Best Dispensary Near Me Ludlow VT: Nearest Shops to Okemo Mountain Resort (2026)

TL;DR: Nearest Dispensaries to Ludlow and Okemo

Quick decision guide:

• Heading north toward I-89 after skiing? Green Union in Plymouth — it's on Route 100 North, the road you're already driving.
• Heading south toward I-91 after skiing? Down to the Roots in Chester — Route 103 South out of Ludlow, 13 miles to Chester.
• Okemo resort employee? Down to the Roots — 10% Okemo employee discount. Confirm in-store.
• Skiing on a Sunday? Green Union stays open until 7 PM Sunday. Down to the Roots closes at 4:30 PM Sunday — go early or go to Plymouth.
• Visiting on a Wednesday? Down to the Roots is CLOSED Wednesday. Green Union (Plymouth) is open every day.
• Want to talk with the people who grew your flower? Green Union — in-house First Chair Farms grow with cultivators on the sales floor.
• Saturday early morning? Down to the Roots opens at 9 AM Saturday — the earliest in the area.

Why Ludlow Has No Dispensary

Ludlow is a small Windsor County town of roughly 1,000 residents that hosts Okemo Mountain Resort — one of Vermont's largest ski areas, drawing approximately 350,000–400,000 skier visits per season. Despite that visitor volume, Ludlow has not permitted adult-use cannabis retail within the town as of mid-2026. Vermont's adult-use law requires municipalities to actively opt in to allow cannabis retail; Ludlow has not done so. The result: every visitor and local resident seeking cannabis must make a 20–30 minute drive.

Two municipalities near Ludlow have licensed shops: Plymouth (north on Route 100) and Chester (south on Route 103). Springfield, farther east on Route 103, offers two additional dispensaries for those who are already heading that direction. This guide covers all four shops in full.

Green Union — 4738 VT Route 100A, Plymouth

Green Union sits at 4738 VT Route 100A in Plymouth, on the ski corridor that connects Killington Resort to the north (~10 miles) and Okemo Mountain to the south (~15 miles via Route 100). If you're a Ludlow or Okemo visitor heading north on Route 100 — toward the I-89 corridor, toward Killington, or toward Woodstock — Green Union is a natural stop without significant backtracking.

Owner Al Baran, a 14-year Plymouth resident, named the shop after Plymouth Union, a small community landmark near the historic Salt Ash Inn property Baran purchased. The "union" name reflects the shop's role as a connector on the Route 100 corridor.

The standout differentiator at Green Union is First Chair Farms: the shop operates its own in-house cultivation, and the growers work alongside customers on the sales floor. That means if you want to talk directly with the person who grew your flower — about genetics, terpene profiles, curing time, or cultivation method — you can do that here. The menu covers flower, edibles, gummies, pre-rolls, and vapes. Online ordering is available at greenunionvt.com.

Hours: Monday–Thursday 10:00 AM–7:00 PM | Friday–Saturday 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Sunday 10:00 AM–7:00 PM. Green Union is open every day of the week with no closures — critical for ski-season visitors when Down to the Roots is closed Wednesday.

The Sunday advantage: Green Union closes at 7 PM Sunday — two and a half hours later than Down to the Roots (which closes at 4:30 PM Sunday). For visitors coming off Okemo's lifts on a Sunday afternoon, Green Union is the option if you want evening flexibility.

• Address: 4738 VT Route 100A, Plymouth, VT 05056
• Phone: (802) 672-1000
• Website: greenunionvt.com
• Hours: Mon–Thu 10:00 AM–7:00 PM | Fri–Sat 10:00 AM–8:00 PM | Sun 10:00 AM–7:00 PM
• From Ludlow / Okemo base: Take Route 100 North approximately 13–15 miles. Green Union is on Route 100A in Plymouth Union. About 20 minutes from the Okemo base area.
• Full profile: Green Union directory listing

Down to the Roots — 7 Pineview Dr, Chester

Down to the Roots in Chester is the other 20-minute option from Ludlow, reached by taking Route 103 South out of the village for approximately 13 miles. Chester sits at the Route 11 / Route 103 junction in southern Vermont — a classic New England village with a National Register historic district. Down to the Roots is housed in a restored post-and-beam barn at 7 Pineview Drive, a short distance off Route 103, giving it a distinctly Vermont atmosphere.

The shop opened September 13, 2023, founded by Andi Goldman, Meredith Milliken, and Scott Blair. One investment worth knowing about: Down to the Roots has built a Cannatrol preservation system into its retail vault — a dewpoint and humidity control setup that maintains flower freshness from the farm to the customer, preserving cannabinoids and terpenes better than standard storage. It's one of the few Vermont dispensaries outside Burlington to offer this.

The Okemo employee discount: Down to the Roots offers a 10% discount for Okemo Mountain employees — a rarity among Vermont dispensaries. Mountain staff, ski patrol, food and beverage workers, and resort employees should mention their Okemo affiliation at the register. The shop also offers 15% off for seniors (65+) and veterans, 10% for Vermont and New Hampshire residents, and 10% for Okemo Valley Region Chamber of Commerce members and their employees. Confirm current terms in-store.

The Wednesday closure: Down to the Roots is CLOSED every Wednesday — the most important planning detail for midweek skiers. If you arrive in Ludlow on a Wednesday and were planning to stop at Down to the Roots, you'll need to go to Green Union in Plymouth instead.

Saturday 9 AM open: On Saturdays, Down to the Roots opens at 9:00 AM — earlier than Green Union's 10 AM. For early ski days where you want cannabis before the lifts open, this is the advantage. Sunday hours, however, end at 4:30 PM — well before the end of a typical ski day.

• Address: 7 Pineview Drive, Chester, VT 05143
• Phone: 802-875-9333
• Website: downtotherootsvt.com
• Hours: Mon–Tue 11:00 AM–6:00 PM | Wednesday CLOSED | Thu–Fri 11:00 AM–7:00 PM | Sat 9:00 AM–6:00 PM | Sun 10:00 AM–4:30 PM
• Discounts: 15% senior (65+)/veteran | 10% VT & NH residents, Okemo employees, and Okemo Valley Region Chamber (OVRCC) members | 20% VT medical card / 14% out-of-state medical card
• From Ludlow / Okemo base: Route 103 South approximately 13 miles to Chester (the Route 11 / 103 junction). Down to the Roots is at 7 Pineview Drive — follow signs off Route 103. About 20 minutes from the Okemo base area.
• Full profile: Down to the Roots directory listing

Springfield: Two More Options, 30 Miles East

If you're already heading east out of Ludlow on Route 103 toward I-91, Springfield adds two more dispensaries roughly 30 miles from Ludlow (35–40 minutes). The Buddega and TMM Dispensary both operate in Springfield and serve different parts of the day.

The Buddega — 10 Clinton St, Springfield

The Buddega opened in 2025 at 10 Clinton Street in Springfield's historic downtown, steps from the Black River. Owner Cameron Aldridge positioned the shop as Springfield's second licensed adult-use retailer, with an emphasis on curated selection and an approachable atmosphere. Hours are Monday–Saturday 10 AM–7 PM, Sunday 10 AM–4 PM — the latest weekday close in the Springfield market. Online ordering is available at thebuddega.com.

• Address: 10 Clinton St, Springfield, VT 05156
• Phone: 802-885-6705
• Hours: Mon–Sat 10:00 AM–7:00 PM | Sun 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
• Full profile: The Buddega directory listing

TMM Dispensary — 35A Chester Rd, Springfield

TMM Dispensary sits on Vermont Route 11 (Chester Road) on the west side of Springfield — the last shop you'd pass heading from Chester toward Springfield. The shop centers on premium Vermont-grown cannabis, with online ordering at tmmvt.com. Weekday hours start at 9 AM — the earliest in the area — though the shop closes at 6 PM weekdays and 5 PM weekends.

• Address: 35A Chester Rd, Springfield, VT 05156
• Website: tmmvt.com
• Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM–6:00 PM | Sat–Sun 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
• Full profile: TMM Dispensary directory listing

Planning Your Okemo Dispensary Stop

Most Okemo visitors arrive on a Friday or Saturday and leave Sunday. Here's how to navigate based on your travel day:

Arriving Friday: Both Green Union (10 AM–8 PM Fri) and Down to the Roots (11 AM–7 PM Fri) are good choices. If arriving late, Green Union's 8 PM Friday close gives you the most time.

Saturday morning: Down to the Roots opens at 9 AM Saturday — the earliest option if you want to grab cannabis before the first lift of the day. Route 103 South from Ludlow; you'll be there in 20 minutes and back for a 9:30 AM first run. Green Union opens at 10 AM Saturday and stays open until 8 PM.

Sunday departure: This is where timing matters most. If you're heading south on I-91, Down to the Roots in Chester (Route 103 South) closes at 4:30 PM Sunday — stop before heading out, not after a full day of skiing. If you're heading north on Route 100 (toward I-89, Woodstock, Burlington), Green Union in Plymouth stays open until 7 PM Sunday — a comfortable stop after a full ski day without rushing.

Wednesday midweek stays: Down to the Roots is closed. Green Union (Plymouth) is your only option in the two nearest towns. If you need a Springfield shop on a Wednesday, The Buddega (10 Clinton St) is open 10 AM–7 PM.

Vermont Cannabis Rules at Okemo

Vermont's adult-use law allows any adult 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID to purchase cannabis at any CCB-licensed retailer — a Vermont ID is not required, out-of-state visitors are welcome. Under S.278 (effective July 1, 2026), on-person possession limits are 2 oz of flower and 10 g of concentrate.

Consumption at Okemo is prohibited everywhere on the mountain and resort property — on lifts, trails, in lodges, in parking areas, and in vehicles. Vermont prohibits cannabis consumption in all public spaces and in vehicles. Legal consumption is only in a private space where the property owner explicitly permits it. Most Okemo-area vacation rentals, hotels, and condos prohibit smoking and vaping; confirm with your accommodation before assuming you can consume inside. Open-container civil violations and operating under the influence carry separate penalties.

Vermont's base cannabis tax is 20% at all four shops near Ludlow: 14% excise + 6% state sales. Plymouth, Chester, and Springfield have not adopted the 1% local option cannabis tax, so there's no premium above the state base at any of these locations. Budget 20% on top of listed menu prices.

Do not take cannabis across state lines. Vermont borders Massachusetts (south on Route 100/103) and New Hampshire (southeast via I-91) — crossing either line with cannabis is a federal offense regardless of either state's laws.

See also: Green Union full listing — 4738 VT Route 100A, Plymouth, daily 10 AM–7 PM (Fri–Sat 8 PM), in-house First Chair Farms grow; Down to the Roots full listing — 7 Pineview Dr, Chester, closed Wed, Okemo employee discount, post-and-beam barn; The Buddega full listing — 10 Clinton St, Springfield, Mon–Sat 10–7; TMM Dispensary full listing — 35A Chester Rd, Springfield, 9 AM weekday open; Best Dispensary Near Me Chester VT — full Chester guide, Down to the Roots in depth; Best Dispensary Near Me Springfield VT — The Buddega and TMM both covered; Best Dispensary Near Me Killington VT — Killington's on-mountain shop and Green Union; Vermont Cannabis Law Changes 2026 (S.278) — possession limits and other updates; Full Vermont dispensary directory; Vermont Strain Match — find the right product by effect.