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A Guide to Act 166

This is an easy-to-use guide to learn about the medical cannabis-related policies in Act 166 (2024).

What is Act 166?

Since the start of the adult-use market, each legislative session the Cannabis Control Board works with lawmakers to introduce legislation representing the agency's priorities, and that was Bill H.612 in 2024, an act relating to miscellaneous cannabis amendments, sponsored by Representative Michael McCarthy and Vice Chair Matthew Birong, the Chair and Vice Chair of the House Committee on Government Operations and Military Affairs. Act 166 (2024), or bill H.612, has over 18 sections and includes significant changes to the medical cannabis program for the first time in many years. Governor Scott enacted Act 166 (2024) on June 10, 2024.

Quick Facts

  • Bill H.612 is now Act 166 (2024), enacting significant new policies for the Vermont Medical Cannabis Program.

  • State-registered patients now renew their Vermont Medical Cannabis Program cards every three (3) years.

  • Ulcerative colitis has been added as an eligible condition for the Vermont Medical Cannabis Program.

  • A new license called the Medical-Use Endorsed Retailer affords an adult-use retailer some of the regulatory benefits of a medical dispensary, such as delivery, curbside pickup, and more.

  • State-registered patients and caregivers can purchase cannabis and cannabis products sale tax and excise tax-free from a Medical-Use Endorsed Retailer.

Act 166 (2024) is now law, there are multiple effective dates for implementation and a fully operational adult-use marketplace is years away. Below is a guide to the new law.

  • This section allows the new Medical-Use Endorsed (MUE) retailer licensees to buy, possess, and sell cannabis and cannabis products otherwise prohibited under the THC caps. For example, a gummy that is 25mg, or bubble hash or rosin that tests 90% THC. Only state-registered patients and caregivers can purchase these products from MUE retailers.

  • This section represents a significant new policy that creates a new Medical-Use Endorsed (MUE) retailer license type comprised of the benefits medical dispensaries have, including delivery, curbside pickup, sales and excise tax-free sales to patients and caregivers, increased quantity limits per transaction, and the allowance to sell products impacted by the THC caps.

    This new retailer license goes into effect on July 1, 2025, and before it does, the CCB must first develop rules for the license, including protection of patient privacy and confidential records, enhanced training and educational requirements for employees who interact with patients, and the segregation of cannabis products that are otherwise prohibited for sale to nonmedical customers.

  • This section creates a new annual licensing fee of $10,250 for the MUE retailer license type – that's $250 added onto the $10,000 annual license fee for retailers.

    Note that we advocated for this new license fee to be less than a retailer license fee to help incentivize retailers to participate in the medical cannabis community and to support local patients and caregivers.

  • This section includes ulcerative colitis as an eligible medical condition for the medical cannabis program.

    Note that we advocated for Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or associated symptoms, not just one more disease.

  • This section increases card renewals for all patients to three (3) years.

  • This section reduces the license fee for medical dispensaries from $25,000 to $5,000 and their one-time application fee from $2,500 to $1,000. 

  • This section exempts MUE retailers from paying the cannabis excise tax and mandates that businesses record those transactions and report them to the Department of Taxes. 

  • This section exempts MUE retailers from paying the state sales tax and mandates that businesses record those transactions and report them to the Department of Taxes.