Is Weed Legal In Vermont? (Vermont Marijuana Laws)

Is Weed Legal In Vermont - Vermont Marijuana Laws - Is Pot Legal In Vermont - Vermont Weed Laws

Is weed legal in Vermont?

This article is going to cover:

  • Vermont weed laws
  • legalization of recreational marijuana
  • medical marijuana legalization
  • House and Senate Bills for Vermont weed laws
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Is Weed Legal In Vermont?

Weed is legal in Vermont for recreational use.

And weed is legal in Vermont for medical use.

Vermont Weed Laws

Let’s look at the different types of Vermont weed laws. 

OffensePenaltiesJail TimeMax Fines
Possession
Up to 2 ouncesNoneNone$0
2 - 8 ounces (First Offenses)Misdemeanor6 months$500
2 - 8 ounces (Subsequent Offenses)Misdemeanor2 years$2,000
8 ounces - 1 lbFelony3 years$10,000
1 - 10 lbsFelony5 years$100,000
10+ lbsFelony15 years$500,000
Sale Or Distribution
Up to 0.5 ouncesMisdemeanor2 years$10,000
0.5 ounces – 1 lbFelony5 years$100,000
1 - 50 lbsFelony15 years$500,000
50+ lbsFelony30 years$1,000,000
Selling to a minorFelony5 years$25,000
Cultivation
Up to 3 mature plants NoneNone$0
Up to 6 immature plantsNoneNone$0
4 - 10 plants Felony3 years$10,000
11 - 25 plants Felony5 years$100,000
25+ plants Felony15 years$500,000
Hash & Concentrates
Up to 10 gramsNoneNone$0
10 grams - 1.4 ounces (first offense)Misdemeanor6 months$500
10 grams - 1.4 ounces (second offense)Misdemeanor2 years$2,000
1.4 - 2.8 ouncesFelony3 years$10,000
1+ lbsFelony15 years$500,000
Paraphernalia
PossessionCivilNone$200
SellingMisdemeanor1 year$1,000
Providing to a minorMisdemeanor2 years$2,000

Marijuana Possession Laws

These are the marijuana laws for personal possession of marijuana.

Recreational cannabis is decriminalized in Vermont for adult use.

For recreational pot, possession of up to 2 ounces of cannabis is legal in public places.

You won’t get any jail time or fines for possessing this amount.

First-time and second-time offenses for possession of 1 – 2 ounces are misdemeanors.

Up to 2 ounces of cannabis in public places:

  • has zero criminal or civil charges
  • gets you zero jail time
  • carries zero fines

Possession of 2 – 8 ounces of weed (first offense) is a misdemeanor with:

  • up to 6 months of jail time
  • up to a $500 fine

Possession of 2 – 8 ounces of weed (second offense) is a misdemeanor with:

  • up to 2 years of jail time
  • up to a $2,000 fine

Possession of 8 ounces – 1 lb is a felony with:

  • up to 3 years of jail time
  • up to $10,000 in fines

Possession of 1 – 10 lbs is a felony with:

  • up to 5 years of jail time
  • up to $100,000 in fines

Possession of 10+ lbs is a felony with:

  • up to 15 years of jail time
  • up to $500,000 in fines

Related: How Many People Are In Jail For Weed

Selling Marijuana In Vermont

These are the marijuana laws for personal possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.

Lawmakers automatically assume that you’re intending to distribute with 0.5+ ounces.

These will all be automatic felony convictions in Vermont.

Selling up to 0.5 ounces of marijuana is a misdemeanor with:

  • up to 2 years in jail
  • up to $10,000 in fines

Selling 0.5 ounces – 1 lb is a felony with:

  • up to 5 years in jail
  • up to $100,000 in fines

Selling 1 – 50 lbs is a felony with:

  • up to 15 years in jail
  • up to $500,000 in fines

Selling 50+ lbs is a felony with:

  • up to 30 years in jail
  • up to $1,000,000 in fines

Selling any amount to a minor is a felony with:

  • up to 5 years in jail
  • up to $25,000 in fines

Vermont Cannabis Cultivation Laws

The cultivation of cannabis plants got legalized in 2018.

When Gov. Phil Scott passed House Bill 511 and updated it with Senate Bill 234.

The legalization of growing cannabis plants depends on the number of plants you’re growing.

Growing weed in Vermont can land you with a felony if you grow too much.

Growing 3 cannabis plants for personal use is fully legal in Vermont.

Growing up to 3 mature plants has:

  • no criminal or civil penalties
  • has zero jail time
  • has zero fines

Growing up to 6 immature plants has:

  • no criminal or civil penalties
  • has zero jail time
  • has zero fines

Growing 4 – 10 mature plants is a felony with:

  • up to 3 years in jail
  • up to $10,000 in fines

Growing 11 – 25 mature plants is a felony with:

  • up to 5 years in jail
  • up to $100,000 in fines

Growing 25+ cannabis plants is a felony with:

  • up to 15 years in jail
  • up to $500,000 in fines

Possession Of Hash And THC Concentrates

Adult use of hash has gotten decriminalized in Vermont.

Hash and THC concentrate carries the same penalties as marijuana.

Up to 10 grams of hashish in public places:

  • has zero criminal or civil charges
  • gets you zero jail time
  • carries zero fines

Possession of 10 grams – 1.4 ounces of hashish (first offense) is a misdemeanor with:

  • up to 6 months of jail time
  • up to a $500 fine

Possession of 10 grams – 1.4 ounces of hashish (second offense) is a misdemeanor with:

  • up to 2 years of jail time
  • up to a $2,000 fine

Possession of 1.4 – 2.8 ounces of hashish is a felony with:

  • up to 3 years of jail time
  • up to a $10,000 fine

Possession of 1+ lbs of hashish is a felony with:

  • up to 15 years of jail time
  • up to a $500,000 fine

Cannabis Paraphernalia

Possession with intent, or selling of, paraphernalia is a misdemeanor in Vermont.

Possession of paraphernalia:

  • has zero criminal charges, but is a civil violation
  • gets you zero jail time
  • has up to $200 in fines

Selling paraphernalia is a misdemeanor with:

  • up to 1 year of jail time
  • up to a $1,000 fine

Giving paraphernalia to a minor is a misdemeanor with:

  • up to 2 years of jail time
  • up to a $2,000 fine

Vermont Marijuana Decriminalization

Vermont decriminalized the recreational use of cannabis in 2018.

And expanded the amounts you can have in 2020 with Senate bill 234.

You can be in public places with up to 2 ounces of marijuana.

With this amount of recreational cannabis, you won’t get any:

  • criminal convictions
  • fines
  • jail time

Vermont also decriminalized growing marijuana for recreational use.

Residents can grow up to 3 mature plants per adult.

And up to 6 immature marijuana plants per adult.

The 2018 bill also decriminalized the possession of THC cannabis products like:

  • edibles
  • CBD oils
  • hashish
  • concentrates
  • tinctures

Is Marijuana Legal In Vermont?

This section is covering whether weed is legal in Vermont for:

  • recreational use
  • medical use

Is Recreational Weed Legal In Vermont?

Is weed legal in Vermont for recreational use?

Yes, weed is legal in Vermont for recreational use for adults.

Adults 21 years of age and older can possess and use recreational marijuana.

There are dispensaries in major cities like:

  • Burlington
  • Montpelier
  • Plattsburgh

Legal weed in neighboring states like Massachusetts and Connecticut helped.

Lawmakers were able to see how well things played out, which helped make decisions.

Vermont decriminalized the recreational use of cannabis in 2018 with HB 511.

Which aims to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis in Vermont.

And made Vermont the 11th state to legalize marijuana for adult use.

Is Medical Marijuana Legal In Vermont?

Yes, weed is legal in Vermont for medical use.

The Vermont House and Senate passed medical marijuana laws in 2006.

Gov Carcieri vetoed the legislation to allow medical marijuana use.

But the General Assembly voted to override his veto.

In 2009, Vermont set up operations for medical dispensaries.

Vermont allows 16 licensed medical marijuana dispensaries at a time.

Currently, Vermont has medical marijuana dispensaries in:

  • Burlington
  • Montpelier
  • Plattsburgh

And there is an estimated 4,767 medical cannabis patients in the providence.

Medical marijuana patients are allowed to have up to 2 ounces of cannabis at a time.

And adult caregivers are able to purchase medical marijuana on behalf of the patient.

The qualifying medical conditions for a medical card in Vermont are:

  • Cachexia, or wasting syndrome
  • Cancer
  • Chronic pain
  • Crohn’s disease
  • Epilepsy, or other seizures
  • Glaucoma
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Severe nausea

Purchasing cannabis outside of a licensed dispensary is illegal for Vermont residents.

Lawmakers consider non-dispensary weed controlled substances.

Vermont Weed Legalization Bills

These are Vermont’s weed legalization bills.

Related: Marijuana Legality By State

2004 - Senate Bill 76

This bill got named “An Act Relating To The Medical Use Of Marijuana.”

Republican Gov. James Douglas did not approve of or sign this bill.

But the bill passed anyway, updating Vermont laws surrounding medical cannabis.

It legalized the medical use of marijuana for patients with qualifying conditions.

The Department Of Public Safety in Vermont created the Medical Cannabis Program.

This Senate bill also eliminated possession penalties for patients.

2018 - House Bill 511

This house bill approved recreational marijuana legalization for adult use.

Criminal penalties were dropped for adults who were 21+ years of age for:

  • possession of up to 1 ounce of cannabis
  • cultivation of up to 2 mature plants
  • cultivation of up to 4 immature marijuana plants

But this bill did not set up dispensary regulations for marijuana sales.

Adult recreational cannabis use was allowed, but not supplied by dispensaries.

2020 - Senate Bill 234

Gov. Phil Scott signed a bill that enforces automatic expungement.

This expunged cannabis charges acquired after 2018.

Expungements were reserved for possession up to the following amounts:

  • possession of up to 2 ounces of marijuana
  • cultivation of weed (up to 3 mature plants)
  • cultivation of up to 6 immature plants
  • possession of up to 10 grams of hashish

Under Senate Bill 234, Vermont decriminalization amounts increased to:

  • 2 ounces of cannabis
  • 3 mature cannabis plants
  • 6 immature plants
  • 10 grams of hashish

2020 - Act 164

Act 164 set up the licensing structure for retail sales of recreational marijuana.

Republican Gov. Phil Scott allowed this bill to pass without his signature.

The state legislature updated Vermont cannabis state laws that:

  • created the Cannabis Control Board
  • set up licensing for retail sales of cannabis products
  • made localities opt-in to have retail marijuana dispensaries for cannabis sales
  • gave special considerations to small-scale growers
  • gave special considerations to minorities and women
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If you’re interested in what states weed is legal in, here’s a list of all the states.

Disclaimer: These codes may not be the most recent version. There may be more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.