Medical Marijuana in Vermont

History

Cannabis was banned in Vermont back in 1915, making the Green Mountain State one of the first to do so. There were no significant changes in the status of cannabis in the state for almost a hundred years.

Until 2004 when Vermont legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes when Governor James Douglas let Senate Bill 76 turn into law without his signature. Senate Bill 7 was passed in 2007 to expand the original 2004 law. Governor Douglas also let it pass without his signature.

Following unsuccessful campaigns in 2014 and 2015, the Vermont General Assembly finally legalized the recreational use of marijuana on January 10, 2018. The H.511 bill allows adult residents of Vermont to possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana and grow two plants for personal use. The law took effect on July 1, 2018.

Eligibility

Patients hoping to gain legal access to medical marijuana in Vermont have to be diagnosed with one of the qualifying diseases or conditions. Currently, the list includes cachexia, Chron’s disease, HIV/AIDS, post-traumatic stress disorder, Parkinson’s disease, cancer, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, seizures, and severe nausea.

Additionally, all patients receiving hospice care in the state of Vermont are also eligible to obtain an MMJ card and legally use medical marijuana. All prospective patients have to be residents of Vermont, as the system does not allow non-residents to participate in the program.

Also, patients have to have an established bona fide relationship with their recommending physician of at least 3 months before the MMJ recommendation. However, patients diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, cancer, or another terminal illness can skip the mandatory 3-month period.

Registration Process

In order to legally access medical marijuana in Vermont, patients have to complete a number of steps. First and foremost, they need to obtain their physician’s approval to use medical marijuana. Next, they should download and print the Patient Registration Packet. The packet contains all the necessary forms they and their physicians have to fill out prior to submission.

Once the prospective patients and their physicians fill out the necessary forms, patients should then submit their applications to the Vermont Marijuana Registry. Prior to that, however, the patients have to get the signatures in the packet notarized.

Additionally, each applicant will also have to provide a valid photo for the MMJ card. The photo has to be in color, reflect the applicant’s current appearance, and not older than 6 months. The photo has to be a standard face-and-shoulder photo and it can’t be taken from any the existing IDs. Photos of other photos are unacceptable.

The ID photo can either be emailed to the registry at DPS.MJRegistry@vermont.gov or burned onto a CD and sent by mail together with the Patient Registration Packet.

The usual waiting period is around 30 calendar days and both successful and unsuccessful applicants will be notified in writing. Those denied will also receive advice on how to appeal the decision. Those approved will also receive instructions on how to complete their registration.

Once issued, the card is valid for a period of 1 year and has to be renewed before it expires. The renewal fee is $50. Patients will have to be re-evaluated by their physicians prior to each renewal.

Options

Patients with an MMJ card can possess up to 2 ounces of marijuana at a time. They can also choose between growing their own marijuana and buying it from a state-licensed dispensary. As of this writing, there are only 5 active dispensaries in the state of Vermont. Those who opt to grow their own plants can have no more than 2 mature plants.

Patients can also have designated caregivers. The caregivers have to be at least 21 years old and must not have a prior drug-related conviction. Patients under the age of 18 can have two caregivers. If a patient opts to name a caregiver, they and their designated caregiver can’t possess more than 2 ounces combined at any given time.

Conclusion 

With its flexible and liberal marijuana laws, Vermont is among the best places for patients suffering from debilitating or terminal illnesses. Though the registration process is a bit tedious, the program allows patients and their designated caregivers to grow their own marijuana. Alternatively, patients can choose one of the state-licensed dispensaries as their provider.

Vermont’s MMJ program is unique in that it accepts recommendations from physicians licensed by other states, namely New York, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. However, patients from other states can’t apply for access to medical marijuana in Vermont.