Substitute House Bill No. 5235, known as Public Act No. 24-115, is a comprehensive piece of legislation that revises the definitions and regulations concerning cannabis and related substances in Connecticut. The bill modifies the language used in the law, such as the definition of cannabis-type substances, by removing the term "seeds" and clarifying that sterilized seeds incapable of germination are not included. It also updates the definitions of "drug," "drug paraphernalia," and "marijuana," excluding certain parts of the plant and synthetic cannabinoids, except as specified. The bill introduces changes to the scheduling of controlled substances, designating synthetic cannabinoids as Schedule I substances, and repeals and replaces sections of the general statutes to align with the amendments made by the act.

The bill also addresses the sale, transfer, and packaging of cannabis and cannabis products, setting dosage and potency limits, and requiring clear labeling and packaging standards. It prohibits the sale of synthetic cannabinoids at cannabis establishments and sets restrictions on cannabis retailers and hybrid retailers regarding product promotion and sales. The bill limits the amount of cannabis that can be sold to consumers per day and mandates record-keeping for the disposal of cannabis exceeding THC concentration limits. Additionally, it regulates the testing, handling, and disposal of hemp intended for manufacturing into products, requiring independent laboratory testing and record maintenance. The bill prohibits misleading packaging and advertising of manufacturer hemp products and outlines labeling requirements, including a scannable barcode or QR code linked to the product's certificate of analysis. Lastly, it tasks the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection with publishing a training bulletin for local law enforcement on cannabis and high-THC hemp products enforcement standards.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
GL Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 102:
File No. 649:
Public Act No. 24-115: