Waterfront Park · Church Street · Burlington, Vermont
Cannabis dispensaries near the Burlington waterfront
Seven CCB-licensed adult-use dispensaries within a 5–12 minute walk of Burlington Waterfront Park and Church Street Marketplace. Vermont's busiest summer-tourist zone — all shops open daily, no car needed. One critical rule for ferry passengers: no cannabis on the Lake Champlain Ferry.
Quick Answer
The nearest licensed cannabis dispensary to Burlington Waterfront Park is Green Haven Herbals at 18 Pearl Street — about a 5-minute walk east from Battery Street. Seven shops total are within a 12-minute walk of the waterfront; the Church Street cluster (Garcia's, Float On, True 802) is 8–9 minutes along the pedestrian mall. If you're taking the Lake Champlain Ferry to New York, do not carry cannabis onto the ferry — cannabis cannot be transported across state lines regardless of Vermont or New York law.
Lake Champlain Ferry: no cannabis allowed
The Lake Champlain Ferry (King Street Dock, Burlington → Port Kent, NY) crosses a state line on a federally regulated vessel. Cannabis is federally illegal and cannot be transported across state lines — this applies regardless of Vermont's adult-use program or New York's recreational cannabis law. Leave your cannabis at your accommodation before boarding. Do not carry sealed dispensary bags, cartridges, edibles, or any cannabis product onto the ferry.
On foot from the waterfront
Closest dispensaries to Burlington Waterfront Park — walk time table
Approximate walk from Waterfront Park / Battery Street at College Street (near the ECHO museum and ferry dock). All CCB-licensed adult-use shops open to anyone 21+ with valid ID.
| Dispensary | Address | Walk | Direction from waterfront | Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Green Haven Herbals Closest to the waterfront; boutique craft flower | 18 Pearl St | ~5 min | East on College St → north 1 block on Pearl | Mon–Sat 10–8, Sun 11–6 |
| Garcia's Cannabis Approachable downtown institution; right on the marketplace | 97 Church St | ~8 min | East on Church St Marketplace from Battery | Mon–Thu 10–8, Fri–Sat 10–9, Sun 10–7 |
| Float On Late-night option — midnight Friday and Saturday | 136½ Church St | ~9 min | East on Church St, just past the plaza | Daily 9:30; closes 9 (Thu 10, Fri–Sat 12 AM) |
| True 802 Cannabis Vermont-grown focus; farm transparency; open until 10 PM Thu–Sat | 132 Church St, 2nd Fl | ~9 min | East on Church St (upstairs above street level) | Mon–Wed 10–9, Thu–Sat 10–10, Sun 10–8 |
| Green Leaf Central Quick service; consistent menu | 30 Thorsen Way | ~10 min | East on College → Thorsen Way connector between Church & College | Mon–Sat 10–8, Sun 10–6 |
| Bern Gallery Award-winning; glass shop + dispensary; accessories too | 135 Main St | ~11 min | Southeast on College/Main to lower Main St | Mon–Tue 11–7, Wed–Sat 11–9, Sun 11–7 |
| The Herb Closet Furthest walk, but Burlington's longest hours — to midnight daily, 2 AM Fri–Sat | 196 Pearl St | ~12 min | Up Pearl St to the top — north and east past N. Winooski Ave (uphill) | Daily 8 AM – midnight (2 AM Fri–Sat) |
Walk times from Waterfront Park at Battery & College Streets. Actual time varies by starting point. Hours are approximate — confirm on each shop's menu page before visiting.
Two walking zones
Pearl Street (closest) vs Church Street (more options)
Zone 1 — Pearl Street
Closest to the water (5 min)
Lower Pearl Street runs one block east of Battery Street, parallel to the waterfront. From Waterfront Park, walk east along College Street, then turn left onto Pearl — you're there in about 5 minutes. Two dispensaries sit on Pearl Street, but at opposite ends:
- Green Haven Herbals — 18 Pearl St (lower Pearl), ~5 min. The single closest shop to the waterfront. Boutique craft flower, locally owned.
- The Herb Closet — 196 Pearl St (upper Pearl), ~12 min. Same street, but a longer uphill walk to the top — worth it for Burlington's longest hours: 8 AM to midnight, 2 AM Fri–Sat.
Best for: a quick grab before heading to the water or an early-morning / late-night stop (The Herb Closet) when everything else is closed.
Zone 2 — 8–11 min
Church Street Marketplace
Church Street is Burlington's main pedestrian mall, running east from Battery Street through the heart of downtown. These shops are directly on or just off the Church St corridor — convenient if you're already strolling the marketplace. Head east from Waterfront Park along Church or College Streets.
- Garcia's — 97 Church St, ~8 min. Burlington institution; approachable first visit.
- Float On — 136½ Church St, ~9 min. Midnight hours Fri–Sat.
- True 802 — 132 Church St (2nd Fl), ~9 min. Vermont-grown focus; open to 10 PM Thu–Sat.
- Green Leaf Central — 30 Thorsen Way, ~10 min. Tucked on the connector between Church & College; quick service.
- Bern Gallery — 135 Main St, ~11 min. Award-winning; glass + accessories too.
Best for: pairing with a Church Street restaurant or show at the Flynn; widest menu selection; latest late-night options.
For visitors
What tourists need to know before buying
You just need a valid ID and to be 21+
Any government-issued photo ID that proves you are 21 or older is accepted — including out-of-state driver's licenses and passports. Vermont dispensaries regularly serve tourists. You do not need a Vermont ID, a medical card, or prior registration. The limit per transaction is 1 oz of flower (or its equivalent in other formats). Limits are per transaction; most shops allow same-day repeat purchases, but confirm with the shop.
No consumption in public — including the waterfront
Vermont allows cannabis possession and private use but not public consumption. Burlington Waterfront Park, Battery Park, the North Beach waterfront, the Burlington Bike Path, Church Street Marketplace, and all restaurants and bars are off-limits for consumption. The safest option is a hotel room or a vacation rental that explicitly permits it. Fines are issued for public use; this is actively enforced in the tourist season.
Traveling home — what you can and can't take
If you're driving back to another state, you cannot legally transport cannabis across state lines — not even into states where it's recreationally legal. Vermont-purchased cannabis must stay in Vermont or be consumed here. If flying home from Burlington International Airport (BTV), TSA policy is to focus on security threats rather than cannabis, but federal law still prohibits it; for specifics on flying, see our BTV airport dispensary guide.
Vermont cannabis tax: what you'll actually pay
Vermont charges a 14% cannabis excise tax plus 6% sales tax — roughly 20% effective rate on top of the listed price. A $40 eighth will run about $48 out the door. Vermont's rate is comparable to Massachusetts (20% effective) and lower than many other states. Menu prices at dispensaries typically do not include tax, so budget accordingly.
All 7 shops
Burlington dispensaries near the waterfront
Ordered by approximate walk time from Waterfront Park. Click any card for hours, menus, and maps.
Green Haven Herbals
Locally owned Pearl Street shop near the Burlington waterfront with a carefully curated top-tier flower and edibles menu.
Garcia's Cannabis Collective
Longtime Church Street shop, evolved from Garcia's Tobacco Shop — a Burlington institution now operating as a full-service dispensary.
Float On Dispensary
Locally owned, BIPOC and family-run Church Street dispensary with the latest weekend hours in Burlington — open until midnight Friday and Saturday.
True 802 Cannabis
Farmer-to-consumer focused dispensary on Church Street with an emphasis on transparent sourcing from Vermont growers.
Green Leaf Central
Tucked just off Church Street on Thorsen Way, Green Leaf Central offers a full cannabis menu in a compact, service-forward downtown shop.
Bern Gallery Smoke Shop & Cannabis
Burlington's downtown head shop + dispensary combo, voted Best Dispensary in Vermont by Seven Days readers in 2024 and 2025.
The Herb Closet
Burlington's first Black-owned dispensary, with the longest hours in the city — open 8 AM to midnight weekdays and until 2 AM on weekends.
FAQs: cannabis dispensaries near Burlington waterfront
Common questions from summer visitors, ferry passengers, and waterfront tourists.