Recreational cannabis in Connecticut: What’s next?

While it will be legal as of July 1 for adults 21 years and older to possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, it’s likely going to take at least a year before an industry is up and running.

Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection began working in earnest on new state regulations and licensing applications needed for the legalized cannabis industry a couple months ago.

That includes coming up with packaging protocols and labeling to prevent the drug from being mistaken as a non-cannabis product and getting into the hands of a child, as well as lab testing other product safety measures.

A new 15-member Social Equity Council will be charged with ensuring those individuals benefit from the system and coming up with recommendations for what’s expected of equity applicants for retailer, hybrid retailer, cultivator, microcultivator, product manufacturer, food and beverage manufacturer, product packager, transporter, and delivery service licenses.

Considering cannabis is still considered a federally prohibited controlled substance — therefore preventing many cannabis-related businesses from using banking services — Connecticut’s legislation requires the state Department of Banking commissioner to come up with recommendations for the General Assembly by Jan.

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