I think because we have 300 pages of legalization legalese to go through, this is going to be done in a bunch of different posts. It’s just overwhelming to try and get through.
I’m not going to delve into the licensing process for dispensaries or suppliers, because you really do need a law degree to understand it. And, let’s be honest, anyone who can afford to be one of those people, they are not reading this little blog. Nor will we discuss the erasure of criminal convictions. Seriously, contact a lawyer about that. And remember, possessory offenses are the ones going to be erased. Convictions for sale will not be.
So, let’s start off with what it means right now.
In just 3 days, it’s going to be legal to possess and consume cannabis in CT. Please note that selling it remains illegal, and will continue to remain illegal. That’s important to know. The sale of cannabis is going to be highly regulated and the black market (your weed guy) is still going to be illegal. Dispensary purchases are the only legal way to purchase cannabis. That is not expected to happen until sometime in May of 2022. You may, however, gift someone who is legally entitled to possess cannabis, some of yours. However, that comes with the caveat that you cannot receive any compensation for it. And you are also prohibited from getting even exact amount payment for cannabis.
Sec. 14. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) Any consumer may give
930 cannabis to another consumer, without compensation or consideration,
931 provided such consumer reasonably believes such other consumer may
932 possess such cannabis without exceeding the possession limit pursuant
933 to subsection (a) of section 21a-279a of the general statutes.
Something to remember about purchasing legally, a number of people already head over the border to Massachusetts to buy. Transporting cannabis over state lines is still a federal offense.
You will be allowed to have 1.5 oz in your possession in public, with an additional 5 oz at home.
“twenty-one years of age or older may possess, use and otherwise
289 consume cannabis, provided the amount of all such cannabis does not
290 exceed such person’s possession limit of (1) one and one-half ounces of
291 cannabis plant material and five ounces of cannabis plant material in a
292 locked container at such person’s residence or a locked glove box or
293 trunk of such person’s motor vehicle, (2) an equivalent amount of
294 cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, or (3) an
295 equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products,
296 as provided in subsection (i) of this section. On and after July 1, 2023, a
297 person’s personal possession limit does not include any live plant or
298 cannabis plant material derived from any live plant cultivated by such
299 person in accordance with the provisions of section 162 of this act.”
While you are now allowed to consume it in the presence of children under 18, you cannot allow them to partake, UNLESS they are in the medical marijuana program. The significance of this is that DCF will not be able to remove your children because of cannabis use. Sadly, DCF, in a number of legal states, still remove children from parents solely based on cannabis use. CT. specifically built into the law that that cannot happen. If there are other reasons, it still may be used as a contributing factor, but not allowed in and of itself.
And police may not stop you based on the smell of cannabis, either on your person, or in your vehicle.
“Sec. 18. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2021) (a) Except as provided in
989 subsection (c) of this section, the existence of any of the following
990 circumstances shall not constitute in part or in whole probable cause or
991 reasonable suspicion and shall not be used as a basis to support any stop
992 or search of a person or motor vehicle”
And I can’t believe this has to be stated, but don’t give your pets anything containing THC. It is actually in the law.
Sec. 20. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2021) Any person who provides
1025 cannabis, as defined in section 1 of this act, to a domesticated animal,
1026 shall be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.
Another game changer, medical marijuana patients will be able to purchase up to 5 oz PER DAY
(c) A retailer or hybrid retailer shall not knowingly sell to a consumer
1398 more than one ounce of cannabis or the equivalent amount of cannabis
1399 products or combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as set forth
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1400 in subsection (i) of section 21a-279a of the general statutes, per day,
1401 except that a hybrid retailer or dispensary facility may sell up to five
1402 ounces of cannabis or the equivalent amount of cannabis products or
1403 combination of cannabis and cannabis products to a qualifying patient
1404 or caregiver per day.
Medical marijuana patients will be able to home grow their own cannabis starting October 1st, 2021. Recreational marijuana users will have to wait until a later date.
(b) Any qualifying patient who is eighteen years of age or older may
3254 cultivate up to three mature cannabis plants and three immature
3255 cannabis plants in the patient’s primary residence at any given time,
3256 provided such plants are secure from access by any individual other
3257 than the patient or patient’s caregiver and no more than twelve cannabis
3258 plants may be grown per household.
There are provisions being set up to track ALL legal sales, from seed to finished product. This includes retail sales to individuals.
Sec. 56. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2022) (a) Each cannabis
2603 establishment, licensed pursuant to chapter 420f of the general statutes
2604 or the provisions of RERACA shall maintain a record of all cannabis
2605 grown, manufactured, wasted and distributed between cannabis
2606 establishments and to consumers, qualifying patients and caregivers in
2607 a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner. The commissioner
2608 shall require each cannabis establishment to use an electronic tracking
2609 system to monitor the production, harvesting, storage, manufacturing,
2610 packaging and labeling, processing, transport, transfer and sale of
2611 cannabis from the point of cannabis cultivation inception through the
2612 point when the final product is sold to a consumer, qualifying patient,
2613 caregiver, research program or otherwise disposed of in accordance
2614 with chapter 420f of the general statutes or the provisions of RERACA,
2615 and the policies and procedures or regulations issued pursuant to
2616 RERACA. Cannabis establishments shall be required to utilize such
2617 electronic tracking system and enter the data points required by the
2618 commissioner to ensure cannabis is safe, secure and properly labeled for
2619 consumer or qualifying patient use. The commissioner may contract
2620 with one or more vendors for the purpose of electronically collecting
2621 such cannabis information.
2622 (b) The electronic tracking system shall not collect information about
2623 any individual consumer, qualifying patient or caregiver purchasing
2624 cannabis.
2625 (c) The electronic tracking system shall (1) track each cannabis seed,
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2626 clone, seedling or other commencement of the growth of a cannabis
2627 plant or introduction of any cannabinoid intended for use by a cannabis
2628 establishment, and (2) collect the unit price and amount sold for each
2629 retail sale of cannabis.
I think that’s enough for today. We’ll be posting more later on in the week.
Everything Is Better With Budder! 