Marijuana is legal in Vermont for adults 21 and older, including possession, home cultivation and purchases from state-licensed retailers. Vermont also operates a separate medical marijuana program for registered patients.
As of July 1, 2026, adults may legally possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana, double the previous 1-ounce limit.
This page covers Vermont marijuana possession limits, legal sales, home cultivation, medical marijuana, taxes, delivery, public consumption and penalties. For laws in other states, visit The Marijuana Herald’s Marijuana Laws by State guide.
Last updated: September 2026
Vermont Marijuana Laws at a Glance
| Category | Vermont Law |
|---|---|
| Recreational marijuana legal? | Yes |
| Minimum age | 21 |
| Adult possession limit | Up to 2 ounces |
| Retail marijuana sales | Legal |
| Home cultivation | Up to 2 mature and 4 immature plants per dwelling |
| Medical marijuana program | Yes |
| Medical possession limit | Up to 2 ounces |
| Medical home cultivation | Up to 6 mature and 12 immature plants |
| Public consumption | Illegal |
| Adult-use delivery | Not generally allowed |
| Medical delivery | Allowed under certain conditions |
| Adult-use marijuana tax | 14% excise tax plus sales tax |
| Medical marijuana tax | Registered patient purchases are tax-free |
Is Marijuana Legal in Vermont?
Yes. Marijuana is legal for recreational use by adults 21 and older in Vermont.
Vermont legalized possession and limited home cultivation for adults through Act 86, which took effect in 2018. The state later established a regulated commercial marijuana market, with licensed retail sales beginning in 2022.
In 2026, Vermont enacted Act 176, increasing the amount adults may legally possess from 1 ounce to 2 ounces beginning July 1.
Adults must still follow state restrictions on where marijuana may be consumed, how much may be cultivated and where marijuana can legally be purchased.
How Much Marijuana Can You Possess in Vermont?
Adults 21 and older may possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana or up to 10 grams of hashish under the possession limits that took effect July 1, 2026.
Marijuana harvested from legally grown plants does not count toward the 2-ounce possession limit when it is stored indoors on the property where it was cultivated and reasonable precautions are taken to prevent unauthorized access.
Possessing larger amounts can result in criminal penalties, with penalties increasing substantially as the quantity increases.
Can You Buy Recreational Marijuana in Vermont?
Yes. Adults 21 and older may purchase marijuana and marijuana products from retailers licensed by the Vermont Cannabis Control Board.
Retailers must verify a customer’s age using valid government-issued identification.
As of July 1, 2026, a retailer may sell up to 2 ounces of marijuana flower in a single transaction.
The Cannabis Control Board has maintained separate transaction limits for other marijuana products while developing updated equivalency standards. Consumers purchasing concentrates, vape cartridges, edibles or combinations of different product types may therefore be subject to product-specific limits that differ from the 2-ounce flower limit.
A list of licensed businesses and additional regulatory information is available through the Vermont Cannabis Control Board.
Can You Grow Marijuana at Home in Vermont?
Yes. Adults 21 and older may cultivate marijuana for personal use.
Each dwelling unit may contain no more than:
- 2 mature marijuana plants
- 4 immature marijuana plants
The limit applies to the entire dwelling rather than to each adult living there. For example, a home with three adults is still limited to two mature and four immature plants.
Cultivation must take place on property lawfully possessed by the person growing the plants or with the written consent of the person legally in possession of the property.
Plants must also be screened from public view, and access must be restricted to the cultivator and authorized people who are at least 21.
Marijuana harvested from the legal plants may be stored on the property without counting against the standard 2-ounce possession limit, provided it is stored indoors and reasonable precautions are taken against unauthorized access.
Is Medical Marijuana Legal in Vermont?
Yes. Vermont has a Medical Cannabis Registry administered by the Cannabis Control Board.
Registered patients receive several benefits that are not available to ordinary adult-use customers.
According to the Cannabis Control Board, registered medical patients may:
- Purchase marijuana without paying marijuana excise or sales taxes
- Access marijuana products with higher THC concentrations than are allowed in the adult-use market
- Access certain products unavailable to recreational customers
- Grow up to 6 mature and 12 immature marijuana plants
- Possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana
- Purchase from licensed medical dispensaries and adult-use retailers with a medical-use endorsement
- In some cases receive marijuana through delivery or curbside pickup
Patient identifying information in the Medical Cannabis Registry is also generally confidential.
More information is available through the Cannabis Control Board’s Medical Cannabis Program.
What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana in Vermont?
Vermont residents with a qualifying debilitating medical condition may apply for the state’s medical marijuana program.
Qualifying conditions include:
- Cancer
- Multiple sclerosis
- HIV
- AIDS
- Glaucoma
- Crohn’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Ulcerative colitis
Other medical conditions may qualify when they produce symptoms including chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures or cachexia, also known as wasting syndrome.
Patients must meet the state’s eligibility and healthcare-provider verification requirements to be registered.
How Much Marijuana Can Medical Patients Possess and Grow?
Registered medical marijuana patients and their caregivers may possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana.
The medical program provides a substantially higher home cultivation allowance than the recreational system. A registered patient or caregiver acting on behalf of a patient may cultivate up to:
- 6 mature marijuana plants
- 12 immature marijuana plants
Marijuana harvested from those plants does not count toward the patient’s 2-ounce possession limit when it is stored indoors on the cultivation property and reasonable precautions are taken to prevent unauthorized access.
How Is Recreational Marijuana Taxed in Vermont?
Vermont imposes a 14% marijuana excise tax on retail sales of marijuana and marijuana products.
Recreational marijuana purchases are also subject to Vermont’s 6% sales and use tax. A 1% local option sales tax may also apply in municipalities that impose it, meaning the combined tax on an adult-use purchase can reach 21%.
Registered medical marijuana purchases are tax-free, giving qualified patients a significant financial advantage over recreational consumers.
Additional information is available from the Vermont Department of Taxes.
Is Marijuana Delivery Legal in Vermont?
Vermont does not generally allow delivery of recreational marijuana to ordinary adult-use customers.
Delivery is available through the medical marijuana system under specific circumstances.
Licensed medical dispensaries and adult-use retailers holding a medical-use endorsement may deliver marijuana and marijuana products to registered patients or their registered caregivers when the state’s requirements are met.
Medical delivery generally must be made to the patient’s registered address, and the patient’s registration and address must be verified before the delivery.
Can You Use Marijuana in Public in Vermont?
No. Consuming marijuana in a public place is prohibited in Vermont.
State law defines public places broadly to include locations such as streets, sidewalks, parks, public buildings and places of public accommodation.
A violation can result in a civil penalty of up to:
- $100 for a first offense
- $200 for a second offense
- $500 for a third or subsequent offense
Municipalities may also adopt additional civil penalties for public marijuana consumption.
Marijuana consumption is generally best limited to private property where its use is allowed.
Can Landlords Ban Marijuana in Vermont?
Vermont changed its landlord-tenant laws in 2026.
Under Act 176, a residential rental agreement generally cannot prohibit a tenant from possessing marijuana or marijuana products within the rental premises or from using marijuana within the dwelling unit.
However, landlords may prohibit smoking marijuana and the use of marijuana products intended for inhalation within the rental property.
The protection also does not apply when federal law requires a rental property to prohibit marijuana possession or use.
Can You Drive With Marijuana in Vermont?
Possessing marijuana does not make it legal to drive while impaired.
Driving under the influence of marijuana remains illegal, and consuming marijuana while operating a motor vehicle is prohibited.
Vermont also regulates marijuana possession and consumption inside vehicles. Drivers and passengers should keep marijuana securely stored and comply with the state’s vehicle and open-container restrictions.
Can You Give Marijuana to Another Adult in Vermont?
Vermont law allows an adult 21 or older to give limited amounts of marijuana to another adult 21 or older without payment.
An adult may give another adult up to 1 ounce of marijuana or 5 grams of hashish, provided the transfer is not advertised or promoted to the public.
Selling marijuana without the appropriate state license remains illegal.
What Are the Penalties for Illegal Marijuana Possession in Vermont?
Possession within Vermont’s legal limit of 2 ounces is lawful for most adults 21 and older.
Possessing more than the legal amount can result in increasingly serious penalties.
Under Vermont’s marijuana possession statute:
- Unlawful possession above 2 ounces can subject a person to criminal penalties. A first offense under the applicable possession provision can carry up to six months in jail, a fine of up to $500, or both.
- A second or subsequent offense can carry up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $2,000.
- Possession of 8 ounces can carry up to three years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Possession of more than 1 pound can carry up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.
- Possession of more than 10 pounds can carry up to 15 years in prison and a fine of up to $500,000.
Separate penalties apply to unlawful cultivation, unauthorized sales and providing marijuana to minors.
Adults who grow marijuana should also remain within the state’s two-mature and four-immature-plant household limit. Growing above the legal limit can result in civil or criminal penalties depending on the number of plants involved.
When Did Vermont Legalize Marijuana?
Vermont legalized possession and home cultivation for adults through Act 86, signed in January 2018 and largely taking effect July 1, 2018.
Vermont was notable for legalizing adult possession through the Legislature rather than through a voter-approved ballot initiative.
The state later approved a regulated commercial market, allowing licensed marijuana retailers to begin operating in 2022.
The legal possession limit was increased from 1 ounce to 2 ounces on July 1, 2026.
Official Sources
- Vermont Cannabis Control Board
- Vermont Cannabis Laws, Rules and Regulations
- Vermont Act 176 of 2026
- Vermont Medical Cannabis Program
- Vermont Department of Taxes Cannabis Excise Tax Information
