Connecticut Marijuana Laws
Updated on Monday May 2, 2022
Reviewed By Stephanie Bagnall, J.D. on April 19, 2022
As of July 1, 2021, adult-use ("recreational") cannabis is legal in Connecticut. SB1201 was signed by Gov. Ned Lamont on June 22, 2021 making Connecticut is the nineteenth state to legalize adult-use cannabis. The state also has a medical marijuana program for qualifying patients.
An equity commission is overseeing commercial licensing, giving priority to communities in poverty, and those harmed by the War on Drugs. Criminal records for possession under 4 oz, and prior to 2016, will be automatically expunged in 2023. Beginning July 1, 2022, larger and more recent offenses may be petitioned for expungement.
Retail sales are expected to begin May 2022, and will carry a base tax of 6.35%, scaling up for higher amounts of THC. The industry will be overseen by The Department of Consumer Protection.
Possession
Individuals may possess up to one and a half (1.5) ounces, with an additional five (5) ounces locked in a residence or car. One (1) ounce of cannabis flower is equivalent to five (5g) of concentrate.
Violators aged 18-20 will receive a fine, while minors will be referred to Youth Services. No one under twenty-one (21) may receive jail time for cannabis possession.
Qualified medical marijuana patients in Connecticut are allowed to possess up to three (3) ounces per month. Physicians may recommend lower or higher dosages that are subject to the Department of Consumer Protection’s (DCP) approval.
Purchasing Limits
Purchasing limits have not explicitly been set, but are expected to match possession amounts.
Flower potency is capped at thirty (30) % THC. Concentrates (excluding vape cartridges) may not exceed sixty (60) %. Edibles are capped at five (5) mg THC per serving. Qualifying patients and caregivers shall be permitted to purchase cannabis of higher potency, varied dosage form, and in a larger per transaction or per day amount than are generally available for retail purchase, as determined by the commissioner.
Previously, qualified patients in Connecticut were required to designate one dispensary as their medicinal cannabis provider. As of October 1, 2021, qualifying patients are no longer required to designate a dispensary facility and may purchase from any licensed medical marijuana retailer.
Medical patients are allowed to buy up to two and a half (2.5) ounces of a patient's cannabis allotment at a time, unless a lower dose is assigned to the patient. Patients may purchase up to three (3) ounces per month, total.Where to Buy
Qualifying Patients
Under the current law, the DCP accepts the following conditions:
Qualifying Conditions for Medical Marijuana in CT:
- Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Cerebral Palsy
- Chronic Neuropathic Pain Associated with Degenerative Spinal Disorders
- Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
- Crohn's Disease
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Damage to the Nervous Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Hydrocephalus with Intractable Headache
- Interstitial Cystitis
- Intractable Headache Syndromes
- Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- MALS Syndrome (Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome)
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Neuropathic Facial Pain
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Parkinson's Disease
- Positive Status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)
- Post Herpetic Neuralgia
- Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
- Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sickle Cell Disease
- Spasticity or Neuropathic Pain Associated with Fibromyalgia
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
- Tourette Syndrome
- Ulcerative Colitis
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
- Vulvodynia and Vulvar Burning
- Wasting Syndrome
For patients under eighteen (18), debilitating medical conditions include:
Qualifying Conditions for Patients Under Eighteen (18):
- Cerebral Palsy
- Cystic Fibrosis
- Intractable Neuropathic Pain that Is Unresponsive to Standard Medical Treatments
- Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
- Muscular Dystrophy
- Osteogenesis Imperfecta
- Severe Epilepsy
- Terminal Illness Requiring End-Of-Life Care
- Tourette Syndrome for patients who have failed standard medical treatment
- Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
Consumption
Consumption laws echo cigarette laws, with smoking banned in most places, though cannabis is also prohibited “in any area of an establishment” with a liquor license.
Patients cannot consume medical marijuana in any of the following areas in Connecticut:
Prohibited Consumption Areas:
- School buses
- Moving vehicles
- Workplaces
- Public or private schools
- Dorms and other university property
- Public places
- and within the direct line of sight of a minor
Driving Under the Influence
Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and will be treated as a DUI similar to alcohol. Qualified patients are also prohibited from driving under the influence of cannabis. Violators can face criminal punishment under Connecticut's drugged driving laws.
Caregiver
Under Connecticut law, qualified patients can designate a caregiver with their physician’s approval. To qualify as a caregiver, a person must:
CT Caregiver Requirements:
- Be eighteen (18) years old or older
- Agree to undertake the responsibility of managing a patient
- Have no prior controlled substance convictions
- Not be the qualifying patient’s physician
In the event a qualifying patient lacks legal capacity or is a minor, you must be the patient’s parent, guardian or have other legal custody of the patient. Patients are allowed to have one caregiver at a time and can change their caregiver through the DCP once a year, if needed.
Transporting Marijuana
Patients and designated caregivers can carry their medical marijuana purchased from state-approved dispensaries as long as it does not exceed the monthly allowable limits.
Reciprocity
Connecticut does not acknowledge medical marijuana cards from any other state at this time.
Cultivation
Medical patients can grow cannabis for personal use as of October 1, 2021. Patients are limited to three (3) mature plants and three (3) immature plants, with a maximum of twelve (12) per household.
Personal cultivation for recreational use will be legal July 1, 2023 with the same limits.
Delivery
SB1201 lists delivery under the jurisdiction of the The Department of Consumer Protection, but no further details have yet emerged.
Legal Disclaimer: This article is not meant to serve as legal advice and is for informational purposes only. Laws and regulations are always changing. Therefore, if you have any legal questions regarding Connecticut’s marijuana laws you must consult with a licensed Connecticut attorney.
Expert Reviewer
Stephanie Bagnall is a legal research and writing expert who supports nonprofits, law firms and other organizations in a wide variety of industries all over the country. She is also a passionate advocate for civil rights and people with disabilities.