At Magic Mann dispensary, we offer premium, locally sourced cannabis products in the heart of Essex Junction, VT. Conveniently located at 21 Essex Way, Suite 216—just steps from Five Corners—we proudly feature a highly selective inventory of the best products from trusted Vermont growers, along with our own extensive line of

Magic Mann–cultivated and manufactured products, crafted right next door to our shop. Our hands-on approach from seed to sale reflects our commitment to sustainability, education, and empowering women in cannabis.

CULTIVATOR: Family Tree Tier 3 Mixed Indoor/Soil

STRAIN: Moroccan Donny

BREEDER: Skunk House Genetics

GENETICS: Donny Burger X Moroccan Peaches

THC: 26.36%

TERPS: No terp test, deli style and eco bags, sustainable family farm, and grown with love. Checks all the boxes!

Excited, we tore open the bag. It was earthy and sweet and had an aroma we could not quite first define, a kind of clean and sweet smell, combined with lingering garlic and cheese, subtly tantalized our senses as well.

The nugget was coated in glistening trichomes without even needing a scope. Deep orange-red stigmas were delicately hand-trimmed and preserved to show the highest of care and quality.

The scope revealed a thick, luscious layer of trichomes stacked one against another, glistening clear as day, some round as the moon. Broken up, she wasn’t overly sticky on the fingers, was dense on the squish, light on the bounce back, and ground up heavy. Perfectly sticky enough for an easy, quick roll.

Black licorice was the flavor we couldn’t name! The dry pull was all black licorice in the nose and peach and cheese on the back of the tongue and throat. The joint burned nice and slow, starting with black licorice and sweet notes hitting the tip of the tongue. Midway through the J, midway on the tongue, the tangy and zesty peach taste was prominent.

Toward the end of the joint and in the back of the throat, the burger and earthy garlic notes took over, giving us a hash-like kick at the end.

What a profile: complex, rich, and hits all the senses! As we tasted more flavors, we drifted off into a comfortable yet amazing high. Body and mind relaxed. Our chat went to self-care, love of the plant—just exactly where you’d want it to go with a friend or family. Thank you, Family Tree.

 CULTIVATOR: Vermont Bud Barn Tier 1 Indoor/ Soil Strain

STRAIN: Blue Mac

BREEDER: Pacific Seed Co.

GENETICS: Blueberry x Miracle Alien Cookies

THC: 25%

TERPS: No terp test

As we popped the jar, it was all about the nose. Sweet and the perfect touch of sour, creating a warm tingle in the throat and a smooth fruit-ripening aroma lingering on the nose. 

To the eyes, the small compact nuggets glistened with both dark and light greens, covered in rusty-colored, compact stigmas. Once we busted out the scope, we laid our eyes upon a few intact mushroom-shaped trichomes, glistening clear as day, waiting to be melted!

Possibly machine trimmed, the little gems ground up into a kinetic, fluffy sand that spun up easily, waiting and ready to melt us into the couch! The sweet and creamy tones came through immediately on the dry pull and continued once lit.

A blueberry taste with hints of lavender and florals, and a touch of lingering sour left us smiling and grateful for the combo of two popular and well-known, potent, delicious, and celebrated strains. Not just eye candy for this one!

We giggled as our bellies growled. Appetite stimulating, conversation enlightening and uplifting, balanced body and head, high and euphoric producing all the way! Comfortable, creative, and clear!

CULTIVATOR: Magic Mann Tier 2 Indoor/Hydro

STRAIN: Sour Kush

BREEDER: DNA

GENETICS: Sour Diesel X OG Kush

THC: 27.88%

TERPS: Limonene, Linalool, Myrcene, Caryophyllene, Pinene

Some call her the “Champion of Medical Cannabis Strains,” appropriately and agreeably so. Sour, dank, rank, chem. Any way you combine, intertwine, and mix those words, you get just a bit of that overwhelmingly potent aroma. So much aroma, it is hard to capture in words. It leaves you smacking your lips and with an almost stain coating the teeth, full of robust aromas and flavors that more than linger; they take over.

Featuring Limonene Linalool, Myrcene, Caryophyllene, and Pinene terpenes, this strain is often the perfect daytime pain reliever with mood-lifting and energizing effects. Deep physical relaxation partners with an uplifting euphoric experience that medical and adult-use consumers alike praise time and time again years and years later.

That strain that stinks up the entire house and that you can smell a mile away? If that is what you are looking for, you found it! Nothing discreet here.

The scope continued the tale. Bulbous trichomes glistened clear and white, coating the entirety of the nugget. Tactility boasted an almost perfect cure; the feel and squish of the nugget bounced back perfectly, ground up well, and rolled even better.

This one definitely takes the prize for flavor, by far. Grown for decades by Magic Mann’s own Nick Mann as a medical caregiver is now available for adult-use consumers to delight in!

The everlasting kush taste on your palate, between hits and long after it is gone. What else can you ask for? A fun, light-bodied high that takes the pain away, gives you a rush of excitement and energy, and leaves you chanting for a new cannabis commissioner in the end. All-around perfect.

Four Dispensaries Four Questions

Everything you want to know about the cannabis dispensing business in Vermont

Q. What do you like best about being part of a cannabis dispensary in Vermont?

 Patricia E., owner, Sunday Drive Dispensary: The people, from the fabulous people who keep the day-today operations of Sunday Drive running smoothly to the wonderful Vermonters who cultivate and manufacture the products we offer to our amazing customers. The people are the best part of owning Sunday Drive. I have met so many great people since opening Sunday Drive three years ago, and I am thankful for all of them.

Megan Clendenin, storefront general manager, Dome City Dispensary: The customers! It’s been amazing to get to know so many people from all walks of life who come together to enjoy the plant. Vermont has such a mom and pop, hometown feel compared to the hustle and bustle of Colorado—it’s been refreshing to be part of such a close-knit community.

Drew Smith, owner and operator, Cannabis Maximus: What I like best about being a dispensary in Vermont is the sense of community and connection. Vermonters genuinely care about each other and about supporting local, responsible businesses.Cannabis here isn’t just an industry—it’s a shared passion rooted in wellness, nature, and authenticity. Being able to provide safe, legal access to a plant that has truly changed my life is both humbling and deeply fulfilling.

Zack Lighterman, general manager, Lake Effect Vermont: What I like best about working at a dispensary in Vermont is the strong focus on locally grown cannabis and supporting small farmers. By offering products from farms across the state, including those right here in the Lake Champlain Islands, we can provide every customer with a unique experience, whether they are visiting from out of state or just down the road. It feels rewarding to offer quality craft cannabis grown near the store while supporting the local farming community.”

Q. What questions do you ask someone when they’re not quite sure what they’re looking for?

Sunday Drive: When somebody comes into Sunday Drive and is unsure what they’re looking for, we usually first ask how they are looking to feel and their preferred method of consumption, and the conversation flows from there.

Dome City Dispensary: I start by asking about their preferred consumption method and what kind of experience they’re hoping for—whether it’s to sleep, relax, or stay active.

Cannabis Maximus: I always start by asking what mode of consumption they prefer: smoking, vaping, edibles, drinks, concentrates, tinctures. Next, I ask about their goals with cannabis, whether it’s for relaxation, pain relief, creativity, or just enjoyment. These two questions open the door to meaningful conversations about lifestyle and comfort, helping me guide them toward the best experience for their needs.

Lake Effect Vermont: When a customer isn’t sure what they’re looking for, we ask about the effects they want to feel, their experience with cannabis, and their preferred method of consumption. This helps us guide them and curate an experience based on the products we have available. Some customers prioritize taste, others potency, and some are searching for a specific cultivar they enjoyed years ago. We provide as much information as they want, whether it is about terpene profiles, cannabinoid combinations, or the lineage of our cultivars. Every customer is unique and looking to experience the plant in their own way.

Q. What’s the most pleasant and not-so-pleasant surprise you’ve encountered since opening?

Sunday Drive: The most pleasant surprise since opening Sunday Drive is how many locals I have met! My other business, Clover Gift Shop, in the village of Woodstock, is mostly tourist-driven, so I was unsure how many locals we’d have shopping at Sunday Drive. We have the greatest local customers who support us, and many have become friends—people from all walks of life, and they all inspire me. When weed brings people together, the world is a happier place. Also, Vermonters grow amazing weed and have so much passion! I love working with passionate cultivators and being part of the journey as they perfect their craft.

Not so pleasant: I’m surprised how difficult Vermont legislators make it to operate an efficient, profitable cannabis business. The hoops that we must jump through and the many ways the rules have changed since the market opened just three years ago are very discouraging and make running a small business difficult, when Vermont is capable of a clean, sustainable, thriving cannabis market.

Dome City Dispensary: The most pleasant surprise has been how easygoing and supportive our customers are. It’s been incredible watching our loyal customer base grow—and fun to see how many people are still discovering us. On the not-so-pleasant side, navigating the challenges of compliance and ever changing regulations has definitely kept us on our toes.

Cannabis Maximus: The most pleasant surprise has been my team. From our general manager to our budtenders, they are a group of people we truly like, trust, and respect. That culture is everything. When your employees are happy and proud of what they do, it shows in the customer experience. Our mission is value-driven, rooted in quality, fair pricing, and how we treat people. I couldn’t be prouder of the team we’ve created.

The not-so-pleasant surprise has been the lack of accessible resources for cannabis businesses. Because the industry remains federally illegal, we’re limited to a handful of niche—and often expensive—vendors for banking, payroll, merchant services, and insurance. It’s frustrating to support both state and federal taxes while being denied equal access to basic business tools. Passing federal banking reform would open the door to fair competition and much needed relief for operators like us.

Lake Effect Vermont: One pleasant surprise has been the wide range of customers we see, from seniors in their nineties looking for sleep or pain relief to young adults visiting dispensaries to celebrate their twenty first birthday. We even have a “Where Are You From?” map in the store, and so far we’ve had visitors from forty-six states, including Alaska and Hawaii. It’s always surprising how far people have traveled to experience what makes Vermont cannabis unique. However, a less pleasant surprise is how many people focus only on potency. Some won’t even try a product if it doesn’t hit a certain THC percentage, overlooking the full spectrum of cannabinoids, terpenes, and the unique benefits different profiles offer.

Q. When you’re not at the dispensary, how do you spend your time?

Sunday Drive: When I am not at Sunday Drive, I am usually with my family; my husband, kids, and our three rescue dogs. We often can be found skiing or swimming up in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont, where we love to be!

Dome City Dispensary: I spend most of my time with family, enjoying Vermont’s incredible live music scene, and, of course, smoking a little cannabis.

Cannabis Maximus: When I’m not at the dispensary, I love spending time with my wife, son, and our Boston Terrier, Oreo. I’m an avid golfer and lifelong hockey fan, especially when it comes to the Bruins! Family, sports, and time outdoors keep me grounded and grateful.

Lake Effect Vermont: I enjoy hiking local trails, taking day trips, visiting local markets, and cooking with fresh ingredients. I also love traveling both within the country and internationally to experience new cultures and regional foods, which often inspire my cooking. These experiences keep life interesting and inspire me to continue exploring.