FLŌRA Cannabis

FLŌRA Cannabis at 2 Park Street, downtown Middlebury, holds a distinction no other Vermont dispensary can claim: it was one of only three licensed adult-use cannabis retailers in the entire state to open on October 1, 2022 — the first day legal recreational sales were permitted in Vermont. The other two first-day shops were Mountain Girl Cannabis in Rutland and CeresMED in Burlington.

On that opening day, an estimated 1,000 people visited the shop at 2 Park Street. Co-founders Dave Silberman — a Middlebury attorney who provided direct legislative input to Act 164, Vermont's adult-use cannabis law — and Mike Sims, who had five years of hemp and cannabis business experience, spent over two years building FLŌRA from proposal to licensure before that moment arrived.

The 2 Park Street location is in the heart of downtown Middlebury, adjacent to the town's historic cannon and a short walk from Middlebury College's main campus. It's a compact, well-organized shop focused on Vermont-grown and Vermont-manufactured cannabis products — flower, pre-rolls, vapes, edibles, and concentrates. Staff maintain what regulars describe as a genuinely knowledgeable, low-pressure environment.

Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–7 PM, Sat 10 AM–6 PM, Sun 10 AM–5 PM — the earliest weekday open in the Middlebury market. Online ordering for pickup is available at shop.floravt.com.

Note: FLŌRA brought a free speech lawsuit against the Vermont Cannabis Control Board (filed December 2024) challenging the state's cannabis advertising restrictions; a settlement reached in September 2025 eased Vermont's rules on outdoor signage, in-store promotions, and social media — an indication of the shop's active engagement with Vermont cannabis policy beyond just retail operations.

Vermont cannabis tax in Middlebury: 21% total (14% excise + 6% state sales + 1% Middlebury local option tax).