Vermont Marijuana Business Licenses
Status: In Vermont, all individuals 21 years of age or older may possess and use marijuana. Home cultivation is allowed as there is not yet a system to regulate retail production and sale of marijuana. Vermont also has a medical marijuana program for qualifying patients.
CBD Program | Medical Program | Recreational Program | Are Applications Open? |
Legal | Legal | Legal | closed |
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Number of Vermont Marijuana Business Licenses Licenses Available
Dispensaries | Cultivation | Manufacturing/Processing | Transportation |
0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
You can read the full text of the Vermont Marijuana Business Licenses law at: https://legislature.vermont.gov
Proposed Vermont Marijuana Cultivator License Guidelines
S.B. 54 proposes that a cultivator is a person licensed by the Board to engage in commercial cultivation of cannabis.
The Board shall develop tiers for cultivator licenses based on the plant canopy size of the cultivation operation and may develop tiers for other licenses as appropriate.
By June 1, 2022, the board will begin issuing all cultivator licenses. During the initial application period, the Board shall give preference to smaller cultivation operations in an effort to encourage small local farmers to enter the market.
RECOMMENDED VERMONT MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA CULTIVATOR LICENSE:
- Marijuana Business Plan Package
- Business & Operations Plan Template
- Cultivation Plan Template
- Environmental Plan Template
- Financial Plan Template
- Fire Safety Plan Template
- Inventory Control Plan Template
- Product Safety Plan Template
- Security Plan Template
- Staffing Plan Template
- Suitability of Proposed Facility Plan Template
- Transportation Plan Template
Proposed Vermont Marijuana Product Manufacturer License Guidelines
S.B. 54 proposes that a cannabis product manufacturer is a person licensed by the Board to manufacture, prepare, and package cannabis products and to sell cannabis products to a licensed retailer, wholesaler, or another product manufacturer.
By August 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for product manufacturers and wholesalers.
RECOMMENDED VERMONT MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA PRODUCT MANUFACTURER LICENSE:
- Marijuana Business Plan Package
- Business & Operations Plan Template
- Manufacturing/Processing Plan Template
- Environmental Plan Template
- Financial Plan Template
- Fire Safety Plan Template
- Inventory Control Plan Template
- Product Safety Plan Template
- Security Plan Template
- Staffing Plan Template
- Transportation Plan Template
Proposed Vermont Marijuana Retailer License Guidelines
S.B. 54 proposes that a retailer is a person licensed by the Board to sell cannabis and cannabis products to consumers for off-site consumption.
By October 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for retailers.
RECOMMENDED VERMONT MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA RETAILER LICENSE:
- Marijuana Business Plan Package
- Business & Operations Plan Template
- Environmental Plan Template
- Financial Plan Template
- Fire Safety Plan Template
- Inventory Control Plan Template
- Patient Education Plan Template
- Patient Recordkeeping Plan Template
- Product Safety Plan Template
- Security Plan Template
- Staffing Plan Template
- Transportation Plan Template
Proposed Vermont Marijuana Wholesaler License Guidelines
S.B. 54 proposes that a wholesaler is a person licensed by the Board to buy cannabis from cultivators and process, transport, and sell cannabis to licensed product manufacturers and retailers.
By August 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for product manufacturers and wholesalers.
RECOMMENDED VERMONT MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA WHOLESALER LICENSE:
- Marijuana Business Plan Package
- Business & Operations Plan Template
- Cultivation Plan Template
- Manufacturing/Processing Plan Template
- Environmental Plan Template
- Financial Plan Template
- Fire Safety Plan Template
- Inventory Control Plan Template
- Product Safety Plan Template
- Security Plan Template
- Staffing Plan Template
- Transportation Plan Template
Proposed Vermont Marijuana Testing Laboratory License Guidelines
S.B. 54 proposes that a cannabis testing laboratory is a person licensed by the Board to test cannabis for cultivators, product manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers.
By May 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for small cultivators, integrated licensees, and testing labs.
RECOMMENDED VERMONT MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MARIJUANA TESTING LABORATORY LICENSE:
Vermont Medical Marijuana Dispensary License Guidelines
A dispensary is a business organization registered under section 4474e of this title that acquires, possesses, cultivates, manufactures, transfers, transports, supplies, sells, or dispenses marijuana, marijuana-infused products, and marijuana-related supplies and educational materials for or to a registered patient who has designated it as his or her center and to his or her registered caregiver for the registered patient’s use for symptom relief. A dispensary may serve patients and caregivers at not more than two locations, as approved by the Department in consideration of factors provided in subsection 4474f(e) of this title, and may cultivate and process marijuana at a separate location from where patients and caregivers are served. All locations shall be considered part of the same dispensary operation under one registration.
Vermont currently is not accepting applications for medical marijuana dispensaries. To get ahead of the game and prepare for your marijuana business in the event the state begins accepting applications again, review the resources below.
RECOMMENDED VERMONT MARIJUANA BUSINESS PLANS FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY LICENSE:
- Marijuana Business Plan Package
- Business & Operations Plan Template
- Cultivation Plan Template
- Manufacturing/Processing Plan Template
- Environmental Plan Template
- Financial Plan Template
- Fire Safety Plan Template
- Inventory Control Plan Template
- Patient Education Plan Template
- Patient Recordkeeping Plan Template
- Product Safety Plan Template
- Security Plan Template
- Staffing Plan Template
- Transportation Plan Template
Proposed Vermont Marijuana Integrated Licensee Guidelines
An integrated licensee means a person licensed by the Board to engage in the activities of a cultivator, wholesaler, product manufacturer, retailer, and testing laboratory.
By May 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for small cultivators, integrated licensees, and testing labs, and integrated licensees will then be able to begin selling to adult consumers.
The History of Vermont Marijuana Business Licenses Marijuana
Medical Marijuana:
In 2004, the Vermont General Assembly passed S. 76, An Act Relating to Marijuana Use by Persons with Severe Illness. A new law – S.247- passed in 2014 that eliminates the cap of 1,000 patients who are currently allowed to access dispensaries, allow naturopaths to certify patients, and allow dispensaries to deliver marijuana to patients. No more than 4 state licensed dispensaries are allowed and the state has awarded the appropriate licenses- the 4 marijuana facilities are currently operational.
Qualifying conditions: Cancer; Multiple sclerosis; HIV; AIDS; Glaucoma; Crohn’s disease; Parkinson’s disease; Or the treatment of these conditions, if the disease or the treatment results in severe, persistent, and intractable symptoms; PTSD, provided the applicant is undergoing psychotherapy or counseling with a licensed mental health care provider; or a disease or 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; or seizures.
Recreational Marijuana:
On January 22, 2018, Governor Phil Scott signed H.B. 511, which legalized the recreational use of marijuana. The law makes it legal for adults 21 years and older to possess up to 1 ounce of marijuana and have two mature marijuana plants or four immature plants in each dwelling unit.However, the law did not set up a system to tax and regulate the production and sale of marijuana.
A year later on January 21, 2019, S.B. 54 was introduced to establish a system to tax and regulate the production and sale of marijuana through licensed recreational marijuana businesses. Attorney General TJ Donovan has voiced his support for the legislation.
In February 2019, the state Senate voted in favor of the bill, and in May, the House Government Operations Committee approved it as well. However, as the session came to a close, it became evident that the legislation would not reach the House floor for a final vote despite its successful advancement in the committees. The House adjourned in May without completing its work, so the House resumed its efforts on the bill shortly after the 2020 session began in early January.
The Government Operations Committee added a few amendments before passing it in a unanimous vote on January 31, 2020. Some of the amendments include: modifying the timeline for implementation, clarifying zoning regulations and increased cooperation with the Vermont Department of Health in regards to crafting guidelines. The legislation could face additional amendments as the discussion continues.
Following a series of meetings and compromises, negotiators of the committee reached a deal sending the final proposal of S.B. 54 back to the floor of bother chambers for final consent. The bill was passed into law in October 2020. A new Cannabis Control Board will have until 2022 to finalize regulations and begin accepting applications for marijuana businesses. See the “Program Timeline” below for dates and details.
Program Timeline:
Cannabis Control Board members’ terms begin on January 19, 2021.
By January 15, 2022, the board will report to the legislature on a number of matters, including whether the legislature should consider additional license types, including delivery, craft cooperative, and special events.
By March 1, 2022, final rules will be adopted for adult-use cannabis establishments.
By May 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for small cultivators, integrated licensees, and testing labs.
By May 1, 2022, integrated licensees may begin selling to adult consumers.
By June 1, 2022, the board will begin issuing all cultivator licenses.
By August 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for product manufacturers and wholesalers.
By October 1, 2022, licenses will begin being issued for retailers.