Connecticut: Market and legal data analysis of the cannabis sector

14th May 2024: US - Connecticut: House Bill (HB) 5150 has been signed into law by governor Ned Lamont. HB 5150 makes several amendments to Connecticut’s cannabis law, including prohibiting hemp-derived beverages from containing more than 2.5 mg of total THC (which includes all THC isomers) in a container of 12 oz or more.
9th May 2024: US - Connecticut: House Bill (HB) 5235 has been passed by the Senate and heads to the governor for final approval. HB 5235 would prohibit synthetic cannabinoids by placing them in Schedule I of the controlled substances list and prohibit them from being in cannabis products. The definition of synthetic cannabinoids would include substances chemically converted to create a cannabinoid or cannabinoid-like substance but would exclude cannabinoids that are naturally produced or converted through decarboxylation.
9th May 2024: US - Connecticut: House Bill (HB) 5150 has been passed by the Senate and heads to the governor for final approval. HB 5150 would make several amendments to Connecticut’s cannabis law, including prohibiting hemp-derived beverages from containing more than 2.5 mg of total THC (which includes all THC isomers) in a container of 12 oz or more.
2nd May 2024: US - Connecticut: House Bill (HB) 5150 has been passed by the House and heads to the Senate. HB 5150 would make several amendments to Connecticut’s cannabis law, including prohibiting hemp-derived beverages from containing more than 2.5 mg of total THC (which includes all THC isomers) in a container of 12 oz or more.
10th July 2023: US - Connecticut: Governor Ned Lamont has signed House Bill 6700 into law, enabling licensed hemp producers to apply for cultivator or micro-cultivator licences from the Department of Consumer Protection. This grants them permission to cultivate cannabis for the state's adult-use market. The bill sets the initial licence fee at $12 per square foot of growth space, with a reduced fee of $6 per square foot for participants in approved equity joint ventures. It also establishes size limits for converted cultivator and micro-cultivator licensees and permits the sale of hemp products for human consumption in licensed dispensary facilities, cannabis retailers, and hybrid retailers.
28th June 2023: US - Connecticut: Governor Ned Lamont has signed House Bill 6699 into law, amending the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act. The new law expands the definition of cannabis flowers to include chopped or ground flower and sets limits on “high-THC hemp products”. It introduces stricter labelling and packaging regulations, including child-proof, tamper-proof, and light-resistant packaging. The law also establishes an off-site event permit for the sale of adult-use cannabis and establishes a state healthcare advocate to serve as a cannabis ombudsman.
22nd June 2023: US - Connecticut: House Bill 6699, which would amend the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act, has been passed by the Senate and now heads to the governor’s desk. Among other provisions, it would expand the definition of cannabis flowers to include chopped or ground flower and further define and limit “high-THC hemp products”. It would broaden labelling and packaging rules, including requiring that packages be child-proof, tamper-proof, and light-resistant. It would establish an off-site event permit for the sale of adult-use cannabis by retailers. And it would set up a state healthcare advocate to serve as cannabis ombudsman.
15th June 2023: US - Connecticut: Governor Ned Lamont has signed budget legislation providing state-level tax relief to licensed cannabis businesses. The law allows deductions for ordinary and necessary expenses currently disallowed under IRS code 280E due to cannabis being a controlled substance. The budget also covers appropriations for cannabis social equity, substance misuse prevention, and regulation. Additionally, a tax credit for angel investors supporting new cannabis businesses has been repealed.
10th May 2023: US - Connecticut: House Bill 6699, which would amend the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act, has been passed by the House and now heads to the Senate. Among other provisions, it would expand the definition of cannabis flowers to include chopped or ground flower and further define and limit “high-THC hemp products”. It would broaden labelling and packaging rules, including requiring that packages be child-proof, tamper-proof, and light-resistant. It would establish an off-site event permit for the sale of adult-use cannabis by retailers. And it would set up a state healthcare advocate to serve as cannabis ombudsman.
13th April 2023: US - Connecticut: A joint enforcement action by attorney general William Tong and the Stamford Police has led to thousands of illegal products containing THC (delta-8 THC, delta-8 THCO, and delta-9 THCO) being seized from three Stamford vape shops. Many of the confiscated products were reported to be “mimicking youth-oriented snack foods”, and Tong confirmed that legal action will be taken against the offenders. This follows a concerted effort to crack down on unlicensed sales of THC products after Tong sued five retailers in February for similar actions.
10th February 2023: US - Connecticut: Connecticut attorney general William Tong has sued five retailers for selling delta-8 THC products "mimicking popular youth-oriented snacks and candies". Tong also announced that he is in the process of issuing warning letters to other retailers about delta-8 sales. Connecticut law includes all THC isomers in its THC calculation for hemp products and therefore limits the amount of delta-8 THC (along with other THC isomers) to 0.3%. Delta-8 products may only be sold in licensed cannabis dispensaries if they meet all testing, tracking, labelling, and packaging requirements set for in the state's cannabis laws. The lawsuits allege that the delta-8 products at issue contained more than 0.3% THC and were therefore unlicensed sales of cannabis.
10th January 2023: US - Connecticut: Recreational cannabis sales in Connecticut begin today, 10th January. Nine retailers that previously sold medical cannabis have been notified that they may begin selling recreational cannabis. Sales will initially be limited to 0.25 oz per transaction, though this limit may be adjusted later.

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