Although Vermont's marijuana legalization law doesn't include a tax and regulate framework like Colorado and other states, that hasn't stopped state leaders from brainstorming ideas for the state's cannabis marketplace of the future.

Vermont Department of Liquor and Lottery Commissioner Gary Kessler says he wants to keep the number of marijuana sellers small and that they want to regulate weed the same way they do liquor and tobacco. The department monitors 80 liquor and 1,000 tobacco stores in the state. He says they'd prefer to see only dozens of stores selling marijuana, not hundreds.

"Having a limited number, I think, will allow for control, and then certainly as we get down the road in a year, two years, three years, when everyone thinks it's appropriate, we can re-examine how many retailers there really ought to be and what makes sense," Kessler said.

He says they are also looking to make sure cannabis stores are spread out across the state. They want to make sure that not one part of the state dominates the market.

Under the current scheme, Kessler says his department would license cannabis distribution and the Agency of Agriculture would regulate the grow facilities.

Some Vermont lawmakers and elected officials want to pursue a tax and regulate system for marijuana in the upcoming session, but it continues to face opposition in the Vermont House and from the governor.