In Vermont, cancer survivor Kim Jordan says she owes part of her recovery to access to medical marijuana. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2023, Jordan was informed earlier this year by the Vermont Cannabis Control Board (CCB) that she needed to apply for medical cannabis cards to continue her treatment legally. Like many patients, she initially submitted a paper application because no online system existed at the time.
Now, the CCB offers a digital option for patients to apply for medical cannabis cards but scammers have seized on the opportunity to defraud vulnerable people. According to Michelle Chapman of the Vermont Cannabis Care Network, two fraudulent websites are impersonating the state agency. They charge patients fees for fake consultations or bogus applications and then disappear without delivering a valid medical cannabis cards.
One patient paid $199 for an online appointment through a counterfeit site, only to discover afterward that he would never receive medical cannabis cards. Stories like his are becoming increasingly common as deceptive websites rise higher in search results than the official state page.
The Vermont Cannabis Care Network urges applicants to exercise caution. Chapman advises patients to look for the official domain — “ccb.vermont.gov” — when applying for medical cannabis cards. Any website ending in “.org” or other variations should be treated as suspicious. Staying vigilant is especially important for patients managing chronic conditions who rely on a medical cannabis cards for ongoing treatment access.
The issue also underscores a larger problem with online search results. When Vermonters type “cannabis card” into a search engine, fraudulent pages frequently outrank the real CCB site. This increases the likelihood that desperate patients will be duped into paying for fake medical cannabis cards.
The Vermont Cannabis Care Network has asked the FBI to investigate these scams but has not yet received a response. In the meantime, patients who have lost money should contact the Vermont Attorney General’s Office to report the crime and protect others seeking a legitimate medical cannabis cards.
For now, the best defense is awareness. Only apply through the official government website and verify that any fees or doctor visits are arranged through recognized channels. By double-checking before entering payment details or personal health information, patients can better protect themselves and ensure they receive the medical cannabis cards they need for lawful, effective treatment.
