Recreational cannabis sales begin in Connecticut: What to expect

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Licensed hybrid retailers in Connecticut began selling cannabis products to adults Tuesday morning.

This comes less than two weeks after a state law erased thousands of low-level marijuana possession convictions.

News 8 has compiled a list of answers to your questions as the adult-use cannabis market opens.

Where can you buy recreational cannabis in Connecticut?

Seven of the nine medical marijuana dispensaries approved for a hybrid license were ready to start selling cannabis products to adults 21 and over at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Affinity Health and Wellness	1351 Whalley Ave., New Haven
RISE Branford Medical Dispensary (formerly Bluepoint Wellness of Connecticut)	471 E. Main St., Branford
Still River Wellness (This shop will begin recreational sales in February 2023)	3568 Winsted Rd., Torrington
Fine Fettle Dispensary	2280 Berlin Tpke., Newington
Fine Fettle Dispensary	12 Research Dr., Stamford
Fine Fettle Dispensary	1548 W. Main St., Willimantic
The Botanist (This shop will begin recreational sales at a later date)	105 Mill Plain Rd., Danbury
The Botanist	887 Norwich-New London Tpke., Montville
Zen Leaf (formerly Willow Brook Wellness)	1371 E. Main St., Meriden

How much can you buy?

Different types and sizes of products may be purchased together up to 1/4 ounce of cannabis flower or its equivalent per transaction. Examples of what that might look like include:

Up to 7 pre-rolled cigarettes that weigh 1 gram each, 14 pre-rolled cigarettes that weigh 0.5 grams each, or any combination of up to 7 total grams, which equals 1/4 ounce;
Two to four vape cartridges in .5 mL and 1 mL sizes;
A standard-sized brownie or cookie equivalent of .08 grams of cannabis flower. One edible serving cannot have more than 5 milligrams of THC.

Patients in the Medical Marijuana Program can purchase up to 5 ounces per month.

Transaction limits are in place to ensure businesses can maintain an adequate supply for both adult-use consumers and medical marijuana patients, state officials said, and will be reviewed over time.

What do you need to bring to make a purchase?

Customers need to show a legal ID to prove they are at least 21 years old, like a valid driver’s license or a passport.

What forms of payment are accepted?

Stores will only accept cash or debit cards. Because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level, most credit card companies won’t let customers use their cards to buy it.

How is retail cannabis taxed?

There are three taxes on the retail sale of cannabis:

The state’s 6.35% sales tax;
A 3% sales tax dedicated to the city or town where the sale occurs; and
A tax based on THC content will cost approximately 10% to 15% of the sale price

Where can you use cannabis in Connecticut?

The same rules that apply for smoking a vape or tobacco apply to cannabis use. If you can’t smoke a cigarette somewhere, you can’t smoke pot there, either.

One example of where not to smoke cannabis is on any state-owned property, such as state parks, state beaches, and even state waters. You also cannot smoke in restaurants, workplaces, or schools.

Individual cities and towns can issue their own guidelines to regulate whether cannabis can be consumed in public, and, if it can, where.

Landlords may prohibit smoking and vaping, but they generally can’t prohibit possession or consumption of other forms of cannabis, according to the state.

How much can you legally possess?

Adults 21 and older may carry up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower or the equivalent on their person, and store up to 5 ounces in a locked compartment or glovebox in their vehicle.

At home, cannabis should be locked and stored out of reach and out of sight of children and pets.

What to do if a child or pet accidentally ingests cannabis?

Signs of cannabis ingestion include:

Sleepiness (most common sign in children)
Dizziness
Problems with coordination
Agitation
Confusion
Higher-than-normal heart rate
Nausea and vomiting
Slurred speech

In more serious cases, children can have trouble breathing, seizures, and/or neurological problems.

If you think your child or pet may have accidentally ingested cannabis, call your healthcare provider or the Connecticut Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222 right away.

Watch your child and keep them in a safe area where they are not at risk of falling.

If your child is unconscious or having trouble breathing, walking, or sitting up, they may need immediate medical attention. Dial 9-1-1 right away.

Do you or someone you know struggle with addiction?

Cannabis can be addictive. If you think you or someone you know may be developing a cannabis problem, there are some warning signs you can look out for.

Visit the resources below: