Is Delta-8 THC Legal in Connecticut? (Feb. 2023 Update)

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Connecticut regulates delta-8 the same way as recreational cannabis. The state’s adult-use cannabis market started operating in January of 2023 and it’s only legal to buy delta-8 products from licensed dispensaries. Read on for a closer look at delta-8 THC laws in the Constitution State.

Summary

Delta-8 THC is regulated in Connecticut. You can only buy it from licensed cannabis retailers.

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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. Legal cannabis sales began in the state in January 2023 and you can only buy delta-8 THC products from licensed retailers.

Connecticut’s Attorney General sued 5 retailers in February for illegally selling delta-8 THC products outside of the regulated market. This confirms that you can only legally buy delta-8 THC in the state 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 18 states: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia.

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 regulated in Connecticut for the foreseeable future. That means it’s illegal for companies to sell delta-8 products in the state unless they have a proper license.

Connecticut’s retail cannabis market launched in January 2023 and you can buy delta-8 THC products from licensed dispensaries.