A significant regulatory conflict originating from this year's legislative session is set to impact Connecticut's cannabis industry. In its effort to regulate cannabis and hemp, the General Assembly passed two major laws that are in direct opposition, creating a complex and burdensome environment that will penalize the very small businesses the state purports to support.
The first, Public Act 25-101, represents a logical step forward. It brings the sale of low-THC hemp flower out of a legal gray area and into a regulated system, allowing local smoke and vape shops to register with the state and legally sell lab-tested, safely packaged products. The objective was to enhance consumer safety and provide a legitimate pathway for an existing market, a laudable move toward clarity and control.
However, the legislature also passed Public Act 25-166, a sprawling bill that establishes contradictory measures. This act creates a powerful new "Cannabis Control Division" and a "State-Wide Cannabis and Hemp Enforcement Policy Board" with a mandate to crack down on "intoxicating hemp product sales." It also increases the potency of products sold exclusively at high-cost, licensed dispensaries, creating a two-tiered system that disproportionately benefits larger, established operators.
This contradiction places local businesses in an untenable position. Consider a small business owner who, seeking to operate under the new clarity of P.A. 25-101, registers with the state to legally sell compliant hemp flower. They soon discover that P.A. 25-166 imposes a costly new vape dealer registration fee of $1,000 and requires a criminal background check.
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