Vermont, Massachusetts and California: what's changing on July 1

In a week's time, two new US states will begin legal cannabis sales for adults, while California will have to sell only legal products.

Vermont, legalization without retail sales

On July 1, Vermont will officially become the 9th U.S. state to legalize adult-use cannabis. The state became the 1st to legalize cannabis via a legislative process, unlike other states whose legalization was based solely on citizens' initiatives. It did, however, take a particular form: Vermonters won't have a store where they can buy cannabis.

Legalization in Vermont will allow any adult over 21 to possess 28 grams of cannabis and grow 4 flowering and 2 growing plants in parallel. Retail sales, however, remain prohibited for the time being. Vermonters will, however, be able to travel to neighboring Massachusetts and New Hampshire to legally purchase their cannabis. weed and return home to consume it.

Massachusetts, legal sales without a dispensary

Massachusetts will also open its legal cannabis sales on July 1. The main problem is that no dispensaries have yet received their distribution licenses. The state's first license was granted last week to a grower, with no outlet to which to send his cannabis.

To date, 53 license applications from 28 different companies have been received by the Cannabis Control Commission, on June 1. The commission must check the probity of the applicants, then ensure that they meet the criteria of the town where the business is to be set up (each town may have different criteria), and then give its approval or refusal to the project. Of the 53 applications, 36 concern medical dispensaries which are already dispensing cannabis.

The legal sales should have started on January 1, However, the government has extended the deadline to give the Commission more time to study the applications. However, the roll-out of the legal market is likely to be very slow after July 1.

California, only tested products on sale

By July 1, all products sold in California dispensaries will have to be tested, as required by the legalization passed on January 1st of this year.

Until now, recreational dispensaries could sell off stocks of medical cannabis. This temporary exemption ran from January 1 to the end of June. The new regulation aims to eliminate the sale of harmful substances in cannabis (weed with pesticides or heavy metals) and requires dispensaries to use child-resistant packaging. Visit edibles will also be limited to 10mg of THC per dose and 100mg per pack.

As a result, Californian dispensaries are selling off their stocks, with discounts currently as high as 70%.

Dispensaries failing to comply with the new law after July 1 risk closure and cancellation of their license.