A Vermont bill that would double the state’s legal marijuana possession and purchase limits while creating a limited marijuana event program has cleared the House Committee on Appropriations. It’s already passed the full Senate.
Senate Bill 278 was placed on the House Notice Calendar on May 22 as favorable with amendment, one day after the House Committee on Appropriations held a walk-through and vote on the measure. Given the bill has already been approved by the Senate, House approval of the amended version would send it back to the Senate for concurrence before it could be sent to Governor Phil Scott.
The bill is sponsored by State Senator Kesha Ram Hinsdale (D), with cosponsors including State Senators Alison Clarkson (D), Martine Gulick (D), Tanya Vyhovsky (D), Richard Westman (R) and Rebecca White (D).
Under the House amendment, SB 278 would increase the amount of marijuana adults 21 and older may purchase in a single retail transaction from one ounce to two ounces, or the equivalent in marijuana products. It would also raise the state’s personal possession limit from one ounce to two ounces and increase the legal hashish limit from five grams to 10 grams.
The measure would also increase the THC cap for a single package of marijuana products from 100 milligrams to 200 milligrams.
SB 278 would create a limited marijuana event authorization program, allowing up to five public event authorizations and five private event authorizations each year. Each authorization would apply to a single event lasting no more than 24 hours at an access-controlled location.
Events could not be held at locations where alcohol is sold or furnished for on-site consumption. Sales would be limited to registered adult-use marijuana and marijuana products, and the Cannabis Control Board would be required to adopt procedures for applications, security requirements, selection criteria and restrictions on event sites.
The House version is narrower than the proposal passed by the Senate. The Senate version would have allowed up to 10 public event authorizations and 10 private event authorizations annually, while also creating a marijuana delivery authorization program. The delivery language has been removed from the House amendment.
The bill would also bar municipalities from adopting ordinances or bylaws that prohibit marijuana establishments outright or regulate them in a way that has the same effect.
Most provisions would take effect July 1, 2026, if enacted. The event authorization program would be repealed July 1, 2028, unless lawmakers extend it.
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