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Cannabis in Vermont

Medical cannabis was legalized in Vermont in 2004, and adult-use marijuana was legalized in November 2018. The state has operational medical marijuana dispensaries but there is not an adult-use regulatory framework in place, which means there are no licensed adult-use cultivators, manufacturers, or dispensaries. The state has decriminalized cannabis under certain limits.

Overview of Key Vermont Cannabis Laws

Is medical cannabis allowed? Yes

Is adult-use cannabis allowed? Yes

Personal Laws

Cannabis has been decriminalized in Vermont within certain limits. Adults age 21 years of age or older may possess and grow small amounts of cannabis. Out-of-state visitors may possess cannabis under Vermont’s adult-use cannabis laws, but the state doesn’t offer medical cannabis reciprocity to visitors.

Personal Possession

Registered Medical Marijuana Patient Possession: Up to 2 oz. of usable marijuana

Adult-Use Possession: Up to 1 oz. of cannabis with no fines or jail time.

Non-Vermont Resident Possession: Same as adult-use possession but there is no reciprocity for out-of-state medical cannabis patients

Personal Growing

Adults age 21 or older can grow cannabis in Vermont under certain limitations.

Registered Medical Patient Growing: Up to 9 plants (2 mature and up to 7 immature)

Recreational User Growing: Up to 6 plants (2 mature and up to 4 immature per housing unit). Individuals who grow cannabis for personal use may possess no more than the total quantity of their harvest at home.

Medical Cannabis Patient Qualification and Registry

Patients with qualifying conditions who receive recommendations for medical marijuana from a Vermont-licensed physician, osteopathic physician, naturopathic physician, physician assistant, or Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (i.e., nurse practitioner) may apply for medical marijuana cards. Individuals who are professionally licensed under substantially equivalent provisions to the Vermont laws in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, or New York may also recommend medical marijuana to patients who reside in Vermont. A patient may select one caregiver, and a caregiver may care for one patient.

Qualifying medical conditions include:

  • Cancer
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • HIV
  • AIDS
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Glaucoma if the disease or the treatment results in severe, persistent, and intractable symptoms.
  • PTSD (requires the Mental Health Care Provider Form)
  • A disease, medical condition, or its treatment that is chronic, debilitating, and produces one or more of the following intractable symptoms:
    • Cachexia or wasting syndrome
    • Chronic pain
    • Severe nausea
    • Seizures

Business Laws

Vertical integration is allowed for medical cannabis businesses, which means a company can manage activities across the Vermont marijuana supply chain (e.g., cultivation, manufacturing and dispensing).

Residency is required to apply for a cannabis business license in Vermont. The state allows six dispensaries, and five licenses have already been issued. The dispensary license incorporates manufacturing and cultivation.

There is not currently an adult-use cannabis regulatory framework in place. Therefore, commercial cultivation, processing, manufacturing, and sales of cannabis are not allowed in the state.

License Types

  • Medical Cannabis Dispensary

License Fees

  • Medical Cannabis Dispensary: $2,500 application fee and $20,000 license fee

License Timeline

Vermont is not accepting license applications at this time. In 2017, the number of allowed dispensary licenses increased to five, and a sixth will be authorized when the patient registry reaches 7,000.

Testing

Cannabis testing is not required in Vermont but package labels must include the amount of THC in each product.

Training

Specific training is not required to own a business or work in the Vermont cannabis industry.

Learn More about Cannabis in Vermont and How to Work or Start a Business in the Vermont Cannabis Industry

Leafy Green Agency offers a variety of certification seminars for people who want to start businesses, find jobs, get promotions, or invest in the cannabis industry in Vermont and across the country. Follow the link to learn more about our educational seminars.

Sources and More Information

Data current as of 2/8/20.