The Vermont Statutes Online

Title 7 : Alcoholic Beverages, Cannabis, and Tobacco

Chapter 033 : Cannabis Establishments

Subchapter 002 : ADMINISTRATION

• § 883. Criminal background record checks; applicants

  (a) The Board shall obtain from the Vermont Crime Information Center a copy of a fingerprint-based Vermont criminal history records, out-of-state criminal history records, and criminal history records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation for each license applicant, principal of an applicant, and person who controls an applicant who is a natural person.

  (b) The Board shall adopt rules that set forth standards for determining whether an applicant should be denied a cannabis establishment license because of his or her criminal history record based on factors that demonstrate whether the applicant presently poses a threat to public safety or the proper functioning of the regulated market. Nonviolent drug offenses shall not automatically disqualify an applicant.

  (c) Notwithstanding subsection (a) of this section, the Board may accept third-party criminal background checks submitted by an applicant for a cannabis establishment license or renewal in lieu of obtaining the records from the Vermont Crime Information Center a copy of the person’s Vermont fingerprint-based criminal history records, out-of-state criminal history records, and criminal history records from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Any such third-party background check shall:

  (1) be conducted by a third-party consumer reporting agency or background screening company that is in compliance with the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act; and

  (2) include a multistate and multi-jurisdiction criminal record locator. (Added 2019, No. 164 (Adj. Sess.), § 7, eff. Oct. 7, 2020; amended 2021, No. 158 (Adj. Sess.), § 13, eff. May 31, 2022.)