Researcher: MK Page 1 3/30/22
OLR Bill Analysis
sHB 5155
AN ACT CONCERNING THE SAFE STORAGE AND DISPOSAL OF
OPIOID DRUGS, CANNABIS AND CANNABIS PRODUCTS.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), by
December 1, 2022, and in consultation with the Department of Mental
Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), to do the following:
1. develop and distribute documents on the safe storage and
disposal of opioid drugs, cannabis, and cannabis products and
2. develop similar short statements for publication on opioid
prescription packaging and consumer cannabis and cannabis
product receipts.
Additionally, starting January 1, 2023, the bill requires (1)
pharmacists to include DCP’s short statement on opioid prescription
drug packaging and (2) the DCP commissioner to issue policies and
procedures requiring cannabis retailers, excluding dispensaries, and
hybrid retailers (i.e., retailers licensed to buy and sell cannabis and
medical marijuana products) to do the same on consumer receipts. The
statements must be placed in a conspicuous location and displayed in
all capital letters in at least twelve-point boldface type.
Lastly, the bill requires pharmacists and cannabis retailers and hybrid
retailers, by January 1, 2023, to post a sign in a conspicuous place on
their premises, notifying consumers that they may visit DCP’s website
for information concerning the department’s respective safe storage and
disposal documents. The signs must be at least eight inches by ten inches
in size.
EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2022 2022HB-05155-R000195-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MK Page 2 3/30/22
DCP’S SAFE STORAGE DOCUMENTS AND STATEMENTS
Safe Storage and Disposal Documents
By December 1, 2022, the bill requires DCP to develop, in consultation
with DMHAS, documents concerning consumers’ safe storage and
disposal of opioid drugs, cannabis, and cannabis products that include
information on:
1. best practices for (a) safely storing these drugs and products in a
manner that makes them inaccessible to children and (b)
disposing of the unused and expired ones and
2. the risk of illness and death associated with children’s ingestion
of these drugs and products.
The bill requires the DCP commissioner to post the documents on the
DCP website by December 15, 2022.
Short Statements for Publication
Also by December 1, 2022, the bill requires DCP, in consultation with
DMHAS, to develop short statements for publication on consumer (1)
packaging for opioid drug prescriptions and (2) receipts for cannabis
and cannabis products.
Under the bill, each statement must:
1. alert consumers of the need to safely store and dispose of opioid
drugs or cannabis and cannabis products, and the risk of illness
and death associated with their ingestion by children; and
2. provide DCP’s website address, where the safe storage and
disposal document described above is located.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Committee on Children
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 13 Nay 0 (03/15/2022)