The Vermont Senate has approved legislation that would make several significant changes to the state’s marijuana laws, including doubling retail purchase limits while creating new permits for marijuana deliveries and events.
If enacted, Senate Bill 278 would raise the retail transaction limit and personal possession limit for adults 21 and older from one ounce to two ounces of marijuana or its equivalent. It would also increase the possession limit for concentrates from 5 grams to 10 grams and raise the THC cap for a single package of cannabis products from 100 milligrams to 200 milligrams.
Another major component of the proposal would create temporary permits for marijuana events and deliveries. Under the bill, the Cannabis Control Board would be allowed to issue up to 10 public event permits and 10 private event permits each year, with each permit valid for a single event lasting no more than 24 hours. The bill would also allow up to 15 delivery permits annually for tier 1 cultivators and tier 1 manufacturers. Those event and delivery provisions would sunset on July 1, 2028, unless lawmakers vote to extend them.
In addition, the proposal would allow the governor to enter into a regional or interstate compact designed to enable interstate commerce, which would honor each state’s laws and regulations. The provision is based on New Jersey’s interstate commerce law.
The legislation also includes language barring municipalities from using local ordinances or bylaws to fully prohibit marijuana establishments.
Most of the bill’s provisions would take effect July 1, 2026, if it is ultimately enacted into law.
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