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Delta-8 THC is legal but regulated in Connecticut. Once the state’s retail cannabis market starts operating in 2022, you’ll be able to buy delta-8 products from licensed cannabis dispensaries.
Read on for a closer look at delta-8 THC laws in the Constitution State.
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Connecticut Delta 8 THC Laws
Connecticut was one of the first states to regulate delta-8 THC. On June 22, 2021, the governor signed Senate Bill 1201, which not only legalized recreational cannabis in Connecticut but also added delta-8 to the definition of THC:
“THC” means tetrahydrocannabinol, including, but not limited to, delta-7, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol and delta-10-tetrahydrocannabinol…
SB 1201
The bill also defined marijuana to include hemp products containing over 0.3% of THC:
…Included [in the definition of marijuana] are any product made using hemp, as defined in section 22-61l, which exceeds three-tenths per cent total THC concentration on a dry-weight basis…
SB 1201
Thanks to these definitions, delta-8 THC is considered the same as recreational cannabis in Connecticut. That means you’ll only be able to buy delta-8 THC products from licensed retailers.
What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-8 THC) is a form of THC. Like regular (delta-9) THC, it can get you high and cause euphoria, relaxation, sleepiness, and other effects (1). But delta-8 THC is weaker and less likely to cause side effects than its cousin.
Why Delta 8 THC is Federally Legal
Delta-8 is legal at the federal level because of a loophole in the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill legalized hemp-derived products as long as they contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC.
The delta-8 THC sold on the market is made from hemp. Since the Farm Bill limits only the delta-9 THC concentrations of hemp products, this delta-8 is legal even if it was never intended so by legislators.
Manufacturers turn hemp-derived CBD into delta-8 THC through a chemical reaction. As long as this delta-8 contains less than 0.3% delta-9, it’s considered a federally legal hemp product.
States Where Delta-8 THC is Illegal
Individual states have the power to regulate delta-8 THC in their own way.
Delta-8 THC is currently illegal in 14 states: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New York, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Utah, and Washington.
It’s also regulated like recreational cannabis in a growing number of states, including Connecticut and Michigan.
The Future of Delta 8 THC in Connecticut
Delta-8 THC is likely to remain legal but regulated in Connecticut for the foreseeable future. That means it’s illegal for companies to sell or ship delta-8 products to the state unless they have a proper license.
Connecticut’s retail cannabis market is expected to launch by the end of 2022, at which point you’ll be able to buy delta-8 THC products from licensed dispensaries.
Gleb is a freelance writer from Vancouver, Canada specializing in CBD and cannabis. He’s read thousands of studies on CBD and other supplements, helping him translate complex science into plain language. Gleb has tried and reviewed dozens of CBD brands and products, written third-party testing reports, and knows the CBD industry inside and out. When not writing, he likes to kickbox, travel, and tell everyone how awesome intermittent fasting is.