A Burlington cannabis dispensary is preparing to close its doors, saying the costs are too high to run a successful business in such a saturated market.
Grass Queen, a small shop on South Union Street, will close on October 28, according to owner Jahala Dudley. It's one of 13 licensed weed stores in Burlington; two more have submitted applications. That competition and other costs, including for licensing, make it impossible to stay afloat in what Dudley called the state's "pay-to-play system."
"Vermont's legal industry is new and continues to evolve," she wrote in a statement announcing the closure. "But a prohibitive $10,000 annual renewal fee ensures that Grass Queen cannot be financially viable. Grass Queen is not in a position to sell products at a loss in order to 'out-compete' the other license holders in this city."
In an interview, Dudley said she'd set out to create a place where women and members of the LGBTQ community felt comfortable buying cannabis. Pulling the plug was a difficult decision, she said, "especially thinking about all of the customers."
Read more at Seven Days Vermont.