Connecticut Marijuana Laws

Updated October 2019

Recreational marijuana remains illegal in Connecticut as of now, but the state has passed comprehensive medical marijuana legislation and has even opened up its program to minors. Learn more about Connecticut marijuana laws below.

Recreational Marijuana in Connecticut

Is marijuana legal in Connecticut? No– the use, possession, and distribution of marijuana for recreational purposes are illegal and charged as a civil penalty. First time offenders caught in possession of ½ ounce of marijuana is susceptible to a $150 fine. Repeat offenders or offenders caught with larger quantities can receive imprisonment of 1 year to 10 years and fines ranging from $1000 to $5,000.

A majority of Connecticut voters support marijuana legalization. Witha pro-cannabis governor and enough cannabis supporters in the State Legislature, Connecticut is poised to legalize recreational marijuana sooner rather than later.

Medical Marijuana in Connecticut

Gov. Dannel Malloy signed into law House Bill 5389 in 2012 to legalize medical marijuana in Connecticut. Under the law, qualified patients can possess the amount that is ‘reasonably necessary’ for a one month’s supply. Patients must always have their valid registration certificates on hand to avoid arrest, prosecution, and penalties.

Connecticut’s medical marijuana program does have limitations as to who can be a qualified patient:

Must be a resident of Connecticut
Must not be an inmate
Must not be under the supervision of the Department of Corrections

If these conditions are not fulfilled, then individuals cannot possess, use, or cultivate medical marijuana regardless of their medical condition.

Medical marijuana can be sought for the following medical conditions:

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
Cancer
Cerebral Palsy
Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
Crohn’s Disease
Cystic Fibrosis
Epilepsy
Glaucoma
HIV or AIDS
Hydrocephalus with Intractable Headache
Interstitial Cystitis
Intractable Headache Syndromes
Intractable Neuropathic Pain
Intractable Spasticity
Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Muscular Dystrophy
Neuropathic Facial Pain
Osteogenesis Imperfecta (also called “Brittle Bone Disease”)
Parkinson’s Disease
Post Herpetic Neuralgia
Post Laminectomy Syndrome
Post-Surgical Back Pain with a condition called 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
Other medical approved by the Department of Consumer Protection

On May 17, 2016, Gov. Malloy signed House Bill 5450, allowing patients under 18 to get legal access to medical marijuana. The law went into effect on October 1, 2016.

Under the law, minors with a written certification from two doctors and a written statement of consent by a parent or guardian can get legal access to medicinal cannabis for:

Cerebral Palsy
Cystic Fibrosis
Epilepsy (Severe or Intractable)
Intractable Neuropathic Pain
Muscular Dystrophy
Osteogenesis imperfecta (also called “Brittle Bone Disease”)
Spinal Cord Injury (Irreversible)
Terminal Illness
Tourette Syndrome

The state’s Medical Marijuana Program Board of Physicians in September 2019 voted to add chronic pain and Ehler-Danlos syndrome as qualifying conditions. The legislature’s regulations review committee has final say whether the conditions will be added.

Consumption of CBD from Hemp Oil in Connecticut

Hemp-derived CBD products are legal under Federal Law in the United States; however, individual state laws are dynamic and fluid. Individual states may enact their own laws governing hemp-derived CBD.

Cultivation of Cannabis in Connecticut

The cultivation of marijuana for medical or personal use is now allowed under Connecticut law.

The production of industrial hemp in Connecticut, however, is legal. In response to the legalization of hemp with the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill, Gov. Ned Lamont in May 2019 signed into law legislation that provides Connecticut farmers with an opportunity to “bolster their profits with hemp.” The Connecticut Department of Agriculture must still establish its program and get it approved by the federal government. The new commercial hemp program will replace a research pilot program, put into place by Gov. Malloy in July 2015. The previous hemp law amended statues to allow institutions of higher education or the state department of agriculture legalize to grow industrial hemp in Connecticut for research purposes.

Legal Status of Other U.S. States

Stay up to date on the latest state legislation, referendums, and public opinion polls. Our Marijuana Legalization Map allows you to browse the current status of medical and recreational marijuana laws in other U.S. states and territories.

Sources

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