How many cannabis licenses does Vermont have?

Vermont has 576 active cannabis licensees across 7 license types: 362 cultivators (74% Tier 1 small-scale), 100+ retailers, 82-88 manufacturers, 8 wholesalers, 2 testing labs, 2-3 integrated (former medical dispensaries only), and 3 propagation/nursery. All license types share a $1,000 application fee.

Is Vermont still issuing cannabis licenses?

As of March 2026, both retail licensing (paused November 2024) and cultivation licensing for Tiers 1-5 (paused January 2025) are on hold. CCB Chair Pepper warned of a potential bust from oversupply. The Vermont Growers Association has petitioned to reopen retail licensing. Monitor ccb.vermont.gov for updates.

How much does a Vermont cannabis license cost?

All Vermont cannabis licenses require a $1,000 application fee. Annual license fees range from $500 (propagation/nursery) to $100,000 (integrated license for former medical dispensary operators). Retailer licenses cost $10,000/year after Act 166 reduced the fee from $25,000. Cultivator fees range from $750 (Tier 1) to $75,000 (Tier 6).

Vermont Cannabis Licensing — 7 Types, 576 Licensees

Legal Disclaimer: This information reflects Vermont cannabis law as of April 2026 and is for educational purposes only. It is not legal advice. Laws and regulations change — always verify current rules with the Cannabis Control Board or a qualified attorney. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law.

Last verified: March 2026

Seven License Types

Vermont issues cannabis licenses across seven categories, all sharing a $1,000 application fee. Annual license fees vary dramatically by type and tier:

License Type	Annual Fee	Active Licensees
Cultivator (Indoor/Outdoor/Mixed, 6 tiers each)	$750 (Tier 1, 1K sqft outdoor) – $75,000 (Tier 6, 25K sqft indoor)	362
Manufacturer (3 tiers)	$750 – $15,000	82–88
Retailer	$10,000/yr (reduced from $25K by Act 166)	100+
Wholesaler	$4,000	8
Testing Laboratory	$1,500	2
Propagation/Nursery	$500	3
Integrated	$100,000	2–3
Total		576

Cultivator Dominance

Cultivators account for 362 of 576 licensees (63%), and the overwhelming majority are small-scale: 74% hold Tier 1 licenses. This reflects Vermont's deliberate craft cannabis identity — a market built around small farms rather than industrial-scale grows. Each cultivation type (indoor, outdoor, mixed) has 6 tiers, with Tier 1 outdoor starting at just 1,000 square feet.

Integrated Licenses: Legacy Medical Only

The Integrated license ($100,000/yr) is restricted to former medical dispensary operators. These legacy operators can cultivate, manufacture, and retail under a single license — a vertical integration model not available to new entrants. Only 2–3 integrated licenses are active.

Act 166: Fee Reductions

Act 166 reduced the retailer annual fee from $25,000 to $10,000 — a significant relief for small operators. The legislation recognized that the original fee structure, designed before the market launched, was suppressing retail participation in a state where most businesses operate on thin margins.

Licensing Pauses

The CCB has imposed two significant licensing pauses as the market shows signs of oversaturation:

Retail licensing paused in November 2024
All cultivation licenses (Tiers 1–5) paused in January 2025

CCB Chair Pepper warned of a potential "bust" driven by oversupply relative to the small consumer base. The Vermont Growers Association (VGA) has petitioned to reopen retail licensing, arguing that the retail bottleneck — not oversupply — is the real problem.

Licensing Currently Paused

Both retail and cultivation (Tiers 1–5) licensing are paused as of March 2026. The CCB has not announced a reopening timeline. Monitor ccb.vermont.gov for updates.

The Illicit Market Challenge

Vermont's legal market competes against an estimated $318 million illicit market (2022 data) that dwarfs legal sales. Challenges fueling the gap include small producer economics (50%+ wholesale price discounts), federal 280E tax burdens, restrictive advertising rules, and the 32% municipal opt-in bottleneck that limits retail access across the state.