Connecticut’s hemp industry, once buoyed by the promise of the 2018 federal Farm Bill, is now facing steep challenges as state regulations narrow the path for growers and retailers.
Although more than 100 hemp grower licenses were issued in the state over the past several years, industry observers say only a fraction of those farms are still actively cultivating. Many who entered the market early describe a shift from opportunity to uncertainty as rules governing hemp-derived products — particularly those containing trace amounts of THC — have grown more restrictive.
Farmers and small business owners argue that evolving regulations have made it increasingly difficult to compete, especially as Connecticut’s licensed cannabis market expands under a separate and more tightly controlled system. Some say there is little room left for local hemp producers to sell their products within the state’s broader retail landscape.
Tensions have also surfaced over administrative rules related to record-keeping and product oversight. While a recent proposal faced pushback during legislative review, state regulators have indicated that enforcement of existing policies continues.
With the legislative session underway, industry advocates are urging policymakers to revisit how hemp is regulated and to better align state rules with the crop’s original role as an agricultural commodity rather than a controlled cannabis product.
For now, Connecticut’s hemp sector remains in a holding pattern — rooted in federal legalization, but constrained by state-level guardrails that many in the industry say are too tight to thrive.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
