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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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Table of Contents
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 17 states: Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Massachusetts, 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.
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.
