Vermont MMJ Card | Medical Marijuana Doctors Vermont

• Prohibition (1915)
  Vermont banned cannabis in 1915, following a national trend of restricting its use.
• Medical Use (2004)
  On May 19, 2004, Vermont legalized medical cannabis through Senate Bill 76, which Governor James Douglas allowed to pass without his signature. In 2007, the law expanded further with Senate Bill 7.
• Decriminalization (2013)
  In June 2013, Governor Peter Shumlin signed HB200, decriminalizing possession of up to one ounce of cannabis, making it a civil infraction instead of a criminal offense.
• Steps Toward Legalization
  Vermont considered cannabis legalization as early as 2014. Without a ballot initiative option, any legalization effort required legislative approval or a veto-proof majority. In 2014, Governor Shumlin expressed support for a tax-and-regulate system.
• 2017-2018 Legalization
  In May 2017, Vermont’s legislature passed a bill to allow personal cannabis possession, use, and cultivation, marking a historic first in the U.S. However, Governor Phil Scott vetoed it. In January 2018, a revised version, H.511, was passed, legalizing adult possession of up to one ounce and cultivation of up to two plants. Governor Scott allowed the bill to pass without his signature, and the law took effect on July 1, 2018.
• Regulated Sales
  Although the 2018 law allowed possession, it did not include a tax-and-regulate system. In October 2020, S.54 established regulated cannabis sales, and by May 2022, licensed dispensaries began selling cannabis to adults.

To qualify for a medical marijuana ID card in Vermont, patients must have one of these conditions:

• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease
• Glaucoma
• HIV/AIDS
• Multiple sclerosis
• Parkinson’s disease
• PTSD

Vermont also issues cards to patients with debilitating conditions that cause:

• Chronic pain
• Seizures
• Severe nausea
• Wasting syndrome (cachexia)

Cannabis Possession

• 1 ounce of marijuana or 5 grams of hashish is permitted without penalty, jail time, or fines for individuals aged 21 and older.

For those under 21 years:-

• 1-2 ounces (first offense): Misdemeanor, up to 6 months in jail, $500 fine.
• 1-2 ounces (subsequent offenses): Up to 2 years in jail, $2,000 fine.
  
• 2 ounces – 1 pound: Felony, up to 3 years in prison, $10,000 fine.
  
• 1 – 10 pounds: Felony, up to 5 years in prison, $100,000 fine.
  
• Over 10 pounds: Felony, up to 15 years in prison, $500,000 fine.
  

Cannabis Cultivation

• Individuals aged 21 and older can cultivate up to 2 mature marijuana plants and 4 immature (not yet flowering) marijuana plants without penalty, jail time, or fines.
• 3-10 plants: Felony, up to 3 years in prison, $10,000 fine.
• 11-25 plants: Felony, up to 5 years in prison, $100,000 fine.
• More than 25 plants: Felony, up to 15 years in prison, $500,000 fine.

In Vermont, caregivers for medical marijuana patients must meet specific criteria. To be eligible, caregivers must:

1. Complete and Submit a Caregiver Application: This includes filling out the application form, signing it, and submitting a recent color photo.
2. Undergo Background Checks: These checks include a Vermont criminal record check, along with checks against the Vulnerable Adult Abuse and Child Protection registries. Processing can take up to 10 days.
3. Pay a Fee: A $50 non-refundable fee must be submitted with the application (exceptions may apply for the first caregiver of patients under 18).
4. Designate an Active Patient: Caregivers must be designated by a registered medical marijuana patient to assist them with obtaining and cultivating cannabis from a dispensary.