Senate Bill 76 is the first Cannabis law in the state of Vermont, taking effect on July 1, 2004. It established a registry that provided protection from arrest for patients suffering from a serious or debilitating condition who use medical marijuana. Under this law, patients and their primary caregivers could legally possess no more than two ounces of usable cannabis and cultivate no more than three plants, of which only one could be mature.The SB 76 in July 2007 increased the list of qualifying conditions and also increased the allowable amount of marijuana. In June 2011, SB 76 established provisions for up to four state-licensed dispensaries or distribution facilities to serve up to 1,000 patients. In July 2013, the Vermont Department of Public Safety began accepting applications for operating licenses for those dispensaries. A patient can also designate a primary caregiver for assistance. The patient may designate one operating dispensary to obtain medical marijuana but can no longer cultivate on his own.
Caregiver Laws
A caregiver must be 21 years of age or above and have never been convicted of any drug related crime. A caregiver is designated by a qualifying patient and must be registered with the Department of Public Safety.The caregiver must apply and complete the application form online with the complete information and must have copies of the application form printed, filled out in pen or with typewriter.The caregiver must sign a release form for a criminal background check and provide a digital photograph as well as a $50.00 non-refundable registration fee for the marijuana registry identification card. A registered patient and the designated caregiver may obtain marijuana only from their designated dispensary.
Dispensary Laws
The Department of Public Safety requires dispensary operators to be 21 years of age with no background of any drug felony convictions and must be licensed or registered with complete required information, documentation, and the required fee to start a medical marijuana dispensary. For the approval of registration of a dispensary one must comply with the rules and regulations of the law. The total statewide number of registered patients who have designated a dispensary shall not exceed 1,000 at any one time. Any time a dispensary registration certificate is revoked or expires, the department shall accept applications for a new dispensary. Dispensaries may cultivate and possess at any one time up to twenty-eight mature marijuana plants, ninety-eight immature marijuana plants, and twenty-eight ounces of usable marijuana. However, if a dispensary is designated by more than fourteen registered patients, the dispensary may cultivate and possess at any one time two mature marijuana plants, seven immature plants, and two ounces of usable marijuana for every registered patient for which the dispensary serves as the designated dispensary. No more than four dispensaries are valid to register at one time. The Department will publish an announcement when opening the application period for dispensary registration certificates, including the application requirements and deadline for acceptance of applications.
Growing Laws
A grower must be at least 21 years of age and above with no past records of any drug felony offense. A grower must be registered with a valid registry identification card under the Department of Public Safety to legally provide or cultivate an allowable amount of medicinal marijuana to registered patients with qualifying debilitating conditions. The maximum allowable amount of marijuana that a grower can possess is two mature marijuana plants, seven immature plants, and two ounces of useable marijuana. All cultivation of marijuana shall take place in an enclosed, locked facility which is either indoors or otherwise not visible to the public and which can only be accessed by a principal officers and employees of the dispensary or a registered patient and designated registered caregiver with a valid registry identification card. Location of cultivation must be at least 1,000 feet of the property line of a preexisting public or private school or licensed/regulated child care facility.