Vermont Medical Marijuana Program
Vermont’s General Assembly passed their medical marijuana law in 2004. The responsibilities for implementation and administration are assigned to the VT Criminal Information Center. You must have one of the qualifying medical conditions to register with the Vermont medical marijuana registry. There are currently over 2,000 patients enrolled. Patients can grow up to four plants and possess up to two ounces of usable marijuana at a time. Vermont is home to Senator Bernie Sanders who recently criticized the DEA for their decision not to move marijuana off the schedule I substance list.
“People can argue about the pluses and minuses of marijuana, but everyone knows it’s not a killer drug like heroin,” Sanders wrote in a tweet after the DEA announced that marijuana has “no currently accepted medical use in the United States.”
How do I get a Registry Identification card in Vermont?
You must be 18 years or older, and you must have a debilitating condition confirmed by a health care professional. A registered patient must be a resident of VT. You’ll need to fill out the Registered Patient Application, Health Care Professional Verification Form, include an electronic photograph, and a $50 fee. After this, you may have to wait about 30 days before receiving your card in the mail.
Who Qualifies for Medical Marijuana in Vermont?
Only people with debilitating medical conditions qualify in VT. The list of qualifying conditions includes:
Can Qualifying Conditions Be Added?
The VT Criminal Information Center can choose to expand the list of qualifying conditions.
Medical Marijuana Doctors in Vermont
Any Health Care Professional can register a patient with the state’s medical marijuana program. Accepted Health Care Professional types include:
- Physician (M.D. or D.O.)
- Physician Assistant (P.A. or PA-C)
- VT Naturopathic Physician (N.D.)
- Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)
Information regarding health care professionals is confidential. So you will have to find out on your own which doctors will or won’t complete a Health Care Professional Verification Form for you.
Dispensaries In Vermont
The state laws only allow for four dispensaries to be operational at a time. VT is entirely functional with a dispensary in Burlington, Brandon, Brattleboro, and Montpelier.
Marijuana Products Found in Vermont Dispensaries
VT patients will have access to marijuana in its:
Where can you Legally Smoke Medical Marijuana in Vermont?
It’s more about where you can’t use marijuana. You can’t use it in public, while driving, near a school, or at work.
Are Vermont Medical Marijuana Patients Shielded from Discrimination?
According to the VT Crime Information Center, the medical marijuana legislation in VT “exempts all criminal penalties for the use of marijuana to alleviate the symptoms or effects of a debilitating medical condition.” However, you cannot use marijuana in the workplace and employers are not required to accommodate employees working under the influence.
The Future of Vermont’s Medical Marijuana Program
Vermont already has all four of its dispensaries opened. The program may see an expanded list of qualifying conditions for more research on marijuana surfaces.
