Act No. 65 Page 1 of 2
2023
This act summary is provided for the convenience of the public and members of the General Assembly. It
is intended to provide a general summary of the act and may not be exhaustive. It has been prepared by the
staff of the Office of Legislative Counsel without input from members of the General Assembly. It is not
intended to aid in the interpretation of legislation or to serve as a source of legislative intent.
Act No. 65 (H. 270). An act relating to miscellaneous amendments to the adult-use and
medical cannabis programs
Subjects: Cannabis
This act makes changes to the adult-use cannabis program and Medical Cannabis
Registry, including:
• Repealing the Cannabis Control Board Advisory Committee and repealing the
sunset of the Cannabis Control Board (CCB) in 2024.
• Establishing a new propagation cultivator license that allows cultivation of
immature cannabis plants and clones.
• Permitting the CCB to issue or renew a State-issued cannabis establishment
license even if the applicant has not received a permit required by the
municipality if the CCB finds that the municipality has exceeded its authority
under statute with respect to the requirements it has placed on the applicant.
• Clarifying that the prohibition against a municipality banning cannabis
establishments from operating within its borders includes regulation by the
municipality that has the effect of banning such establishments.
• Extending the benefits that have been available to small cultivators to all
outdoor cultivators, allowing such cultivators to enroll in the Use Value
Appraisal Program regardless of whether the land was previously enrolled
prior to the cultivation of cannabis, and entitling such cultivators to a
rebuttable presumption that cultivation does not constitute a nuisance under
law in the same manner as “agricultural activities.”
• Increasing the maximum THC content of a packaged cannabis product from 50
to 100 milligrams but not affecting the total amount of cannabis that may be
purchased or possessed by a person over 21 years of age.
• Establishing procedures for public access to information regarding complaints
and investigations by the CCB.
• Removing the counseling requirement for acceptance of PTSD as a qualifying
medical condition for purposes of the Medical Cannabis Registry.
• Increasing the maximum amount of cannabis that may be cultivated by a
registered patient or caregiver to six mature plants and 12 immature plants.
• Changing background check requirements for caregivers and allows caregivers
to care for up to two people at a time.
• Allowing registered patients with qualifying conditions that are not chronic
pain to renew their registration every three years instead of annually.
• Directing the CCB to work with the Vermont Academic Detailing Program,
Registry patients and caregivers, licensed medical cannabis dispensaries, and
medical professional stakeholders to review the Medical Cannabis Registry
and to provide recommendations for improvement to the Senate Committee on
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Act No. 65 Page 2 of 2
2023
Health and Welfare and the House Committees on Human Services and on
Health Care on or before January 15, 2024.
• Clarifying that cannabis and cannabis products are not included in the
definitions of tobacco substitute or other tobacco product and are not subject to
regulation by the Department of Liquor and Lottery.
• Transferring $500,000.00 from the Cannabis Regulation Fund to support loans
and grants to social equity applicants and requiring a report on the
administration and funding of the Cannabis Business Development Fund.
• Directing the Racial Disparities in the Criminal and Juvenile Justice System
Advisory Panel to collaborate with local and national stakeholders to study the
administration and funding of the Cannabis Business Development Fund and
gather qualitative and quantitative data informing the establishment and
funding of community reinvestment for individuals and communities
disproportionately impacted by the criminalization of cannabis. The Panel is
required to provide recommendations on how to administer and fund the
Cannabis Business Development Fund and fund and administer reinvestment
in individuals and communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis
criminalization to the Senate Committees on Economic Development, Housing
and General Affairs and on Finance on or before January 15, 2024.
Effective Date: June 14, 2023
VT LEG #371332 v.2


Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 7-843, 7-861(2), 7-861, 7-881(a)(3), 7-881, 7-881(a), 7-904, 7-905, 7-906, 7-907, 7-35, 7-977, 7-1002
As Passed By the House -- Official: 7-843, 7-861(2), 7-861, 7-881(a)(3), 7-881, 7-881(a), 7-904, 7-905, 7-906, 7-907, 7-35, 7-977, 7-1002, 7-901, 7-910
As Passed By the House -- Unofficial: 7-843, 7-861, 7-881, 7-901, 7-904, 7-905, 7-906, 7-907, 7-910, 7-35, 7-1002
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Official: 7-843, 7-861(2), 7-861, 7-881(a)(3), 7-881, 7-881(a), 7-904, 7-905, 7-906, 7-907, 7-35, 7-977, 7-1002, 7-901, 7-910, 7-845, 7-863, 7-869, 33-4919, 33-6911, 7-974, 7-1001(8), 7-1001, 32-7702(15), 32-7702, 7-831(3), 7-831
As Passed by Both House and Senate -- Unofficial: 7-843, 7-845, 7-861, 7-863, 7-869, 7-881, 7-901, 7-904, 7-905, 7-906, 7-907, 7-910, 7-35, 33-4919, 33-6911, 7-974, 7-1001(8), 7-1001, 32-7702(15), 32-7702, 7-831(3), 7-831, 7-1002
As Enacted: 7-843, 7-845, 7-861, 7-863, 7-869, 7-881, 7-901, 7-904, 7-905, 7-906, 7-907, 7-910, 7-35, 33-4919, 33-6911, 7-974, 7-1001(8), 7-1001, 32-7702(15), 32-7702, 7-831(3), 7-831, 7-1002