Is weed legal in Connecticut? That’s a complicated question for the Nutmeg State, who can’t quite decide how it feels about marijuana.

While weed laws have evolved in surrounding states like Massachusetts the weed laws in Connecticut haven’t changed much.

Is Weed Legal in Connecticut?

Connecticut does not have legal weed for recreational purposes.

It does, however, have legal medicinal marijuana and small amounts of marijuana are decriminalized for personal use.

What Medical Conditions Qualify for Weed in CT?

In 2012, Connecticut approved the first medical conditions for weed. Qualifying conditions could receive medical marijuana cards in the state of Connecticut. Some of these earliest conditions included cancer, glaucoma, Parkinson’s Disease, Wasting Syndrome, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Chron’s Disease.

The list has expanded every few years. Most recently added are chronic pain lasting 6 months or more and Ehler-Danlos Syndrome associated with chronic pain.

In 2016, Connecticut legalized pediatric use, with heavy regulations. Patients under 18 years of age can take medicinal weed in Connecticut for Cerebral Palsy, Cystic Fibrosis, irreversible spinal cord injury, severe Epilepsy, terminal illness requiring end-of-life- care, Muscular Dystrophy, neuropathic pain, Tourette Syndrome, and more.

How Do You Get a Medical Marijuana Card?

Figuring out how to get a card can be difficult. In Connecticut, patients must be a resident of the state of Connecticut. They cannot be an inmate in a Connecticut prison.

Prescribers must be a doctor or advanced practice registered nurse with a Connecticut license.

Patients must have a qualifying condition. If their condition is not on the approved list, they can petition the state to consider permitting their use of medical marijuana.

What Is Decriminalization?

Connecticut decriminalized small amounts of weed for personal use in Connecticut. Weed is still illegal in Connecticut, but small amounts face civil penalties instead of the felonies they once did.

This means that though a law has been broken, first time offenders will only be charged a fine. They will not have any charges brought or need to appear in court.

Decriminalized Amount

In the state of Connecticut, a person who possesses up to 1/2 ounce of weed for personal or non-authorized medicinal use only faces a fine.

On the first offense, the fine is $150. If caught with less than 1/2 ounce of weed a second time, a person can be fine $500. Further offenses face harsher penalties.

Over Decriminalized Amount

Possessing more than a 1/2 ounce of marijuana in Connecticut is a misdemeanor. This can land you in jail for a year. You may also be fined up to $2,000.

Can I Grow Weed in Connecticut?

Growing weed – even a single plant for personal use – is still a felony in the state of Connecticut. It is considered production of illegal substances and the law views it as if you have the intent to distribute.

Cultivating or distributing less than a kilogram is punishable by 7 years in jail and a $25,000 fine. A second offense of this magnitude carries a sentence of 15 years in jail and $100,000 fine.

More than a kilogram has a varying sentence of 5-20 years with the same $25,000 fine. A second offense of more than a kilogram carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and a $100,000 fine.

Finding Weed in Bridgeport, Willimantic, Groton and More

Dispensaries in Connecticut are for medicinal pharmacy fills only. This means you must have a prescription and medical card (certificate) to pick up your supply of medicinal weed.

Popular dispensaries include:

Hope Dispensary of Greater Bridgeport: Their mission is, “Increasing access to medication for a population in need.”

Hope Dispensary specifically serves populations who may not be able to otherwise access pain relief due to financial barriers. Hope Dispensary patients must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty line. They cannot have prescription coverage from an insurance company.

Fine Fettle Dispensary: This Willimantic and Newington dispensary features convenient online ordering. They offer flower, vape, edible, extract, and tincture products.

New patients must register online before making an order. They will need to have their card before making a purchase from the dispensary.

Herbology Dispensary: Providing access to medicinal marijuana for the southeastern shoreline in Connecticut, Groton’s Herbology carries a wide range of products. These include flower, concentrates, vape, cartridges, tinctures, and more.

Nature’s Medicines: This dispensary is “where self-care begins.” Nature’s Medicines serves the area surrounding the University of Connecticut (Go Huskies!) in Mansfield, Connecticut. Nature’s Medicines offers convenient online shopping options.

Patients also have the opportunity to pay it forward. By rounding up their purchases to the nearest dollar, they can donate to Feeding America. Patients helping themselves can help others.

Bluepoint Wellness of Westport: With locations in Branford and Westport, Bluepoint Wellness offers cannabis formulations including inhalation, ingestible, sublingual, and topical. Accessories are also available for purchase.

Read Also: (How To Dab: Your Ultimate Guide)

In What States Is Weed Legal?

While Connecticut is not completely on the map yet, some of its nearby neighbors are.

Recreational marijuana is legal as of this writing in Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Illinois, Colorado, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, California, and Alaska.

Medicinal marijuana is legal as of this writing in New Hampshire, Rhode island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Washington D.C., Ohio, Florida, Puerto Rico, Louisiana, Arkansas, Missouri, Minnesota, Oklahoma, North Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Hawaii.

When Will Full Legalization Happen in Connecticut?

In a highly taxed state that still has a severe income inequality, Connecticut is always looking for more tax revenue. Many feel it is only a matter of time before Connecticut legalizes recreational marijuana to cash in on the tax dollars.

With many full-service medicinal dispensaries set up across the state, the marijuana industry is ready to mobilize in the state of Connecticut whenever the green light is given.