July 1 marks four years of legalized adult-use cannabis in Connecticut, and with legalization came major changes to the medical marijuana market. A law enacted in 2012 allowed the purchase and use of cannabis for medical reasons only. But in 2021, the state legalized adult-use use for everyone 21 and older. Statewide adult-use retail sales began in January 2023, and by May 2023, recreational sales accounted for the majority of state cannabis retail sales, a trend that has continued to today.
Connecticut was the 19th state to legalize adult-use marijuana. Under state law, anyone 21 or older without a medical card is allowed to possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower or other cannabis product equivalent in public and up to 5 ounces in their private residence. Medical cardholders can possess up to 5 ounces of cannabis on their person.
Not only have adult-use sales increased, but medical purchases have made up less than half of the state's cannabis market retail sales since May 2023.
Both medical and adult-use dispensaries sell similar products, but medical users who are using the product to treat "debilitating medical conditions" aren't subject to the cannabis tax. Medical users can also buy other products that adult-use users cannot, including capsules, tablets, pills, sublinguals and suppositories.
Read more at CT Mirror