Connecticut has legalized marijuana, but delta-8 THC can’t be sold as hemp like in most of the country. Delta-8 THC is still legal, it just has to be sold in state-licensed cannabis dispensaries and is limited to adults aged 21 or older.
This means that delta-8 THC is regulated in Connecticut, with all the safeguards this brings, but also more limitations than if it was sold as “hemp” and not cannabis.
Here’s what you need to know.
Is Delta-8 THC Legal to Sell in Connecticut?
Delta-8 THC is legal to sell in Connecticut, but only as part of the regulated marijuana industry.
Connecticut passed House Bill (HB) 6699 in June 2023, which states that beginning in July, any “high THC hemp product” is considered marijuana in the state. The definition of this term (Section 21a-240(63)/page 15) essentially sets THC limits – meaning all THCs, including delta-8 – for each common type of product.
In particular, it says anything exceeding these limits is a high-THC hemp product:
- Edibles, topicals or transdermal patches: 1 mg per serving, 5 mg per container
- Tinctures: 1 mg per serving, 25 mg per container
- Concentrates or vapes: 25 mg per container
- Other products: 1 mg per serving, 5 mg per container or 0.3% on a dry weight basis for flower or trim
Since these limits include all THCs, basically every single delta-8 THC product on the market falls into this category. In turn, the definition for marijuana (Section 21a-240(29)/page 8) explicitly includes all high-THC hemp products. Bringing this all together: yes, delta-8 THC can be sold in Connecticut, but only as marijuana in a state-licensed dispensary.
RELATED: Where Is Delta-8 THC Legal? A State-by-State Map
Can You Buy Delta-8 THC in Connecticut?
You can buy delta-8 THC in Connecticut, but only from state-licensed dispensaries and if you’re aged over 21. This means that all delta-8 THC products you can buy in Connecticut have gone through the testing and quality control required of marijuana products.
If you’re buying delta-8 THC in the form of a pre-made product, there is a possession limit of up to 750 mg of any THC (Section 21a-279a(a) and (i)(2)/pages 11 and 140) or 7.5 g of a concentrate. For flower, the limit is simply 1.5 ounces.
Delta-8 Alternatives
HB 6699 effectively brought all forms of intoxicating hemp into the marijuana industry, so there is no alternative to hemp delta-8 THC really available. Since marijuana is legal in Connecticut, you could buy a milder strain of marijuana as a delta-8 THC alternative.
Age Restrictions
You have to be 21 to buy delta-8 THC products in Connecticut, in line with the state’s marijuana law (Section 21a-279a(a)).
Can You Travel to Connecticut With Delta-8?
It isn’t a good idea to travel to Connecticut with delta-8 THC products, because the state considers them to be marijuana.
Connecticut law likely considers all commercial delta-8 THC products to be marijuana, since they meet the definition of “high THC hemp product” in HB 6699. Although marijuana itself is legal in Connecticut – so you can possess up to 750 mg of any THC product – moving it between states complicates matters.
In short, delta-8 THC is considered marijuana in Connecticut and marijuana can’t be moved between states.
Closing Thoughts: The Future for Delta-8 THC in Connecticut
Connecticut has basically deemed the whole intoxicating hemp industry to be part of the marijuana industry, so the only action in future is likely to be enforcement.
In February 2023, Attorney General William Tong sued five retailers for selling delta-8 THC products that mimicked “youth-oriented” snacks and candies, and is sending warning letters to all vaping retailers about state law. There have also been raids on stores illegally selling delta-8 THC products in the past. In a nutshell, the state is cracking down on illegal delta-8 THC products, and this is likely to continue through the next year.
Even if the 2023 Farm Bill makes changes to how hemp works in the US, Connecticut will likely continue with their current system for delta-8 and intoxicating cannabinoids.