Connecticut Launches Website to Resolve Cannabis Issues

Connecticut officials have launched a new website to provide updated information on the current Connecticut cannabis laws and regulations – particularly the guidelines on adult use. On July 5, Governor Ned Lamont published a press release detailing the regulations on the website and how it can help residents legally navigate the new cannabis industry.

The information ranges from basic information about the freedoms for adult use, which went into effect July 1st, to resources for businesses seeking licenses to operate.

“The passage of this new law was an important step in ending the failed war on drugs as adults over 21 can now legally possess and use cannabis in Connecticut,” said Governor Lamont. “Now begins the important work of creating a fair, well-regulated marketplace for businesses and consumers that prioritizes public health, safety and social justice. We know the public will have many questions about this process in the months ahead and this website will be an important resource for anyone with questions about the new law or interested in starting a new business in this market. “

The top categories currently on the site are: Basic Information and the Law, Business Information, Public Health and Safety, Social Justice, and Workplace.

“This new website will be an important resource for consumers and interested business owners,” said Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull in a statement. “We will continue to provide information on the licensing and application process as it becomes available, and we are committed to a clear and transparent process.”

This includes basic information, such as the specific freedoms effective immediately, including owning up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis and the restrictions on home growing. Medical marijuana patients will be able to grow up to three mature and three immature plants at home starting October 1, with an upper limit of 12 total plants per household. All adults can grow up according to the same rules – but not before July 1, 2023.

It is these basic facts and complexities that need to be clarified to the average person who does not know much about the leafy green plant and the laws surrounding it.

New freedoms in Connecticut

Governor Lamont signed a law on June 22nd legalizing the recreational use of cannabis for adults aged 21 and over. The new law officially came into force on July 1st. However, retail sales are not expected to begin until 2022.

Governor Lamont has been campaigning for Connecticut legalization for several years. In 2019, he teamed up with New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to discuss some sort of cross-state legalization policy, but those efforts never came to fruition. Instead, New York voluntarily ended prohibition in the state earlier this year.

Tax revenues from the sale of cannabis are allocated to recovery and prevention services. According to the governor, the bill will ensure public safety, protect children, and also protect the most vulnerable in the community.

Connecticut adults are encouraged to check the website regularly for the latest information on the Social Equity Council, license application availability, public health and safety information, and answers to frequently asked questions about parameters of governing law.

Finding a place to smoke legally is still a challenge in Connecticut in many other states that allow adult cannabis. On the first day of legal protection for adult cannabis use in the state, smoking zones were immediately mandated by some major cities to manage the new industry.
The website can be found at ct.gov/cannabis.