Connecticut lawmakers are trying to bring order to the increasingly chaotic world of hemp-derived THC products — especially those cannabis-infused drinks suddenly showing up everywhere from liquor stores to trendy refrigerators next to the hard kombucha.
A new bill heading to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk would overhaul how the state regulates hemp products, delta-8, THC gummies, and cannabis beverages. House Bill 5350 aims to pull intoxicating hemp products under Connecticut’s larger cannabis umbrella while still allowing federally compliant hemp products containing less than 0.3% THC.
The biggest fight? Weed drinks.
Under the proposal, THC beverages sold in liquor stores would be capped at 5 milligrams of THC per container. Cannabis dispensaries, meanwhile, could sell stronger versions with up to 10 milligrams. Lawmakers also created a special category for “high-THC beverages,” though those products would only be allowed for out-of-state sales.
Basically, Connecticut looked at the booming weed seltzer market and said: “Absolutely not without paperwork.”
Supporters argue the bill is badly needed after the 2018 Farm Bill accidentally unleashed a flood of hemp-derived intoxicants into gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores across America. Critics in the hemp industry say the new rules could crush smaller businesses and hand even more power to the already expensive licensed cannabis system.
The legislation also adds testing requirements, labeling standards, age restrictions, licensing fees, and distribution controls — because no modern cannabis law is complete without at least 400 pages of compliance language nobody fully understands.
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
