Recreational and medical cannabis use are both legal in Vermont. The state legalized medical marijuana in 2004, while recreational cannabis was legalized in 2018.

Recreational sales began in 2022, with adult-use sales initially being carried out at pre-existing medical dispensaries before expanding to recreational dispensaries in October of the same year.

Marijuana Laws in Vermont

Cannabis laws vary significantly from state to state, even among states allowing medical and recreational cannabis use. Though many guidelines are clear for recreational and medical marijuana, Vermont’s medical cannabis program (and related laws) is currently more developed than the state’s recreational counterpart. This is due to the fact that medical marijuana has been legal in the state for almost 20 years, while Vermont’s recreational industry is much newer.

Medical Cannabis Laws

Medical marijuana was legalized in Vermont in 2004 under Senate Bill 76. The bill established the creation of a medical cannabis patient registry and legal protections for patients. Medical dispensaries were opened in a limited capacity in 2011 and expanded in 2014.

Patients over 18 with one or more qualifying conditions can participate in the state’s medical cannabis registry. Patients under 18 must have a qualified caregiver older than 21. Medical marijuana patients can have up to six mature cannabis plants and 12 immature plants and can possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis products.

Recreational Marijuana Laws

Following the 2013 decriminalization of up to 1 ounce of cannabis in Vermont, recreational marijuana was officially legalized in 2018. Despite legalizing cannabis for adults over 21, legislators initially failed to establish provisions and guidelines for retail sales. Nevertheless, regulations were eventually implemented, and recreational cannabis sales began in 2022. Adults in Vermont can legally possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis products (cannabis flower, concentrates, etc.) and can cultivate a maximum of six plants, of which two can be mature.

And while CBD is legal in Vermont, state law prohibits the sale or use of certain hemp-derived cannabinoids like delta-8. Additionally, while recreational marijuana is legal in the state, there are still penalties for possessing more than 1 ounce of cannabis products, more than 5 grams of hashish, or cultivating more than two mature cannabis plants or four immature cannabis plants.

For example, for those found possessing between 1-2 ounces, a first offense is a civil penalty with a maximum fine of $100 and a second offense is a civil penalty with a maximum fine of $200. More severe penalties await those who possess more than 10 pounds of cannabis. This results in a maximum of 15 years in prison and a fine of $500,000. Additionally, consuming cannabis in public places is prohibited.

What to Know About About Medical Cannabis in Vermont

It is essential to stay current on updates to Vermont’s cannabis laws and pre-existing guidelines to ensure you are not out of step with current regulations.

Only Certain Conditions Are Allowed

Vermont law allows the following conditions to qualify an individual for enrollment in the state’s medical cannabis program:

• AIDS/HIV
• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease
• Glaucoma
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Parkinson’s disease
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

Additionally, patients may be certified for a medical card if they have a condition that produces any of the following symptoms:

• Chronic pain
• Seizures
• Severe nausea
• Wasting syndrome

Telemedicine Is Allowed

Vermont allows prospective patients to receive certification for a medical marijuana card through telehealth providers like Leafwell. You can meet with a Leafwell doctor today to start the application process.

Vermont Does Not Recognize Out-of-State Med Cards

Unfortunately, Vermont does not have medical marijuana reciprocity, meaning it does not recognize med cards obtained in another state. Thankfully, the state’s recreational program means that most people who are medical use patients in other states can still obtain cannabis at Vermont dispensaries, with some exceptions.

The following states, however, recognize out-of-state med cards:

• Arizona
• Arkansas *
• Delaware
• Hawaii *
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Michigan (at the dispensary’s discretion)
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey *
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma *
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island
• U.S. Virgin Islands *
• Utah * (up to two 21-day periods in a calendar year)
• Washington, D.C.

*Visitors must complete a visiting patient application with the state program.

States that have recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older but do not accept out-of-state cards include:

• Alaska
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Illinois
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota (currently only tribal dispensaries)
• Missouri
• Montana
• New York
• Oregon
• Washington

Can You Grow Cannabis in Vermont?

Yes, residents can grow cannabis in Vermont. Both medical patients and recreational cannabis users can cultivate cannabis plants. Medical patients can have six mature plants and 12 immature plants. Recreational customers are limited to two mature plants and four immature plants per household.

The Bottom Line

Marijuana is legal in Vermont for both medical and recreational marijuana use. Vermont has been at the forefront of medical cannabis for nearly two decades and began to allow recreational sales in 2022.

If you have one or more qualifying conditions, you may want to consider obtaining your medical card, even though recreational cannabis is legal in Vermont. To learn more about getting your med card, speak to a Leafwell doctor today.