The specific content of the Connecticut Act

The specific content of the Connecticut Act

From July 1, 2021, adults 21 years of age or older can hold up to 5 ounces of cannabis, or the equivalent of cannabis products or concentrates, as well as lockable containers, lockable glove boxes in personal residences, or up to the maximum in a car compartment Possess 5 ounces of marijuana while eliminating past related criminal records.

From October 1, 2021, eligible medicinal cannabis patients who have reached the age of 18 can grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature cannabis plants at home. From July 1, 2023, adults over 21 years of age can grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature cannabis plants at home, and the upper limit for home planting is 12. At the same time, the related criminal records in the past are eliminated.

In addition to the standard sales tax, consumption tax will also be levied at retail outlets, with the exception of medicinal cannabis. The tax rate is $0.00625 per gram of THC for plants, $0.0275 per gram of THC for food, and $0.009 per gram of THC for other cannabis products.

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) will be responsible for the issuance and supervision of cannabis companies' licenses. The agency will issue nine types of cannabis licenses: retailers, mixed retailers (sold both adult and medicinal cannabis), growers (planting areas not less than 50,000 square feet), micro-growers (planting areas in 2000-10000 Square feet), product manufacturers, food and profit manufacturers, product packers, distribution services, and transporters.

The social equity clause of the Connecticut Act stipulates that 50% of applications will be reserved for social equity applicants, and most licenses will be issued by lottery.

Existing medicinal cannabis growers will be able to apply for an adult license as soon as this summer, with an application fee of $3 million, if they create at least two social equity joint ventures (an entity in which individuals who meet social equity conditions hold more than 50% of the shares) , The application fee dropped to $1.5 million. Connecticut established a medicinal cannabis market in September 2014. There are currently 4 medicinal cannabis producers and 18 cannabis shops.

Recreational marijuana operators must "do their best" to sign a labor peace agreement with the union before obtaining a license.

Localities can ban the retail sales of marijuana through zoning laws, but residents can approve adult-use marijuana shops through a referendum. In addition, before July 1, 2024, there will be only one cannabis retailer and one micro-grower for every 50,000 residents in the town.

The wave of marijuana legalization in the U.S.

Since the beginning of this year, the United States has set off a wave of legalization of recreational marijuana. In addition to the current state of Connecticut, New York, Virginia, and New Mexico also legalized recreational marijuana through state legislatures. In November 2020, Arizona, Montana, New Jersey, and South Dakota approved the recreational marijuana creation case through a referendum. This series of "victories" shows that the vast majority of Americans support the legalization of recreational marijuana and the establishment of a regulatory mechanism, rather than maintaining the status quo.

In addition, Connecticut also reflects the chain reaction of marijuana legalization on the East Coast of the United States, after Massachusetts and Maine have established recreational marijuana markets. Governor Lamont said that through the legalization of adult cannabis, we have maintained our economic competitiveness with neighboring states. In addition, the legalization of adult marijuana in Delaware and Rhode Island is also underway, and the state of Maryland is expected to pass the relevant bill as early as next year.

In short, the legalization of marijuana in the United States is a general trend, which can not only increase new economic growth points and increase employment, but also increase taxation for local governments. The U.S. federal level has also put marijuana legalization on the agenda. Perhaps the U.S. federal marijuana legalization bill can meet with us soon.