Vermont’s legal marijuana marketplace is scheduled to launch.

While the earliest date that retail cannabis establishments will be able to begin selling their products to the public is still more than a year away — October 2022 — many are already preparing to apply for licenses, and set up shop.

Tim Fair, a Burlington-based attorney who works with cannabis businesses, says his firm has been in touch with 180 people interested in opening up marijuana ventures in Vermont.

While cannabis retailers won’t be able to apply for licenses until September 2022, Fair is encouraging applicants to set up their businesses in advance so that they’re “ready to go” on the day they submit their applications. [Read More @ VTDigger]