Overview
Act 164 (2020) is Vermont’s new taxation and regulation law, enacted on October 7, 2020. Governor Phil Scott (R) allowed the bill to become law without his signature, and a long list of concerns about racial justice, equitability, and accessibility for BIPOC, small businesses, and farms for legislators to revisit in 2021. Vermont had already legalized cannabis in 2018 when Governor Phil Scott signed Act 86, allowing adults 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of flower, five grams of concentrates, and grow two mature and four immature plants per household, all without establishing a legal marketplace. Act 164 (2020) creates an adult-use marketplace in Vermont with retail shops, cultivation licenses, and more.
Quick Facts
Vermont is a retail opt-in state, which means cannabis sales cannot take place in a town without an approval vote by its townspeople.
Retail opt-in creates a patchwork of towns that can and cannot sell cannabis, which also contributes to a bottleneck effect on the supply chain.
78 out of 247 Vermont towns and cities have opted into retail sales, which is about 32% of municipalities throughout the state.
Only retailers may sell to the general public. There are no farmer's markets or direct-sale allowances for producers.
There are no public consumption or lounges yet.
Towns That Approved Retail Sales
78 Vermont towns and cities have successfully approved adult-use cannabis retail sales, in accordance with Act 164 (2020), since the statute was enacted in October 2020.
Alburgh, Barre, Barton, Bennington, Berlin, Bolton, Bradford, Brandon, Brattleboro, Bristol, Brownington, Burke, Burlington*, Cambridge, Cavendish, Chester, Danby, Danville*, Derby, Duxbury, East Burke, Essex Junction, Essex Junction Village, Fair Haven, Fairlee, Fayston, Ferrisburgh, Grand Isle, Groton, Hardwick, Hartford, Jamaica, Johnson, Killington, Londonderry, Manchester, Marlboro, Middlebury, Middlesex, Milton, Montgomery, Montpelier, Moretown, Morristown, Newfane, Pawlet, Peacham, Pittsford, Plymouth, Poultney, Pownal, Proctor, Putney, Randolph, Rockingham, Richford, Rutland City, Rutland Town, Saint Albans Town, Saint Johnsbury, Salisbury, Sheldon, South Hero, Springfield, Stockbridge, Stratton, Strafford, Sutton, Vergennes, Waitsfield, Wallingford, Waterbury*, Wilmington, Windsor, Winhall, Winooski, Wolcott, Woodstock Town
*Designates the equal start date ballot language that removes the 5-month head start medical dispensary licensee’s receive under Act 164 (2020).
Do you want to learn more about the retail opt-in process?
Visit the Act 164 Retail Opt-In Guide to learn how to approve adult-use cannabis retail sales in your town.