Issuu

Seeing Green

Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of

CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or

Vermont’s legal weed market, by the numbers

HEADY HONCHO

James Pepper, chair of Vermont’s powerful Cannabis Control Board, discusses the growing industry

HIGH FIDELITY

Facing stiff competition and strict marketing rules, dispensaries get creative to keep customers coming back

Sampling THC-infused food and beverages

Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age and older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry significant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the influence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.

Lineup

4/17 - 4/20

Deals Across Every Product Category Ballin’ on a Budget Options and Top-Shelf Mark-Downs . DJ Sets

In-Store Vendor Pop-Ups . Glass Swap

Run For The Trees . BTV Local 420 Pre-Roll ($2 from Each Pre-Roll go to BTV Local Fund )

Complimentary Brunch . Coffee . Grilling

Donuts . Reusable Jars and Tins . Green-Up Days

Cannabis Blessing . Chair Massages

ThIS BuD’S fOR YOu

Seven Days’ Cannabiz Guide returns in time for 4/20

Whether you’ve never consumed cannabis or you unwind after work by smoking a dogwalker, we think you’ll find something useful in Seven Days’ second annual Vermont Cannabiz Guide.

There are now 110 dispensaries dotting the landscape from Brattleboro to East Burke, Manchester Center to Morrisville and everywhere in between. You’ll find a numerical snapshot of the industry, “420 IN THE 802,” on page 6 and a complete list in the back of this guide. Each dispensary is a local business with

its own unique vibe. The state restricts how they can market themselves to consumers, so they have to get creative to win loyal customers, as Ken Picard explains in “HIGH FIDELITY” on page 11. One of his interviewees, a former IBM employee, runs a dispensary in Johnson on his family’s 1950 homestead. His father grew vegetables there way back when; now he grows cannabis in the same fields. By law, everything these shops sell must be grown and manufactured right here in Vermont. When you buy a tin of edibles or a THC-infused beverage, you’re supporting the

retailer, the producer and the grower, any of whom could be one of your neighbors.

Seven intrepid Seven Dayzers volunteered to sample some of these tasty treats. You’ll find their PRODUCT REVIEWS on page 14.

For a 30,000-foot view of the industry and how it functions, Seven Days deputy news editor Sasha Goldstein called James Pepper, chair of the state’s all-powerful Cannabis Control Board. Find Goldstein’s interview with this “HEADY HONCHO” on page 8.

We hope you enjoy this potluck parade — responsibly, of course. ➆

DISPENSARY DOS & DON’TS

DO bring your photo ID proving you are 21-plus.

Dispensary staff will check it twice: once when you enter and once when you pay. Make sure it’s not expired! Yes, they will check and refuse to let you in.

DON’T bring the baby.

No one under 21 is allowed to enter a dispensary, even if that little person is so young that they’re strapped to the body of an adult.

DO bring cash.

Because cannabis still isn’t legal federally, you can’t buy it with a credit card. Many dispensaries accept debit cards, but they do it by acting as an ATM, charging transaction fees and rounding up to the nearest $5 or $10. Some dispensaries have ATMs on-site, but your best bet is to bring your Benjamins.

DO try shopping online

ahead of time.

If you’re looking for something specific, check the dispensary’s website before you go to see if it’s in stock. Some dispensaries let you shop online using a banking app and pick up your products in person.

DON’T light up as you walk out.

It’s still illegal in Vermont to use cannabis in public — at a concert, in a park, on the beach, etc. Pretty much the only place where you can legally use it is a private dwelling. Definitely wait until you’ve arrived at your destination to take a hit. It’s illegal — and unsafe — to drive under the influence.

110

e number of cannabis dispensaries currently licensed in Vermont

5,823 at’s how many different cannabis products currently registered with the Cannabis Control Board in Vermont

420 IN THE 802

Vermont’s legal weed market, by the numbers

COMPILED BY CATHY RESMER • cathy@sevendaysvt.com

Even for cannabis teetotalers, it’s hard to ignore Vermont’s legal marketplace — especially now that there are so many dispensaries sprinkled throughout the state. What are these shops contributing to Vermont and why should you care? Here’s a look at the numbers. ➆

1,320

e number of people who work in the industry, not including business owners

3,159

Towns that have at least one dispensary. Proposals to encourage more municipalities to allow dispensaries are under consideration in Montpelier.

e number of patients enrolled in Vermont’s medical marijuana program, an 18.4 percent increase over this time last year but still below the peak participation of 5,300 patients in 2018. Medical patients don’t pay taxes on their cannabis purchases.

© ANASTASIIA MAMLEEVA | DREAMSTIME

$150,475,610.64

e revenue generated by cannabis sales in 2025

20 percent

e total tax burden on all nonmedical cannabis sales. 6 percent of that is sales tax; 14 percent is a speciﬁc cannabis excise tax

$8,382,844

e sales tax cannabis generated in 2025, which went to the state’s Universal Afterschool and Summer Special Fund

$20,221,141

e excise tax cannabis generated in 2025 30 percent was deposited in the Substance Misuse Prevention Special Fund. e rest went to the state’s General Fund.

629

e number of CCB-approved cannabis licenses for cultivators, manufacturers, retailers, testing labs, wholesalers and propagators at its peak, in March 2025.

562

e number of the same kinds of licenses in March 2026. e drop is mainly in the number of licensed cultivators, some of whom have complained that they struggle to sell their product to dispensaries.

Farmers markets where cultivators can sell their crops to consumers directly. e legislature has so far decided not to allow these markets.

Heady HoncHo

James Pepper, chair

of Vermont’s powerful Cannabis Control Board, discusses the growing industry

BY SASHA GOLDSTEIN • sasha@sevendaysvt.com

Vermont’s legal cannabis industry went from $0 in recreational sales in 2021 to about $150 million in 2025, and it’s on track to top that in 2026. At its helm is James Pepper, chair of the Vermont Cannabis Control Board.

Since Gov. Phil Scott appointed Pepper to the position in March 2021, the 42-yearold attorney has worked to create — and regulate — the state’s weed market.

In a recent interview, Pepper described the board as “an independent executive branch agency” created by statute. Its mission is “effectively, equitably and safely implementing and overseeing the adult-use and medical-use cannabis programs.” That broad mission can conflict with the desires of cannabis entrepreneurs, who have, at times, directed their ire at the board.

Pepper admits it hasn’t been easy. Answering to the legislature, and ultimately the governor, the board must support, encourage and learn from industry professionals while enforcing the rules. It accomplishes all this with a staff of 25 — plus Pepper and two other board members. The board has asked for a $7.1 million budget for next fiscal year, which begins in July. Pepper’s salary: about $136,000 annually.

The most difficult aspect of the job, according to Pepper, is that the industry is federally illegal. Other state entities that could help regulate the market, such as the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets and the Department of Health, “won’t step foot on a cannabis facility,” he said, because they don’t want to risk their federal funding.

“And so we have to be in charge of knowing all those regulations and knowing how to enforce them and implement them safely,” Pepper said.

The board writes regulations and often testifies before legislators at the Statehouse as they consider new laws. Pepper is on the record with his support for some of the proposals in this year’s cannabis bill, S.278, including increasing the quantity of THC allowed in packaged products and the amount of cannabis consumers can buy at retail stores; and offering permits for licensed sales at events, such

There’s a lot of ingenuity and creativity in this industry that I love just being a part of.

JAMES PEPPER

as weddings and music festivals. The fate of this legislation remains to be decided.

And yes, if you’re wondering, Pepper does use cannabis recreationally — though not often. He’s got 7-year-old twins, and his wife, Aly Richards, just announced she’s running for governor.

“There’s not a lot of time for recreation in my household,” he quipped.

Pepper talked about the challenges of balancing different interests while creating something “brand-new for Vermont.”

Can you explain how the board works and its responsibilities?

The board’s role has evolved dramatically, because you started out with two staff members, an executive director and administrative assistant — and a massive mandate. You needed to develop all these rules that govern this industry in a very compressed timeline — while you’re, by

the way, building an agency out of whole cloth. There were no office spaces. There were no computers, laptops. And we’re not stepping into someone else’s shoes. We’re creating something new.

The first phase of the board’s work, when we didn’t really have the staff, was to develop a market structure and report back to the legislature on what that market was going to look like. They said, “There’s going to be six types of licenses; you need to create tiers within those licenses. You need to define what those licenses are going to be able to do and what they’re not going to be able to do. And then we need to set fees for those license types in a way that balances covering your budget while making this an accessible market. And by the way, we don’t want big business in Vermont. We want this to be a small craft market, so make sure you take that into consideration when you’re setting fees.”

The board was heavily involved in the day-to-day operations of every aspect of the agency because we didn’t have any staff to delegate, really, anything. Now that the market is maturing a little bit more, and we have a staff of now 28 people, the board is taking a much more policyoriented approach, whereas the staff is more operations.

It seems as if you’re supposed to be the cheerleader, supporter and booster of the market but also the regulator and enforcer of laws that you’ve created. Do you feel like that? We always feel like that, and we feel very accountable for some of the public health outcomes. If we saw a tremendous amount of DUI [with] cannabis or huge increases in accidental exposures, particularly amongst the most vulnerable populations, the board would need to respond to that. We would have to find ways to fix whatever we’re doing that is not working.

So it’s not just us trying to make it a successful and viable marketplace. We also have to balance that against the need to take enforcement actions, make sure that we are creating a culture of compliance, and then be accountable for some of the public health outcomes — or just to be accountable to the legislature, many of whom never supported cannabis to begin with, didn’t want this marketplace in Vermont. And tax revenues are certainly nice, but there’s a lot of questions [from legislators] as to whether [creating a legal cannabis marketplace] was the right policy at all.

What’s your day-to-day job like?

A lot of my time is consumed by dealing with legislative requests, and they are always punting controversial issues to report writing. So in the summers, we are continuously doing stakeholder engagement around certain policy initiatives. And stakeholder engagement isn’t just industry; it is also a lot of the public health folks who get involved in policy development and report writing.

During the summers, I try to spend a lot of my days out in the field, visiting cannabis establishments, really being visible. Trying to understand where the struggles are, where the friction points are, where our regulations are redundant or just not adding value. A lot of our regulations were put into place based on theoretical fears about diversion, inversion, cartels getting involved, bad actors getting involved, and a lot of them aren’t necessary.

We’re trying to learn from the industry about the things that aren’t necessary, and try and normalize the business practices a little bit through regulation reform.

What’s your favorite part of the job?

My favorite part is just the fact that everything we do is brand-new for Vermont. Every aspect of the job is breaking new ground in some way or the other. And there are these intractable problems that need solutions. It’s just really exciting to be at the forefront of figuring things out. I really don’t like to re-create the wheel. I try to always look at problems in the context of how other states have dealt with them, how other agencies within our state have dealt with them, and try and take lessons learned and work with industry and interested stakeholders.

Thinking about the bill that’s moving through the Senate right now, they want us to do event licensing with cannabis, and they want to authorize us to do both public and private events. People have been consuming cannabis at festivals and weddings for as long as I can remember, but to do it in a way that is regulated and safe and hits the desires of the legislature … is a fun aspect. It’s not easy to make sure that these things don’t go sideways. It’s always fun to try and figure this out. There’s a lot of ingenuity and creativity within this industry that I love just being a part of. One of the best parts is when you see these cannabis entrepreneurs who have been persecuted, in some instances prosecuted or stigmatized, at the very least, for their cannabis use, and now they’re doing it in the open, and they’re making money, and they’re paying their bills with it. They’re excited, and that excitement is infectious.

What’s your overall assessment of the market?

We are in a spot we were warned about when we started this operation — that the first couple years, things are going to look like they’re doing just fine. People will be making money for a large portion of our cultivators; demand is going to exceed supply. So it’s going to look like everyone’s doing well, and certainly the tax revenue, if you’re using that as measuring stake, is coming in much higher than was expected. And we have a huge number of small cultivators. They’re driving innovation, and there’s a huge number of registered products.

But once people are getting more efficient at growing, and once supply starts really exceeding demand, you’re going to start to see business failures. And it’s just exacerbated by this disparate tax treatment at the federal level, the lack of banking, the exorbitant prices people pay for banking and insurance, and the evolution of this ... intoxicating hemp product market. So, all those factors combined, I think our market is always in somewhat of a precarious position.

That being said, I think some of these new evolutions, the innovation in the market — the event license pilot, the [adult-use, direct-to-consumer] delivery pilot — they’re going to help us capture more consumers.

I think it’ll unlock a little bit more creativity and innovation if we can do it safely and do it well, because we are starting to lag behind some of our neighbors. For New York, they’ve got a very liberal openconsumption policy, which just means that they can do things like events. They’ve had permitted farmers markets for two years now.

We were on the vanguard of a number of issues that made our market exciting, but we’re now starting to see that, without innovation at the statutory level, we’re starting to fall behind a little bit. ➆

This interview was edited for clarity and length.

James Pepper with board members Julie Hulburd and Kyle Harris

HigH Fidelity

Facing stiff competition and strict marketing rules, dispensaries get creative to keep customers coming back

BY KEN PICARD

• ken@sevendaysvt.com

Back in the days of cannabis prohibition, weed dealers worked in a seller’s market, following no rules but the law of supply and demand. Today, adult-use dispensaries operate out in the open but must adhere to the Vermont Cannabis Control Board’s numerous restrictions on marketing and promotions.

Many traditional retail sales techniques are verboten for this product, including offering free samples or inducements such as prizes and giveaways. Also prohibited are signs, toys, inflatables and cartoon characters that could appeal to minors. Outdoor sandwich boards are allowed but only if they display nothing more than the dispensary’s name, address, logo and hours of operation. And don’t get a cannabis retailer talking about online marketing or the board’s process for preapproving

print ads unless you have plenty of time to kill.

Dispensaries that violate these rules can incur hefty fines or have their licenses suspended or even revoked.

Vermont is now a buyer’s market, where cannabis consumers can easily shop around for the lowest prices, especially in places rife with retail outlets. Rutland has six dispensaries and Burlington has 11, but neither is the state’s densest market per capita. That distinction belongs to Morrisville (population: 2,000), which has five dispensaries.

Faced with a crowded marketplace and narrow profit margins, dispensaries have gotten creative to edge out their competition and keep consumers coming back for more. After all, every pot shop claims it has the best service, widest selection and highest-quality products. But the ones that get repeat business have figured out ways to distinguish themselves, be it through customer loyalty programs, well-timed sales, targeted discounts or, for those located near the state’s borders, appeals to their customers’ sense of loyalty to Vermont.

Seven Daysies winner BERN GALLERY SMOKE SHOP & CANNABIS, which opened in 2004 as a smoke shop and glassblowing studio on Main Street in Burlington, had an established customer base when it launched its dispensary in 2022. But as other cannabis shops opened and started selling glassware, owner Tito Bern watched his smoke shop business get “decimated,” he said.

Shifting consumer consumption habits haven’t helped. As buyers transitioned from smoked flower to products such as edibles and vape cartridges, Bern has put more emphasis on marketing his own organically grown strains. He and his wife, Mikaela, have cultivated them for years for medical patients. Bern sells his organic weed elsewhere in Vermont, but in Burlington it’s available only at Bern Gallery.

“Being vertically integrated makes a huge difference,” he said, referring to ownership of every step of cannabis production from seed to spliff. “If your own weed is really good, you’re better off than the place next to you.”

A block away at TRUE 802 CANNABIS on the Church Street Marketplace, manager and budtender Tim Paquette explained how that dispensary brings customers back

Hannah Stearns and Chris Moroch at Best Buds

Bulk produce at Best Buds

HigH Fidelity « P.11

through a variety of shopper-retention incentives, such as a customer loyalty discount and 10 percent off for employees of Church Street businesses.

True 802 also sells flower deli-style, an increasingly popular method that lets customers buy buds by weight and mix and match different strains. The second-floor retailer also offers a range of pricing, from budget-conscious deals, such as $38 for an ounce of bud trimmings (a less valuable but potent by-product of cannabis processing) or half an ounce of smaller buds, or “smalls,” for $75, to premium strains that sell for $420 per ounce. Said Paquette, “We try to have the right product for everybody.”

In the dispensary-dense town of Morrisville, BEST BUDS co-owner Hannah Stearns regularly checks the menus of nearby dispensaries in order to choose products for her store that aren’t available elsewhere. And if there is overlap, she added, “it’s all about competitive pricing.”

“I, as an owner, spend a lot of time in the shop and build relationships with customers,” Stearns added. “It’s about being able to greet people by name and know what their regular order is.”

Best Buds also runs a monthly raffle in which customers can drop their receipts in a box for a chance to win a $50 store credit. All of Best Buds’ prices include Vermont’s 20 percent tax, an increasingly popular convenience for customers, given that all transactions must be conducted with cash or debit cards.

Fifteen minutes away in Johnson, Gordy Horner, co-owner of VT GREEN CASTLE CANNABIS , markets his business by showcasing his family’s connection to the land. The 69-year-old worked at IBM for 45 years before opening a dispensary in 2024 on the site of his family’s 1950s homestead.

Horner’s father sold the vegetable stand and convenience store there in the late ’70s, he said. After he retired a few years ago, Horner bought back the property and set up greenhouses and a dispensary in the postand-beam building that for years served as an antiques store — hence, the medieval suit of armor on display. He eventually plans to leave the business to his sons.

“We’ve kind of gone full circle,” he said of his family’s place in the cannabis ecosystem. “Dad grew in the ’50s, and we’re still growing now.”

Indeed, about 80 percent of Horner’s deli-style sales comes from products grown on-site. VT Green Castle also puts out a weekly email newsletter, called the Stash Report, that lists daily deals. At last count, Horner had about 500 people on the mailing list, including some who are regular out-of-state visitors to Stowe, Jay Peak and Smugglers’ Notch.

Marlena Tucker-Fishman, co-owner of ZENBARN FARMS in Waterbury Center, considers her dispensary an extension of her own home, as reflected by her choice of language in the store.

“We don’t have ‘budtenders.’ We have ‘cannabis guides.’ And we have ‘guests,’ not ‘customers,’” she said. “A guest doesn’t need to be invited back once they’re welcomed.”

Zenbarn Farms, another Seven Daysies winner, runs daily sales, such as “Therapeutic Thursday,” which offers a 10 percent discount on beverages, edibles, tinctures and capsules. And, as Tucker-Fishman discovered by speaking to her “guests,”

many work late at nearby restaurants and resorts, so she extended her evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays to 8 p.m.

Zenbarn Farms also capitalizes on visitors to its music and events venue, Zenbarn, offering them special discounts on the day of shows.

Through its loyalty program, Club Zen, members can earn up to $50 in store discounts. Vermonters who qualify for public assistance through Medicaid and those who use a Vermont EBT card can get additional savings at Zenbarn through an “Economic Ease” customer group. Once someone is in their system, TuckerFishman noted, there’s no need for them to show that card when they return.

“We get to know our guests as they come in,” she added, “so if we hear about their economic hardships, we’ll add that to their profile.”

Tucker-Fishman, who is also an owner of the Vermont Patient Alliance, a medical dispensary in Montpelier, got a medical endorsement for Zenbarn Farms. This allows both dispensaries to offer more potent strains to medical patients and do statewide deliveries. Said TuckerFishman, “If folks in the medical program can’t get to us, we’ll go to them.”

Scott Sparks, owner of VERMONT BUD BARN in Brattleboro, faces a challenge that’s less of a concern for dispensaries in northern and central Vermont: His business is close to Massachusetts, home to many corporate dispensaries that massproduce their weed in huge warehouses.

“They keep lowering the bar,” Sparks said. “It’s like a small mom-and-pop trying to compete with Walmart.”

To maintain his customer base, Sparks operates two other cannabis-related businesses on-site: Vermont Hempicurean, a producer and seller of CBD products; and Vermont Grow Barn, which sells soil, nutrients, tents, lights and other gardening supplies to home growers.

“We try to be all-encompassing,” he said. “Anything you want with the cannabis plant is available here.”

Sparks always informs his customers that Bud Barn is the only family-owned dispensary in Brattleboro, as the other three are owned by multistate operators. And, while he knows that some people will still drive to the Bay State for cheaper weed, he reminds them that the taxes they pay there benefit Massachusetts residents, not Vermonters.

“For the people who care about buying local and supporting Vermont businesses,” he added,”we promote that and hope it means something.” ➆

Find all of these dispensaries in the listings that start on page 17.

4col-disclaimer041526.indd

Gordy Horner tending to cannabis in the VT Green Castle Cannabis grow room

Inside VT Green Castle Cannabis

The suit of armor

Whether you’re a seasoned regular or just curious about cannabis, FLORA offers a best-in-class retail experience, with kind, knowledgeable budtenders and a wide selection of premium products from a diverse lineup of local growers and makers.

See the same thing for less elsewhere? Fear not, we’ll match any local competitor’s verified price! Plus shop tax free with a VT Med Card!

TASTE TEST

Sampling THC-infused food and beverages

BY SEVEN DAYS STAFF

Vermont food and beverage makers are concocting all kinds of creative ways to consume THC, the psychoactive compound in cannabis.

Unlike homemade pot brownies, these consumables are designed and tested to ensure each serving has the advertised level of THC — ﬁve milligrams, according to state regulations. How many you eat or drink is up to you — though, before you reach for another one, be sure to consider that edibles may take two hours or more to kick in.

We asked around for product recommendations, and several sta ers with various levels of THC tolerance volunteered to sample

them. Some items proved hard to ﬁnd; High Branch Sparkling Cannabis Cider, for instance, was sold out everywhere except at the Lake E ect Vermont dispensary in South Hero. And we struck out entirely with Haute & Heady’s tantalizing Break & Get Baked Frozen Cookie Dough Balls, which are on the company’s website but not yet available for purchase.

The rest of these locally made products are sold in multiple Vermont dispensaries. Use this list as a jumping-o point for your own edible adventures! ➆

High Branch Sparkling Cannabis Cider by Sunset Lake Cannabis

10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $8 per can at Lake Effect Vermont in South Hero, lakeeffectvt.com

Sunset Lake Cannabis in South Hero partnered with an experienced fruit-producing neighbor — Hackett’s Orchard — to concoct its THC-infused sparkling cider.

SAFETY TIP: Be sure to store these out of reach of children and pets!

e result of their collaboration is a lightly carbonated, cloudy amber beverage reminiscent of a hefeweizen. High Branch Sparkling Cannabis Cider has a pleasant mouth feel and well-balanced ﬂavor, neither as dry as a Shacksbury Cider nor as sweet as a Woodchuck Hard Cider. Tasty and smooth, it also lacks the bite and aftertaste of its alcoholic brethren. And, unlike many edibles, it has no discernible cannabis odor or taste. Generally, I’m not a fan of THC-only edibles, whose buzz can feel less complex than that of a hash rosin edible. But, consuming the can on a full stomach, I found that High Branch delivered a mellow high with a gradual onset. It’s an eminently drinkable adult beverage for those days on the porch when booze isn’t your thing.

Haute & Heady Maple Waffle Bliss Bar

Call of Peaks Plus Sparkling Green Tea by Taunik

KEN PICARD

10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $10 per can at Bern Gallery Smoke Shop & Cannabis in Burlington, berngallerydispensary.com

100 milligrams of THC per pack (20 servings), $30 per bar at Garcia’s Cannabis Collective in Burlington, garciascannabis.com

Since it’s maple season, I was

I told the budtender at Bern Gallery that I was skeptical about THC beverages because of my high tolerance for edibles. He said I might be surprised because they “go through your system faster.” I was curious. When I got home, I forwent my ritual toke and cocktail and tried this sparkling green tea, ﬂavored with lime, peppermint, honey, hemp and hops.

I downed the smooth contents of the 12-ounce can in a few big gulps. No time to waste. It tasted like an unusual green tea, with hints of peppermint and hemp. I paced the house, fed my cat, brought in the trash cans and said hello to the neighbors. By the time I turned on all my lights, sat down at my desk and reconnected my computer, I felt less anxiety than usual.

Haute & Heady Cannabis Cuisine makes a variety of chocolate bars called Bliss Bars, as well as THCinfused barbecue sauce, honey, maple syrup, nut butters and olive oil. Since it’s maple season, I was enticed by the Maple Waffle Bliss Bar, which comes in triangular portions with waffle pieces and crumble on top. I found it tough to break off just one serving, so I tried two. e flavor is predominantly dark chocolate, with a hint of cannabis in the background. e waffle pieces add a fun extra crunch. I did not detect any maple flavor. My experience was a euphoric, cerebral one. I would recommend this for relaxing and unplugging.

MATT WEINER

I managed to tackle quite a bit of nagging, nonwork paperwork that I’d been putting off for weeks. Bills paid, people thanked. e BBC had a lighthearted piece on the radio. My cat was lying by the ﬁre. After about an hour of that, I went into the kitchen and sang a couple songs on the guitar. It sounded good.

Not bad for a Monday night. anks, Taunik.

JEFF BARON

VERMONT CANNABIZ

Mango Chili Heat Freaks by Gaston Weed

100 milligrams of THC per pack (20 servings), $28 per pack at the Gaston Weed store in Essex, gastonvt.com

ese spicy gummies, which come in Mango Chili and Pineapple Habanero ﬂavors, deﬁnitely pack a punch — though it’s not as intense as the one implied by the label’s image of a skull with its eyes popping out. e “heat” is more of a zing in the aftertaste, like that of a Red Hots candy.

I took a Mango Chili gummy before heading to a concert, and it was great for vibing to the music and meeting up with friends. I felt social and relaxed, though I did forget to put in my earplugs at the show. Effects will differ for every user, but most gummies I’ve taken have put me right to sleep, and these did not make me drowsy.

Nom Noms Mini Marshmallows by Inti’s Fire

100 milligrams of THC per pack (20 servings), $35 per pack at Garcia’s Cannabis Collective in Burlington, garciascannabis.com

Bored with gummies and chocolate bars? Give these squareshaped THC marshmallows a try. I picked up a pack of 20 at Garcia’s on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace. You can add them to beverages such as hot chocolate, but I found them absolutely delicious on their own.

ey have a great soft, gooey texture. e ﬂavor is very cannabis-forward, with the sweet, sugary marshmallow as a complement.

Inti’s Fire, a Vermont grower using regenerative practices, makes these treats in small batches using organic sugar and gelatin from grass-fed cows.

An added bonus: superior packaging. Other gummies I’ve bought have been secured in Mylar pouches, but Heat Freaks come in an Altoids-like metal tin that’s secure and easy to carry in a purse or pocket. I’ll probably reuse the tin for bobby pins and hair ties.

My experience was a very relaxing body high, as well as a calming cerebral effect. ese marshmallows are a great stress reliever! I found them to be a mellow experience in all the best ways.

Yut Rootbeer

MATT WEINER

10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $9 per can at Lucky You in Burlington, luckyyouvt.com

With THC-infused seltzers all the rage, Yut Rootbeer stands out in the ever-growing ﬁeld of cannabis beverages. Lucky me, I was able to get two of the last cans at Burlington’s Lucky You. is soda, crafted in Milton, is not too sweet. at may win over some seltzer jerks. I tasted hints of maple and could barely tell there was cannabis in it. e 12-ounce cans are perfect for sharing if you’re looking for a mellow buzz. Take it up a notch with a whole can, or bring it to the S tier by making a root beer ﬂoat with your favorite vanilla ice cream.

JOHN JAMES picked Garcia’s on Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace. You can add found treats

Good Guava! THC Seltzer by Upstate Elevator

Upstate Elevator’s THC-infused seltzers come in many ﬂavors: ink Strawberry Tangerine, Blackberry Zinger and Orange Pop. I picked up a can of Good Guava! at Sweetspot cannabis dispensary in Essex Junction on my way home from work. I wasn’t alone — the dispensary was full of people at the end of the workday. Is this the new “going out with coworkers for a beer”? I wondered.

10 milligrams of THC per can (two servings), $9 per can at Sweetspot in Essex Junction, sweetspotfarms.com

I drank the seltzer at home at the end of the day. It didn’t have as much carbonation as I expect from a seltzer. But unlike hard seltzers, which always taste a bit chemically to me, this one had no noticeable aftertaste, and the ﬂavor was clearly guava. e can says it’s “fast acting,” and while I didn’t feel immediate effects, I was deﬁnitely relaxed and later drifted off while watching TV. Best of all, I slept well through the night and didn’t feel any kind of hangover in the morning.

JULIA MAGUIRE

Dispensary

Your Local Mom & Pot Shop.

One year ago, we opened our doors with a simple mission: to bring a curated, high-end, yet deeply personal cannabis experience to Essex Junction. As a family-run business, we don’t just see customers—we see the people who have made this their neighborhood store. Over the last 365 days, our customers have truly become our friends and family. We’ve spent every moment obsessing over the best local cultivators and hand-selecting products that celebrate the craft of the plant. We are so grateful for the trust you’ve placed in us. Come join us for our 1st Anniversary and 4/20 Blowout as we celebrate the community that made our ﬁrst year so special.

Vermont cannabis DISPENSARIES

Remember when the only weed seller you knew was that sketchy guy you met through a friend?

In Vermont, those days are over. There are now 110 fully legal cannabis dispensaries putting the green in the Green Mountain State. Your best buds at Seven Days have compiled all of the publicly available info as of April 10, 2026, and organized it by region. We haven’t visited all of these locations, but we encourage you to try a few and see what all the buzz is about. ➆

Green Haven Herbals

18 Pearl St., Burlington 802-324-2118 greenhavenherbals.com

BURLINGTON

Bern Gallery Smoke

Shop & Cannabis

135 Main St., Burlington 802-865-0994 berngallery.com

Float On Cannabis Co.

136 1/2 Church St., Burlington 802-540-1234 floatondispensary.com

Garcia’s Cannabis Collective

97 Church St., Burlington 802-658-5737 garciascannabis.com

Green Leaf Central

30 Thorsen Way, Burlington 802-862-3900 greenleafcentral.com

The Herb Closet

196 Pearl St., Burlington 802-409-3969 theherbclosetvt.com

Heybud Dispensary

291 St. Paul St., Burlington 802-540-0541 heybudheybud.com

Judy’s Holistic Solution

64 Archibald St., Burlington 802-540-1325 Find on Facebook

Lucky You

190 College St., Burlington 802-404-0009 luckyyouvt.com

True 802 Cannabis

132 Church St., Burlington 802-540-1420 true802cannabis.com

Upstate Elevator Dispensary

699 Pine St., Burlington 888-640-2155 upstateelevatorvt.com

CHITTENDEN COUNTY

3 J’s Cannabis

546 Route 7, Milton 802-891-1010 3jsvt.com

Dome City Cannabis Dispensary

147 E. Allen St., Winooski 802-540-1343 domecityvt.com

Gaston Weed Company

100 Center Rd., Essex 802-494-4111 gastonvt.com

Hello, Hi

46 Main St., Suite 102, Winooski 802-209-5958 hellohivt.com

The High Bar

159 Pearl St., Essex Junction 802-404-3842 thehighbar.com

Magic Mann

Premium Cannabis

21 Essex Way, Suite 216, Essex 802-871-5810 magicmann.com

Milton Remedies

3 Southerberry Dr., Milton 802-891-6640 miltonremedies.com

Sweetspot

139 Pearl St., Essex Junction 802-871-5895 sweetspotfarms.com

Winooski Organics

165 E. Allen St., Winooski 802-899-9333 winooskiorganics.com

Vermont cannabis DISPENSARIES

VT Strong

69 S. Main St., Barre

802-622-0132 vtstrongcannabis.com

Winterland Haze

BARRE

MONTPELIER

Capital Cannabis Co.

44 Main St., Montpelier 802-505-5663 capitalcannabisvt.com

Dames

240 N. Main St., Barre

802-461-2845 damesvt.com

Gram Central

120 River St., Suite 2, Montpelier 802-262-1701 gramcentral.com

Juana’s Garden

188 River St., Montpelier 802-917-1009 juanasgarden.net

Vermont Patients

Alliance

188 River St., Montpelier 802-225-6786 vpavt.com

68 Main St., Montpelier 802-613-5031 winterlandhaze.com

STOWE

SMUGGS

Best Buds

76 Stafford Ave., Morrisville 802-851-8285 bestbudsvt.com

Cambridge Cannabis Company

185 Church St., Cambridge 802-899-0468 cambridgecannabiscompany.com

Clean Country Dispensary

50 Lower Main St. West, Johnson 802-730-8284 cleancountrydispensary.com

Craft Cannabis Company

46 Hutchins St., Suite 2, Morrisville

802-461-8956 craftcannabiscompanyvt.com

Freedom Flower Direct, Inc.

187 Route 15, Morrisville 802-586-0031 freedomflowervermont.com

Higher Elevation

65 Northgate Ave., Suite 6, Morrisville 802-851-8587 higherelevationvt.com

VT Green Castle

Cannabis Dispensary

853 Route 15, Johnson 802-318-6232 vtgreencastlereserve.com

VVeeds

4155 Route 15, Wolcott 802-883-3376 vveeds.com

Wild Legacy

10 Railroad St., Morrisville 802-851-8735 wildlegacycannabis.com

MAD RIVER VALLEY

WATERBURY

31° North

2653 Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Waterbury Center 802-560-7927 31northvt.com

Blue Sage

5121 Main St., Waitsfield 802-583-2193 bluesagevt.com

Valley Meade Dispensary

8 Route 17, Waitsfield 802-496-5344 valleymeade.com

8h-disclaimer040826.indd 1 4/8/26 11:06 AM

WHERE QUALITY MEETS PASSION

VERMONT KIND CULTIVATION

“Farmer Cam” takes great pride in the flower that he cultivates, and has been perfecting his craft in both sungrown and indoor environments for over 40 years. He oversees our dedicated team as they manage every step of the process, from field to finish. By handling our own cultivation, harvesting and curing we produce premium cannabis flower for our own dispensary and select retailers across the state.

VERMONT KIND MANUFACTURING

Where all the magic happens. Transforming green into gold our real-time, in-line CO2 extraction process ensures unparalleled purity. Nothing touches our extract except clean CO2. As the only producer in Vermont utilizing this advanced technology, we deliver the cleanest, highest-quality vape cartridges on the market. Check out our newest manufactured product, Hot Rod Pre-Rolls. Our ﬂower, injected with a rod of our THC oil, resulting in a highly potent, smooth burning joint.

KINGDOM KIND

Come Visit Us at Our Retail Dispensary! Featuring all of our Vermont Kind products + a carefully selected assortment from other Vermont growers and manufacturers.

Dispensary Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm and Sunday 10am-2pm.

290 Glover Road, Barton, VT info@nekhemp.com 802-243-4367

Vermont cannabis DISPENSARIES

MAD RIVER VALLEY/ WATERBURY CONTINUED

Vermont GoodFire

Cannabis

3627 Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Waterbury Center 802-224-8888 vtgoodfirecannabis.com

Zenbarn Farms 1930 Waterbury-Stowe Rd., Waterbury Center 802-244-8134 zenbarnmj.com

MIDDLEBURY AREA

RUTLAND AREA

Cloud Nine Cannabis

87 Main St., Fair Haven 802-278-8690 cloud9vt.com

The Gas Station Dispensary

180 S. Main St., Rutland 802-855-8357 gasstationvt.com

Grassroots Vermont

84 Lovers Ln., Brandon 802-404-1733 grassrootsvermont.com

Emeraldrose Grows

11 Main St., Bristol 802-453-4797 emeraldrosegrows.com

FLORA Cannabis

2 Park St., Middlebury 802-989-7948 floravt.com

The Herbal Collective

1641 Route 7, Middlebury 802-377-2124 theherbalcollectivevt.com

Little City Greens

7 Green St., Vergennes 802-870-7729 littlecitygreens.com

The Greenhouse Dispensary

12B Conant Sq., Brandon 802-345-2061 thegreenhousevt.com

Killington Mountain Dispensary

2384 Killington Rd., Killington 802-422-2283 killingtonmd.com

Little Amsterdam

302 West St., Rutland 802-353-5953 littleamsvt.com

Lucky 7 Dispensary

2146 Grove St., Brandon 802-538-2022 lucky7dispensary.com

Monty

3892 Route 7, Pittsford 802-227-4207 montyvt.com

Mountain Girl

Cannabis

174 West St., Rutland 802-353-0034 mountaingirlcannabis.com

Pine Grove Organics

16 Park St., Brandon 802-265-0136 pinegroveorganics.org

Poultney Cannabis

Supply

56 Main St., Poultney 802-884-8097 poultneycannabissupplyvt.com

Somewhere on the Mountain

158 N. Main St., Rutland 802-776-4447 somewhereonthemountain.com

Vermont Cannabis Café Dispensary

778 Route 4, Rutland 802-342-5544 Find on Leafly

Vermont Terps

Cannabis

4270 Route 7, Pittsford 802-483-6503 vtterps.com

Vermont Trap House

41 Main St., Fair Haven 802-287-0297 vermonttraphouse.com

West Street Cannabis Dispensary

7 West St., Rutland 802-772-7358 weststreetvt.com

CHAMPLAIN ISLANDS —

NORTHWEST

Lake Effect Cannabis

6 South St., South Hero 802-734-2043 lakeeffectvt.com

Mary Jane Junction

120 Swanton Rd., St. Albans 802-503-9780 maryjanejunctionvt.com

Mary Jane Mountain

91 Main St., Montgomery Center 802-326-2006 maryjanemountainvt.com

MothaPlant

398 Highgate Commons Rd., St. Albans 802-782-8623 mothaplant.com

Vermont Alter-Native 939 Route 2, Alburgh 802-216-4200 vermontalternative.com

RANDOLPH

ROYALTON

Ideal Cannabis

5772 Route 14, Sharon 802-587-5090 idealcannabisvt.com

Polestar Cannabis

24 Pleasant St., Randolph 802-565-5168 polestarvt.com

*5% Cash back on all purchases all the time. No strings attached – loyalty membership required

Vermont cannabis DISPENSARIES

Something Wicked Cannabis Company

269 Main St., Bethel 802-369-8863 somethingwickedcannabis.com

Ninny Goat & Co.

512 Route 5, Fairlee 802-222-6105

ninnygoat.co

Stone Leaf

71 Artisans Way, Windsor 802-674-4674 stoneleafvt.com

Sunday Drive

442 Woodstock Rd., Suite 3A, Woodstock 802-332-0049 vtsundaydrive.com

Sunkissed Farm

UPPER VALLEY

DePot Shop 25 Depot Ave., Windsor depotshopvt.com

Devil’s Den

Cannabis Co.

214 Main St., Suite 420, Bradford 802-449-3119 devilsdencannabis.com

Five Seasons

Cannabis Co.

52 Bridge St., White River Junction 802-281-6817 fiveseasonscannabis.com

The Hidden Grove

230 S. Main St., White River Junction 802-281-6186 thehiddengrove.com

4374 W. Woodstock Rd., Woodstock 802-222-6920 sunkissed.farm

The Tea House

50 Woodstock Rd., White River Junction 802-332-6043 teahousevt.com

Woolly Mammoth

Cannabis

102 Mill Rd., Bridgewater 802-672-4737 woollymammothshop.com

NORTHEAST KINGDOM

The Bud Stop 1513 Route 2, Danville 802-265-5910 thebudstop.store

Bushy Beard Dispensary

466 Route 114, East Burke 802-535-2898 bushybeardcultivation.com

The Cannabis Shop

4 S. Main St., Suite 2, Hardwick Find on Facebook

Craftsbury Cannabis

2200 Wild Branch Rd., Craftsbury craftsburycannabis.com

The Dank Closet Cannabis Co.

3098 Barton Orleans Rd., Barton 802-754-1883 dankcloset.com

The Green Man

1998 Memorial Dr., Suite 12, St. Johnsbury 802-535-0669 thegreenmancannabis.com

The High Country Dispensary

5134 Route 5, Derby 802-487-9675 thehighcountryvt.com

Kingdom Boyz

3731 Route 5, Derby 802-766-3520 kingdomboyzvt.com

Kingdom Kind

290 Glover Rd., Barton 802-243-4367 nekkind.com

Kushies

4267 Route 5, Derby 802-214-4566 kushies.life

Do you remember the vibrant greenhouses on Route 15? The Horner family has been growing on their Johnson homestead since 1957. After 70 years and three generations, we are thrilled to bring our green-thumb passion back to the community—with craft cannabis!

Stop by our new store Castle Cannabis, on Route 15 in Johnson, to meet the Horner family and our expert budtenders for an unbeatable craft experience. Locally-grown craft cannabis from the expert ﬂower growers at VT Green Castle, where “Kraft is King!”

Make a cannabis purchase, SPIN THE WHEEL for discounts, prizes* and more!

*prizesarenon-cannabisitemsonly

853 VT Route 15 West Johnson, VT 802-696-9846

vtgreencastlereserve.com

Vermont cannabis DISPENSARIES

NORTHEAST KINGDOM CONTINUED

Northeast Kannabis

166 Railroad St., St. Johnsbury 802-424-1760 northeastkannabis.com

Sonny’s Cannabis

1243 Scott Hwy., Groton 802-575-0012 sonnysdispensary.com

BRATTLEBORO

OKEMO VALLEY

The Buddega

10 Clinton St., Springfield 802-885-6705 thebuddega.com

Cannabis Maximus

725 Putney Rd., Suite 2, Brattleboro 802-490-2253 cannmaxx.com

Down to the Roots

7 Pineview Dr., Chester 802-875-9333 downtotherootsvt.com

Green Mountain Therapeutics

2022 N. Main St., Londonderry 802-824-3131 gmtdispensary.com

Green Peak Dispensary

386 Route 30, Newfane 802-302-3516 greenpeakdispensaryvt.com

Green Union Dispensary

4738 Route 100A, Plymouth 802-672-1000 greenunionvt.com

The Leaf

448 Canal St., Brattleboro 802-490-2718 theleafdispensary.com

Matterhorn

Apothecary

7 N. Main St., Wilmington 802-464-7142 Find on Dutchie

Ratu’s Cannabis Supply

36 W. Main St., Wilmington 802-464-1390 ratuscannabis.com

Rimeline Cannabis Dispensary

8768 Route 30, Rawsonville 802-297-0480 rimeline.com

Rolling Twenties

440 Rockingham Rd., Rockingham 802-428-6703 rollingtwenties.com

Vermont cannabis DISPENSARIES

BRATTLEBORO/ OKEMO VALLEY

CONTINUED

Theory Wellness

768 Putney Rd., Brattleboro 802-454-3480 theorywellness.org

TMM Dispensary

35A Chester Rd., Springfield 802-885-4420 tmmvt.com

Vermont Bud Barn

257 Marlboro Rd., Suite 101, Brattleboro 802-246-4367 vtbudbarn.com

Juniper Lane

445 Main St., Bennington 802-440-5755

juniperlanecannabis.com

Rambler Cannabis Supply

3584 Route 346, North Pownal ramblercannabis.com

Silver Therapeutics

201 Northside Dr., Bennington 802-440-5170

silver-therapeutics.com

Verdiggity Organics

Cannabis Co.

342 Depot St., Manchester Center 802-210-4010 verdiggityorganics.com

MANCHESTER

Green Mountain Cannabis Works

4542 Main St., Manchester 802-367-3562 greenmountaincannabisworks. com

4/17-4/20

PLUS! Vendor pop-ups, exclusive discounts and giveaways all weekend

Cannabis has not been analyzed or approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). For use by individuals 21 years of age and older or registered qualifying patient only. KEEP THIS PRODUCT AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND PETS. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING. Possession or use of cannabis may carry signiﬁcant legal penalties in some jurisdictions and under federal law. It may not be transported outside of the state of Vermont. The effects of edible cannabis may be delayed by two hours or more. Cannabis may be habit forming and can impair concentration, coordination, and judgment. Persons 25 years and younger may be more likely to experience harm to the developing brain. It is against the law to drive or operate machinery when under the inﬂuence of this product. National Poison Control Center 1-800-222-1222.