Connecticut 2023 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06700 Comm Sub / Bill

Filed 03/23/2023

                     
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 6700  
January Session, 2023 
 
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING HEMP LICENSEES AND THE ADULT -USE 
CANNABIS MARKET.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 21a-420 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 2 
As used in RERACA, unless the context otherwise requires: 3 
(1) "Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis 4 
Act" or "RERACA" means this section, sections 2-56j, 7-294kk, 7-294ll, 5 
12-330ll to 12-330nn, inclusive, 14-227p, 21a-278b, as amended by this 6 
act, 21a-278c, 21a-279c, 21a-279d, 21a-420a to [21a-420i] 21a-420j, 7 
inclusive, as amended by this act, 21a-420l to 21a-421r, inclusive, 21a-8 
421aa to 21a-421ff, inclusive, 21a-421aaa to [21a-421ggg] 21a-421hhh, 9 
inclusive, 21a-422 to 21a-422c, inclusive, 21a-422e to 21a-422g, inclusive, 10 
21a-422j to 21a-422s, inclusive, 22-61n, as amended by this act, 23-4b, 11 
47a-9a, 53-247a, 53a-213a, 53a-213b, 54-33p, 54-56q, 54-56r, 54-125k and 12 
54-142u, sections 23, 60, 63 to 65, inclusive, 124, 144 and 165 of public act 13 
21-1 of the June special session, and the amendments in public act 21-1 14 
of the June special session to sections 7-148, 10-221, 12-30a, 12-35b, 12-15 
412, 12-650, 12-704d, 14-44k, 14-111e, 14-227a to 14-227c, inclusive, 14-16 
227j, 15-140q, 15-140r, 18-100h, 19a-342, 19a-342a, 21a-267, 21a-277, 21a-17 
279, 21a-279a, 21a-408 to 21a-408f, inclusive, as amended by this act, 21a-18  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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408h to 21a-408p, inclusive, as amended by this act, 21a-408r to 21a-408v, 19 
inclusive, 30-89a, 31-40q, 32-39, 46b-120, 51-164n, 53-394, 53a-39c, 54-1m, 20 
54-33g, 54-41b, 54-56e, 54-56g, 54-56i, 54-56k, 54-56n, 54-63d, 54-66a [,] 21 
and 54-142e, [21a-421hhh and 21a-420j] and sections 2 and 3 of this act; 22 
(2) "Backer" means any individual with a direct or indirect financial 23 
interest in a cannabis establishment. "Backer" does not include an 24 
individual with an investment interest in a cannabis establishment if (A) 25 
the interest held by such individual and such individual's spouse, 26 
parent or child, in the aggregate, does not exceed five per cent of the 27 
total ownership or interest rights in such cannabis establishment, and 28 
(B) such individual does not participate directly or indirectly in the 29 
control, management or operation of the cannabis establishment; 30 
(3) "Cannabis" means marijuana, as defined in section 21a-240; 31 
(4) "Cannabis establishment" means a producer, dispensary facility, 32 
cultivator, micro-cultivator, retailer, hybrid retailer, food and beverage 33 
manufacturer, product manufacturer, product packager, delivery 34 
service or transporter; 35 
(5) "Cannabis flower" means the flower, including abnormal and 36 
immature flowers, of a plant of the genus cannabis that has been 37 
harvested, dried and cured, and prior to any processing whereby the 38 
flower material is transformed into a cannabis product. "Cannabis 39 
flower" does not include (A) the leaves or stem of such plant, or (B) 40 
hemp; [, as defined in section 22-61l;] 41 
(6) "Cannabis trim" means all parts, including abnormal or immature 42 
parts, of a plant of the genus cannabis, other than cannabis flower, that 43 
have been harvested, dried and cured, and prior to any processing 44 
whereby the plant material is transformed into a cannabis product. 45 
"Cannabis trim" does not include hemp; [, as defined in section 22-61l;] 46 
(7) "Cannabis product" means cannabis that is in the form of a 47 
cannabis concentrate or a product that contains cannabis, which may be 48 
combined with other ingredients, and is intended for use or 49  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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consumption. "Cannabis product" does not include the raw cannabis 50 
plant; 51 
(8) "Cannabis concentrate" means any form of concentration, 52 
including, but not limited to, extracts, oils, tinctures, shatter and waxes, 53 
that is extracted from cannabis; 54 
(9) "Cannabis-type substances" have the same meaning as 55 
"marijuana", as defined in section 21a-240; 56 
(10) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Consumer 57 
Protection and includes any designee of the commissioner; 58 
(11) "Consumer" means an individual who is twenty-one years of age 59 
or older; 60 
(12) "Cultivation" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-61 
408, as amended by this act; 62 
(13) "Cultivator" means a person that is licensed to engage in the 63 
cultivation, growing and propagation of the cannabis plant at an 64 
establishment with not less than fifteen thousand square feet of grow 65 
space; 66 
(14) "Delivery service" means a person that is licensed to deliver 67 
cannabis from (A) micro-cultivators, retailers and hybrid retailers to 68 
consumers and research program subjects, and (B) hybrid retailers and 69 
dispensary facilities to qualifying patients, caregivers and research 70 
program subjects, as defined in section 21a-408, as amended by this act, 71 
or to hospices or other inpatient care facilities licensed by the 72 
Department of Public Health pursuant to chapter 368v that have a 73 
protocol for the handling and distribution of cannabis that has been 74 
approved by the department, or a combination thereof; 75 
(15) "Department" means the Department of Consumer Protection; 76 
(16) "Dispensary facility" means a place of business where cannabis 77  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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may be dispensed, sold or distributed in accordance with chapter 420f 78 
and any regulations adopted [thereunder] pursuant to said chapter, to 79 
qualifying patients and caregivers, and to which the department has 80 
issued a dispensary facility license [under] pursuant to chapter 420f and 81 
any regulations adopted [thereunder] pursuant to said chapter; 82 
(17) "Disproportionately impacted area" means a United States 83 
census tract in the state that has, as determined by the Social Equity 84 
Council under section 21a-420d, as amended by this act, (A) a historical 85 
conviction rate for drug-related offenses greater than one-tenth, or (B) 86 
an unemployment rate greater than ten per cent; 87 
(18) "Disqualifying conviction" means a conviction within the last ten 88 
years which has not been the subject of an absolute pardon under the 89 
provisions of section 54-130a, or an equivalent pardon process under the 90 
laws of another state or the federal government, for an offense under (A) 91 
section 53a-276, 53a-277 or 53a-278; (B) section 53a-291, 53a-292 or 53a-92 
293; (C) section 53a-215; (D) section 53a-138 or 53a-139; (E) section 53a-93 
142a; (F) sections 53a-147 to 53a-162, inclusive; (G) sections 53a-125c to 94 
53a-125f, inclusive; (H) section 53a-129b, 53a-129c or 53a-129d; (I) 95 
subsection (b) of section 12-737; (J) section 53a-48 or 53a-49, if the offense 96 
which is attempted or is an object of the conspiracy is an offense under 97 
the statutes listed in subparagraphs (A) to (I), inclusive, of this 98 
subdivision; or (K) the law of any other state or of the federal 99 
government, if the offense on which such conviction is based is defined 100 
by elements that substantially include the elements of an offense under 101 
the statutes listed in subparagraphs (A) to (J), inclusive, of this 102 
subdivision; 103 
(19) "Dispensary technician" means an individual who has had an 104 
active pharmacy technician or dispensary technician registration in this 105 
state within the past five years, is affiliated with a dispensary facility or 106 
hybrid retailer and is registered with the department in accordance with 107 
chapter 420f and any regulations adopted [thereunder] pursuant to said 108 
chapter; 109  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(20) "Employee" means any person who is not a backer, but is a 110 
member of the board of a company with an ownership interest in a 111 
cannabis establishment, and any person employed by a cannabis 112 
establishment or who otherwise has access to such establishment or the 113 
vehicles used to transport cannabis, including, but not limited to, an 114 
independent contractor who has routine access to the premises of such 115 
establishment or to the cannabis handled by such establishment; 116 
(21) "Equity" and "equitable" means efforts, regulations, policies, 117 
programs, standards, processes and any other functions of government 118 
or principles of law and governance intended to: (A) Identify and 119 
remedy past and present patterns of discrimination and disparities of 120 
race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation; (B) ensure that such 121 
patterns of discrimination and disparities, whether intentional or 122 
unintentional, are neither reinforced nor perpetuated; and (C) prevent 123 
the emergence and persistence of foreseeable future patterns of 124 
discrimination or disparities of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual 125 
orientation; 126 
(22) "Equity joint venture" means a business entity that is at least fifty 127 
per cent owned and controlled by an individual or individuals, or such 128 
applicant is an individual, who meets the criteria of subparagraphs (A) 129 
and (B) of subdivision [(48)] (51) of this section; 130 
(23) "Extract" means the preparation, compounding, conversion or 131 
processing of cannabis, either directly or indirectly by extraction or 132 
independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of 133 
extraction and chemical synthesis to produce a cannabis concentrate; 134 
(24) "Financial interest" means any right to, ownership, an investment 135 
or a compensation arrangement with another person, directly, through 136 
business, investment or family. "Financial interest" does not include 137 
ownership of investment securities in a publicly-held corporation that 138 
is traded on a national exchange or over-the-counter market, provided 139 
the investment securities held by such person and such person's spouse, 140 
parent or child, in the aggregate, do not exceed one-half of one per cent 141  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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of the total number of shares issued by the corporation; 142 
(25) "Food and beverage manufacturer" means a person that is 143 
licensed to own and operate a place of business that acquires cannabis 144 
and creates food and beverages; 145 
(26) "Grow space" means the portion of a premises owned and 146 
controlled by a producer, cultivator or micro-cultivator that is utilized 147 
for the cultivation, growing or propagation of the cannabis plant, and 148 
contains cannabis plants in an active stage of growth, measured starting 149 
from the outermost wall of the room containing cannabis plants and 150 
continuing around the outside of the room. "Grow space" does not 151 
include space used to cure, process, store harvested cannabis or 152 
manufacture cannabis once the cannabis has been harvested; 153 
(27) "Hemp" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-61l; 154 
(28) "Hemp producer" means producer, as defined in section 22-61l; 155 
[(27)] (29) "Historical conviction count for drug-related offenses" 156 
means, for a given area, the number of convictions of residents of such 157 
area (A) for violations of sections 21a-267, 21a-277, 21a-278, 21a-279 and 158 
21a-279a, and (B) who were arrested for such violations between 159 
January 1, 1982, and December 31, 2020, inclusive, where such arrest 160 
was recorded in databases maintained by the Department of Emergency 161 
Services and Public Protection; 162 
[(28)] (30) "Historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses" 163 
means, for a given area, the historical conviction count for drug-related 164 
offenses divided by the population of such area, as determined by the 165 
five-year estimates of the most recent American Community Survey 166 
conducted by the United States Census Bureau; 167 
[(29)] (31) "Hybrid retailer" means a person that is licensed to 168 
purchase cannabis and sell cannabis and medical marijuana products; 169 
[(30)] (32) "Key employee" means an employee with the following 170  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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management position or an equivalent title within a cannabis 171 
establishment: (A) President or chief officer, who is the top ranking 172 
individual at the cannabis establishment and is responsible for all staff 173 
and overall direction of business operations; (B) financial manager, who 174 
is the individual who reports to the president or chief officer and who is 175 
generally responsible for oversight of the financial operations of the 176 
cannabis establishment, including, but not limited to, revenue 177 
generation, distributions, tax compliance and budget implementation; 178 
or (C) compliance manager, who is the individual who reports to the 179 
president or chief officer and who is generally responsible for ensuring 180 
the cannabis establishment complies with all laws, regulations and 181 
requirements related to the operation of the cannabis establishment; 182 
[(31)] (33) "Laboratory" means a laboratory located in the state that is 183 
licensed by the department to provide analysis of cannabis that meets 184 
the licensure requirements set forth in section 21a-246; 185 
[(32)] (34) "Laboratory employee" means an individual who is 186 
registered as a laboratory employee pursuant to section 21a-408r; 187 
[(33)] (35) "Labor peace agreement" means an agreement between a 188 
cannabis establishment and a bona fide labor organization under section 189 
21a-421d pursuant to which the owners and management of the 190 
cannabis establishment agree not to lock out employees and that 191 
prohibits the bona fide labor organization from engaging in picketing, 192 
work stoppages or boycotts against the cannabis establishment; 193 
[(34)] (36) "Manufacture" means to add or incorporate cannabis into 194 
other products or ingredients or create a cannabis product; 195 
(37) "Manufacturer hemp product" has the same meaning as 196 
provided in section 22-61l; 197 
[(35)] (38) "Medical marijuana product" means cannabis that may be 198 
exclusively sold to qualifying patients and caregivers by dispensary 199 
facilities and hybrid retailers and which are designated by the 200 
commissioner as reserved for sale to qualifying patients and caregivers 201  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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and published on the department's Internet web site; 202 
[(36)] (39) "Micro-cultivator" means a person licensed to engage in the 203 
cultivation, growing and propagation of the cannabis plant at an 204 
establishment containing not less than two thousand square feet and not 205 
more than ten thousand square feet of grow space, prior to any 206 
expansion authorized by the commissioner; 207 
[(37)] (40) "Municipality" means any town, city or borough, 208 
consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough; 209 
[(38)] (41) "Paraphernalia" means drug paraphernalia, as defined in 210 
section 21a-240; 211 
[(39)] (42) "Person" means an individual, partnership, limited liability 212 
company, society, association, joint stock company, corporation, estate, 213 
receiver, trustee, assignee, referee or any other legal entity and any other 214 
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether 215 
appointed by a court or otherwise, and any combination thereof; 216 
[(40)] (43) "Producer" means a person that is licensed as a producer 217 
pursuant to section 21a-408i and any regulations adopted [thereunder] 218 
pursuant to said section; 219 
[(41)] (44) "Product manufacturer" means a person that is licensed to 220 
obtain cannabis, extract and manufacture products exclusive to such 221 
license type; 222 
[(42)] (45) "Product packager" means a person that is licensed to 223 
package and label cannabis; 224 
[(43)] (46) "Qualifying patient" has the same meaning as provided in 225 
section 21a-408, as amended by this act; 226 
[(44)] (47) "Research program" has the same meaning as provided in 227 
section 21a-408, as amended by this act; 228 
[(45)] (48) "Retailer" means a person, excluding a dispensary facility 229  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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and hybrid retailer, that is licensed to purchase cannabis from 230 
producers, cultivators, micro-cultivators, product manufacturers and 231 
food and beverage manufacturers and to sell cannabis to consumers and 232 
research programs; 233 
[(46)] (49) "Sale" or "sell" has the same meaning as provided in section 234 
21a-240; 235 
[(47)] (50) "Social Equity Council" or "council" means the council 236 
established under section 21a-420d, as amended by this act; 237 
[(48)] (51) "Social equity applicant" means a person that has applied 238 
for a license for a cannabis establishment, where such applicant is at 239 
least sixty-five per cent owned and controlled by an individual or 240 
individuals, or such applicant is an individual, who: 241 
(A) Had an average household income of less than three hundred per 242 
cent of the state median household income over the three tax years 243 
immediately preceding such individual's application; and 244 
(B) (i) Was a resident of a disproportionately impacted area for not 245 
less than five of the ten years immediately preceding the date of such 246 
application; or 247 
(ii) Was a resident of a disproportionately impacted area for not less 248 
than nine years prior to attaining the age of eighteen; 249 
[(49)] (52) "THC" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-250 
240; 251 
[(50)] (53) "Third-party lottery operator" means a person, or a 252 
constituent unit of the state system of higher education, that conducts 253 
lotteries pursuant to section 21a-420g, identifies the cannabis 254 
establishment license applications for consideration without 255 
performing any review of the applications that are identified for 256 
consideration, and that has no direct or indirect oversight of or 257 
investment in a cannabis establishment or a cannabis establishment 258  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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applicant; 259 
[(51)] (54) "Transfer" means to transfer, change, give or otherwise 260 
dispose of control over or interest in; 261 
[(52)] (55) "Transport" means to physically move from one place to 262 
another; 263 
[(53)] (56) "Transporter" means a person licensed to transport 264 
cannabis between cannabis establishments, laboratories and research 265 
programs; and 266 
[(54)] (57) "Unemployment rate" means, in a given area, the number 267 
of people sixteen years of age or older who are in the civilian labor force 268 
and unemployed divided by the number of people sixteen years of age 269 
or older who are in the civilian labor force. 270 
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) During the period beginning 271 
October 1, 2023, and ending December 31, 2023, a hemp producer that 272 
has been licensed by the Department of Agriculture as a hemp producer 273 
for the majority of the period beginning January 1, 2021, and ending 274 
January 1, 2023, may apply to the Department of Consumer Protection 275 
for a cultivator license or micro-cultivator license without entering the 276 
lottery. Such application shall be in a form and manner prescribed by 277 
the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, and shall include: 278 
(1) An attestation that the applicant hemp producer has not 279 
undergone any change in ownership since January 1, 2023; 280 
(2) An acknowledgment and affirmation that prior to being awarded 281 
a provisional cultivator or micro-cultivator license, the applicant hemp 282 
producer shall surrender such hemp producer's license as a hemp 283 
producer; 284 
(3) The attestation required under subsection (a) of section 3 of this 285 
act; and 286  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(4) Any other item the commissioner deems relevant for the purposes 287 
of this section. 288 
(b) The Department of Consumer Protection shall not approve any 289 
application submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section if 290 
approving such application would cause the aggregate grow space of all 291 
applicant hemp producers who convert to a cultivator license or micro-292 
cultivator license under this section to exceed two hundred fifty 293 
thousand square feet. 294 
(c) No cultivator or micro-cultivator licensee shall hold a hemp 295 
producer license. Upon surrender of a hemp producer license as set 296 
forth in subsection (a) of this section and licensure as a cultivator or 297 
micro-cultivator, all hemp inventory in such cultivator or micro-298 
cultivator licensee's possession shall be deemed to be cannabis and 299 
subject to all cannabis reporting, handling, security, testing and other 300 
standards as set forth in applicable law. 301 
(d) No hemp producer that converts to a cultivator or micro-302 
cultivator under this section shall add any new owner after such 303 
cultivator or micro-cultivator receives a provisional license, except such 304 
cultivator or micro-cultivator may add any new owner who meets the 305 
criteria established in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision (51) of 306 
section 21a-420 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, not later 307 
than three years after such cultivator or micro-cultivator receives a final 308 
license. 309 
Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2023) (a) In order to pay a reduced 310 
license fee as described in subdivision (14) or (15) of subsection (d) of 311 
section 21a-420e of the general statutes, as amended by this act, a hemp 312 
producer that is applying to convert to a cultivator or micro-cultivator 313 
under section 2 of this act shall create two equity joint ventures to be 314 
approved by the Social Equity Council under section 21a-420d of the 315 
general statutes, as amended by this act, and licensed by the department 316 
pursuant to this section, which shall be evidenced by filings with the 317 
Secretary of the State, organizing documents disclosing the terms of the 318  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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business relationship between such applicant and such equity joint 319 
ventures and an attestation to the creation of such equity joint ventures 320 
on the application submitted pursuant to section 2 of this act. 321 
(b) Each equity joint venture created pursuant to subsection (a) of this 322 
section shall be in any cannabis establishment licensed business, other 323 
than a cultivator or micro-cultivator license, provided such equity joint 324 
venture is at least fifty per cent owned and controlled by an individual 325 
or individuals who meet, or the equity joint venture applicant is an 326 
individual who meets, the criteria established in subparagraphs (A) and 327 
(B) of subdivision (51) of section 21a-420 of the general statutes, as 328 
amended by this act. 329 
(c) Each equity joint venture applicant described in subsection (a) of 330 
this section shall submit an application to the Social Equity Council that 331 
may include, but need not be limited to, evidence of business formation, 332 
ownership allocation, terms of ownership and financing and proof of 333 
social equity status. The equity joint venture applicant shall submit to 334 
the Social Equity Council information including, but not limited to, the 335 
organizing documents of the entity that outline the ownership stake of 336 
each backer, initial backer investment and payout information to enable 337 
the council to determine the terms of ownership. 338 
(d) Upon obtaining the written approval of the Social Equity Council 339 
for an equity joint venture described in subsection (a) of this section, the 340 
equity joint venture applicant shall apply for a license from the 341 
department in the same form as required by all other licensees of the 342 
same license type, except that such application shall not be subject to the 343 
lottery. 344 
(e) A converted hemp producer that receives a license as a cultivator 345 
or micro-cultivator under section 2 of this act, including the backers 346 
listed on the conversion application of such converted hemp producer, 347 
shall not increase its ownership in an equity joint venture in excess of 348 
fifty per cent during the seven-year period after a license is issued by 349 
the department pursuant to this section. 350  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(f) Equity joint ventures that are retailers or hybrid retailers shall not 351 
be located within twenty miles of another equity joint venture that 352 
shares a common backer of a cultivator or micro-cultivator that receives 353 
a license under section 2 of this act. 354 
(g) If a converted hemp producer has paid a reduced conversion fee, 355 
as described in subdivision (14) or (15) of subsection (d) of section 21a-356 
420e of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and subsequently 357 
did not create two equity joint ventures under this section that, not later 358 
than fourteen months after the department approved the converted 359 
hemp producer's cultivator or micro-cultivator license application 360 
under section 2 of this act, each received a final license from the 361 
department, such (1) cultivator shall be liable for the full conversion fee 362 
established in subdivision (14) of subsection (d) of section 21a-420e of 363 
the general statutes, as amended by this act, minus such paid reduced 364 
conversion fee, or (2) micro-cultivator shall be liable for the full 365 
conversion fee established in subdivision (15) of subsection (d) of section 366 
21a-420e of the general statutes, as amended by this act, minus such paid 367 
reduced conversion fee. 368 
(h) No cultivator or micro-cultivator that receives a license under 369 
section 2 of this act shall create more than two equity joint ventures. No 370 
cultivator or micro-cultivator that receives a license under section 2 of 371 
this act shall apply for, or create, any additional equity joint venture if 372 
such licensee has created two equity joint ventures that have each 373 
received a provisional license. 374 
(i) An equity joint venture applicant shall pay fifty per cent of the 375 
amount of any applicable fee specified in subsection (d) of section 21a-376 
420e of the general statutes, as amended by this act, for the first three 377 
renewal cycles of the applicable cannabis establishment license applied 378 
for, and shall pay the full amount of such fee thereafter. 379 
Sec. 4. Subsection (a) of section 21a-278b of the general statutes is 380 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 381 
2023): 382  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(a) No person may manufacture, distribute, sell, prescribe, dispense, 383 
compound, transport with the intent to sell or dispense, possess with 384 
the intent to sell or dispense, offer, give or administer to another person 385 
cannabis or cannabis products, except as authorized in chapter 420b or 386 
420f, [or] sections 21a-420n, as amended by this act, 21a-420p, as 387 
amended by this act, 21a-420r to 21a-420t, inclusive, as amended by this 388 
act, or 21a-420w to 21a-420z, inclusive, or section 2 of this act. 389 
Sec. 5. Section 21a-408 of the general statutes is repealed and the 390 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 391 
As used in this section, sections 21a-408a to 21a-408o, inclusive, and 392 
sections 21a-408r to 21a-408v, inclusive, unless the context otherwise 393 
requires: 394 
(1) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice 395 
registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378; 396 
(2) "Cannabis establishment" has the same meaning as provided in 397 
section 21a-420, as amended by this act; 398 
(3) "Caregiver" means a person, other than the qualifying patient and 399 
the qualifying patient's physician, physician assistant or advanced 400 
practice registered nurse, who is eighteen years of age or older and has 401 
agreed to undertake responsibility for managing the well-being of the 402 
qualifying patient with respect to the palliative use of marijuana, 403 
provided (A) in the case of a qualifying patient who is (i) under eighteen 404 
years of age and not an emancipated minor, or (ii) otherwise lacking 405 
legal capacity, such person shall be a parent, guardian or person having 406 
legal custody of such qualifying patient, and (B) in the case of a 407 
qualifying patient who is eighteen years of age or older or an 408 
emancipated minor, the need for such person shall be evaluated by the 409 
qualifying patient's physician, physician assistant or advanced practice 410 
registered nurse and such need shall be documented in the written 411 
certification; 412 
[(3)] (4) "Cultivation" includes planting, propagating, cultivating, 413  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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growing and harvesting; 414 
[(4)] (5) "Debilitating medical condition" means (A) cancer, glaucoma, 415 
positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune 416 
deficiency syndrome, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to 417 
the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological 418 
indication of intractable spasticity, epilepsy or uncontrolled intractable 419 
seizure disorder, cachexia, wasting syndrome, Crohn's disease, 420 
posttraumatic stress disorder, irreversible spinal cord injury with 421 
objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, cerebral palsy, 422 
cystic fibrosis or terminal illness requiring end-of-life care, except, if the 423 
qualifying patient is under eighteen years of age, "debilitating medical 424 
condition" means terminal illness requiring end-of-life care, irreversible 425 
spinal cord injury with objective neurological indication of intractable 426 
spasticity, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, severe epilepsy or uncontrolled 427 
intractable seizure disorder, or (B) any medical condition, medical 428 
treatment or disease approved for qualifying patients by the 429 
Department of Consumer Protection and posted online pursuant to 430 
section 21a-408l; 431 
[(5)] (6) "Dispensary facility" means a place of business (A) for which 432 
the department has issued a dispensary facility license pursuant to this 433 
chapter, and (B) where marijuana may be dispensed, sold or distributed 434 
in accordance with this chapter and any regulations adopted 435 
[thereunder] pursuant to this chapter to qualifying patients and 436 
caregivers; [and for which the department has issued a dispensary 437 
facility license pursuant to this chapter;] 438 
[(6)] (7) "Employee" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-439 
420, as amended by this act; 440 
(8) "Hemp manufacturer" means manufacturer, as defined in section 441 
22-61l; 442 
[(7)] (9) "Institutional animal care and use committee" means a 443 
committee that oversees an organization's animal program, facilities 444  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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and procedures to ensure compliance with federal policies, guidelines 445 
and principles related to the care and use of animals in research; 446 
[(8)] (10) "Institutional review board" means a specifically constituted 447 
review body established or designated by an organization to protect the 448 
rights and welfare of persons recruited to participate in biomedical, 449 
behavioral or social science research; 450 
[(9)] (11) "Laboratory" means a laboratory located in the state that is 451 
licensed by the department to provide analysis of marijuana and that 452 
meets the licensure requirements set forth in section 21a-246; 453 
[(10)] (12) "Laboratory employee" means a person who is registered 454 
as a laboratory employee pursuant to section 21a-408r; 455 
[(11)] (13) "Licensed dispensary" or "dispensary" means an individual 456 
who is a licensed pharmacist employed by a dispensary facility or 457 
hybrid retailer;  458 
[(12) "Producer" means a person who is licensed as a producer 459 
pursuant to section 21a-408i;] 460 
(14) "Manufacturer hemp product" has the same meaning as 461 
provided in section 22-61l; 462 
[(13)] (15) "Marijuana" means marijuana, as defined in section 21a-463 
240; 464 
[(14)] (16) "Nurse" means a person who is licensed as a nurse [under] 465 
pursuant to chapter 378; 466 
[(15)] (17) "Palliative use" means the acquisition, distribution, 467 
transfer, possession, use or transportation of marijuana or paraphernalia 468 
relating to marijuana, including the transfer of marijuana and 469 
paraphernalia relating to marijuana from the patient's caregiver to the 470 
qualifying patient, to alleviate a qualifying patient's symptoms of a 471 
debilitating medical condition or the effects of such symptoms, but does 472  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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not include any such use of marijuana by any person other than the 473 
qualifying patient; 474 
[(16)] (18) "Paraphernalia" means drug paraphernalia, as defined in 475 
section 21a-240; 476 
[(17)] (19) "Physician" means a person who is licensed as a physician 477 
[under] pursuant to chapter 370; 478 
[(18)] (20) "Physician assistant" means a person who is licensed as a 479 
physician assistant [under] pursuant to chapter 370; 480 
[(19) "Caregiver" means a person, other than the qualifying patient 481 
and the qualifying patient's physician, physician assistant or advanced 482 
practice registered nurse, who is eighteen years of age or older and has 483 
agreed to undertake responsibility for managing the well-being of the 484 
qualifying patient with respect to the palliative use of marijuana, 485 
provided (A) in the case of a qualifying patient (i) under eighteen years 486 
of age and not an emancipated minor, or (ii) otherwise lacking legal 487 
capacity, such person shall be a parent, guardian or person having legal 488 
custody of such qualifying patient, and (B) in the case of a qualifying 489 
patient eighteen years of age or older or an emancipated minor, the need 490 
for such person shall be evaluated by the qualifying patient's physician, 491 
physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse and such need 492 
shall be documented in the written certification;] 493 
(21) "Producer" means a person who is licensed as a producer 494 
pursuant to section 21a-408i; 495 
[(20)] (22) "Qualifying patient" means a person who: (A) Is a resident 496 
of Connecticut, (B) has been diagnosed by a physician, physician 497 
assistant or advanced practice registered nurse as having a debilitating 498 
medical condition, and (C) (i) is eighteen years of age or older, (ii) is an 499 
emancipated minor, or (iii) has written consent from a custodial parent, 500 
guardian or other person having legal custody of such person that 501 
indicates that such person has permission from such parent, guardian 502 
or other person for the palliative use of marijuana for a debilitating 503  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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medical condition and that such parent, guardian or other person will 504 
(I) serve as a caregiver for the qualifying patient, and (II) control the 505 
acquisition and possession of marijuana and any related paraphernalia 506 
for palliative use on behalf of such person. "Qualifying patient" does not 507 
include an inmate confined in a correctional institution or facility under 508 
the supervision of the Department of Correction; 509 
[(21)] (23) "Research program" means a study approved by the 510 
Department of Consumer Protection in accordance with this chapter 511 
and undertaken to increase information or knowledge regarding the 512 
growth or processing of marijuana, or the medical attributes, dosage 513 
forms, administration or use of marijuana to treat or alleviate symptoms 514 
of any medical conditions or the effects of such symptoms; 515 
[(22)] (24) "Research program employee" means a person who (A) is 516 
registered as a research program employee [under] pursuant to section 517 
21a-408t, or (B) holds a temporary certificate of registration issued 518 
pursuant to section 21a-408t; 519 
[(23)] (25) "Research program subject" means a person registered as a 520 
research program subject pursuant to section 21a-408v; 521 
[(24)] (26) "Usable marijuana" means the dried leaves and flowers of 522 
the marijuana plant, and any mixtures or preparations of such leaves 523 
and flowers, that are appropriate for the palliative use of marijuana, but 524 
does not include the seeds, stalks and roots of the marijuana plant; and 525 
[(25)] (27) "Written certification" means a written certification issued 526 
by a physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered 527 
nurse pursuant to section 21a-408c. 528 
Sec. 6. Section 21a-408h of the general statutes is repealed and the 529 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 530 
(a) No person may act as a dispensary or represent that such person 531 
is a licensed dispensary unless such person has obtained a license from 532 
the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to this section. 533  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(b) No person may act as a dispensary facility or represent that such 534 
person is a licensed dispensary facility unless such person has obtained 535 
a license from the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to 536 
this section. 537 
(c) (1) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall determine the 538 
number of dispensary facilities appropriate to meet the needs of 539 
qualifying patients in this state and shall adopt regulations, in 540 
accordance with chapter 54, to provide for the licensure and standards 541 
for dispensary facilities in this state and specify the maximum number 542 
of dispensary facilities that may be licensed in this state. On and after 543 
the effective date of such regulations, the commissioner may license any 544 
person who applies for a license in accordance with such regulations, 545 
provided the commissioner deems such applicant qualified to acquire, 546 
possess, distribute and dispense marijuana pursuant to sections 21a-408 547 
to 21a-408m, inclusive, as amended by this act. At a minimum, such 548 
regulations shall: 549 
[(1)] (A) Indicate the maximum number of dispensary facilities that 550 
may be licensed in this state; 551 
[(2)] (B) Provide that no marijuana may be dispensed from, obtained 552 
from or transferred to a location outside of this state; 553 
[(3)] (C) Establish a licensing fee and renewal fee for each dispensary 554 
facility, provided such fees shall not be less than the amount necessary 555 
to cover the direct and indirect cost of licensing and regulating 556 
dispensary facilities pursuant to sections 21a-408 to 21a-408m, inclusive, 557 
as amended by this act; 558 
[(4)] (D) Provide for renewal of such dispensary facility licenses at 559 
least every two years; 560 
[(5)] (E) Describe areas in this state where dispensary facilities may 561 
not be located, after considering the criteria for the location of retail 562 
liquor permit premises set forth in subsection (a) of section 30-46; 563  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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[(6)] (F) Establish health, safety and security requirements for 564 
dispensary facilities, which may include, but need not be limited to: 565 
[(A)] (i) The ability to maintain adequate control against the diversion, 566 
theft and loss of marijuana acquired or possessed by the dispensary 567 
facility, and [(B)] (ii) the ability to maintain the knowledge, 568 
understanding, judgment, procedures, security controls and ethics to 569 
ensure optimal safety and accuracy in the distributing, dispensing and 570 
use of palliative marijuana; 571 
[(7)] (G) Establish standards and procedures for revocation, 572 
suspension, summary suspension and nonrenewal of dispensary facility 573 
licenses, provided such standards and procedures are consistent with 574 
the provisions of subsection (c) of section 4-182; and 575 
[(8)] (H) Establish other licensing, renewal and operational standards 576 
deemed necessary by the commissioner. 577 
(2) Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 4-168 to 4-172, 578 
inclusive, in order to effectuate the purposes of this subsection and 579 
protect public health and safety, the commissioner, prior to amending 580 
any regulations adopted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, 581 
shall issue policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this 582 
subsection, which policies and procedures shall have the force and effect 583 
of law. The commissioner shall post each such policy or procedure on 584 
the department's Internet web site, and submit such policy or procedure 585 
to the Secretary of the State for posting on the eRegulations System, at 586 
least fifteen days prior to the effective date of such policy or procedure. 587 
Any such policy or procedure shall no longer be effective upon the 588 
earlier of either the adoption of such policy or procedure as a final 589 
regulation pursuant to section 4-172 or June 30, 2027, if such regulations 590 
have not been submitted to the legislative regulation review committee 591 
for consideration under section 4-170. Not later than January 1, 2024, the 592 
commissioner shall issue policies and procedures to permit dispensary 593 
facilities licensed pursuant to this chapter to acquire manufacturer 594 
hemp products from hemp manufacturers, and sell such manufacturer 595 
hemp products to qualifying patients and caregivers in accordance with 596  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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this chapter, chapter 424 and any regulations adopted pursuant to said 597 
chapters. At a minimum, such regulations shall require that each such 598 
manufacturer hemp product be: 599 
(A) Labeled in a manner that indicates that such manufacturer hemp 600 
product is (i) a manufacturer hemp product, (ii) subject to different 601 
testing standards than marijuana, and (iii) not marijuana; and 602 
(B) Stored separately from marijuana and displayed with signage 603 
approved by the department. 604 
(d) Any fees collected by the Department of Consumer Protection 605 
under this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer and credited to the 606 
General Fund. 607 
[(e) On or before January 1, 2017, and annually thereafter, each 608 
dispensary facility shall report data to the Department of Consumer 609 
Protection relating to the types, mixtures and dosages of palliative 610 
marijuana dispensed by such dispensary facility. A report prepared 611 
pursuant to this subsection shall be in such form as may be prescribed 612 
by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection.] 613 
Sec. 7. Section 21a-409 of the general statutes is repealed and the 614 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 615 
(a) As used in this section, "producer" has the same meaning as 616 
provided in section 21a-408, as amended by this act, and "manufacture", 617 
"market", "cultivate", "hemp", "hemp products", [and] "manufacturer 618 
hemp products" and "producer hemp products" have the same 619 
meanings as provided in section 22-61l. Any producer licensed [under] 620 
pursuant to section 21a-408, as amended by this act, shall manufacture, 621 
market, cultivate or store hemp and manufacturer hemp products in 622 
accordance with the provisions of this chapter and any regulations 623 
adopted [under] pursuant to this chapter. Producers may obtain hemp 624 
and manufacturer hemp products from a person authorized under the 625 
laws of this state or another state, territory or possession of the United 626 
States or another sovereign entity to possess and sell such hemp and 627  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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manufacturer hemp products. 628 
(b) Hemp or manufacturer hemp products purchased by producers 629 
from third parties shall be tracked as a separate batch throughout the 630 
manufacturing process in order to document the disposition of such 631 
hemp or manufacturer hemp products. Hemp or manufacturer hemp 632 
products obtained, manufactured, marketed, cultivated or stored by a 633 
producer shall be deemed marijuana and shall comply with the 634 
requirements for marijuana contained in the applicable provisions of the 635 
general statutes and any regulations adopted [under] pursuant to such 636 
provisions. Producers shall retain a copy of the certificate of analysis for 637 
purchased hemp or manufacturer hemp products and invoice and 638 
transport documents that evidence the quantity purchased and date 639 
received. 640 
(c) (1) No hemp or producer hemp products shall be sold or 641 
distributed within a dispensary facility that is licensed [under] pursuant 642 
to this chapter. 643 
(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1) of this subsection, manufacturer 644 
hemp products may be sold within a dispensary facility that is licensed 645 
pursuant to this chapter, provided such manufacturer hemp products 646 
are (A) sold from a location within the dispensary facility that is separate 647 
from the area within such dispensary facility where marijuana is sold, 648 
(B) labeled as hemp products that are not subject to marijuana testing 649 
standards, and (C) sold in accordance with this chapter, chapter 424 and 650 
any regulations adopted pursuant to said chapters. 651 
Sec. 8. Subsections (d) and (e) of section 21a-420b of the general 652 
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 653 
(Effective July 1, 2023): 654 
(d) No law enforcement officer employed by an agency that receives 655 
state or local government funds shall expend state or local resources, 656 
including the officer's time, to effect any arrest or seizure of cannabis, or 657 
conduct any investigation, on the sole basis of activity the officer 658  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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believes to constitute a violation of federal law if the officer has reason 659 
to believe that such activity is in compliance with this section and 660 
sections 21a-420a, 21a-420c to 21a-420i, inclusive, 21a-420l to 21a-420n, 661 
inclusive, as amended by this act, 21a-420p, as amended by this act, to 662 
21a-420t, inclusive, 21a-420v to 21a-421c, inclusive, 21a-421f, as 663 
amended by this act, 21a-421g, 21a-421j to 21a-421q, inclusive, 21a-421aa 664 
to 21a-421dd, inclusive, 21a-422k and 53-247a, [and] sections 23, 60 and 665 
63 to 65, inclusive, of public act 21-1 of the June special session, [or] 666 
chapter 420f or section 2 of this act. 667 
(e) An officer may not expend state or local resources, including the 668 
officer's time, to provide any information or logistical support to any 669 
federal law enforcement authority or prosecuting entity related to 670 
activity the officer believes to constitute a violation of federal law if the 671 
officer has reason to believe that such activity is in compliance with the 672 
provisions of this section and sections 21a-420a, 21a-420c to 21a-420i, 673 
inclusive, 21a-420l to 21a-420n, inclusive, as amended by this act, 21a-674 
420p to 21a-420t, inclusive, as amended by this act, 21a-420v to 21a-421c, 675 
inclusive, 21-421f, 21a-421g, 21a-421j to 21a-421q, inclusive, 21a-421aa to 676 
21a-421dd, inclusive, 21a-422k and 53-247a, [and] sections 23, 60 and 63 677 
to 65, inclusive, of public act 21-1 of the June special session, [or] chapter 678 
420f or section 2 of this act. 679 
Sec. 9. Subsection (k) of section 21a-420d of the general statutes is 680 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 681 
2023): 682 
(k) The council shall develop criteria for evaluating the ownership 683 
and control of any equity joint venture created under section 21a-420m, 684 
as amended by this act, 21a-420u, as amended by this act, or [section] 685 
21a-420j, as amended by this act, or section 3 of this act and shall review 686 
and approve or deny in writing such equity joint venture prior to such 687 
equity joint venture being licensed [under] pursuant to section 21a-688 
420m, as amended by this act, 21a-420u, as amended by this act, or 689 
[section] 21a-420j, as amended by this act, or section 3 of this act. After 690 
developing criteria for social equity plans as described in subdivision 691  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(5) of subsection (h) of this section, the council shall review and approve 692 
or deny in writing any such plan submitted by a cannabis establishment 693 
as part of its final license application. The council shall not approve any 694 
equity joint venture applicant which shares with an equity joint venture 695 
any individual owner who meets the criteria established in 696 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision [(48)] (51) of section 21a-420, 697 
as amended by this act. 698 
Sec. 10. Section 21a-420e of the general statutes is repealed and the 699 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 700 
(a) Not later than thirty days after the date that the Social Equity 701 
Council identifies the criteria and the necessary supporting 702 
documentation for social equity applicants and posts such information 703 
on its Internet web site, the department may accept applications for the 704 
following cannabis establishment license types: (1) Retailer, (2) hybrid 705 
retailer, (3) cultivator, (4) micro-cultivator, (5) product manufacturer, (6) 706 
food and beverage manufacturer, (7) product packager, (8) delivery 707 
service, and (9) transporter. Each application for licensure shall require 708 
the applicant to indicate whether the applicant wants to be considered 709 
for treatment as a social equity applicant. 710 
(b) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may accept applications 711 
from any dispensary facility to convert its license to a hybrid-retailer 712 
license and any producer for expanded authorization to engage in the 713 
adult use cannabis market under its license issued pursuant to section 714 
21a-408i. 715 
(c) During the period beginning October 1, 2023, and ending 716 
December 31, 2023, the department shall accept applications from any 717 
hemp producer to become licensed as a cultivator or micro-cultivator 718 
under section 2 of this act. 719 
[(c)] (d) Except as provided in subsection [(e)] (f) of this section, the 720 
following fees shall be paid by each applicant: 721 
(1) For a retailer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be five 722  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five 723 
thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a 724 
final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 725 
(2) For a hybrid retailer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be five 726 
hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five 727 
thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a 728 
final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 729 
(3) For a cultivator license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be one 730 
thousand dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be twenty-731 
five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal 732 
of a final license shall be seventy-five thousand dollars. 733 
(4) For a micro-cultivator license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be 734 
two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall 735 
be five hundred dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal 736 
of a final license shall be one thousand dollars. 737 
(5) For a product manufacturer license, the fee to enter the lottery 738 
shall be seven hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional 739 
license shall be five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license 740 
or a renewal of a final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 741 
(6) For a food and beverage manufacturer license, the fee to enter the 742 
lottery shall be two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional 743 
license shall be one thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license 744 
or a renewal of a final license shall be five thousand dollars. 745 
(7) For a product packager license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be 746 
five hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five 747 
thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a 748 
final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 749 
(8) For a delivery service or transporter license, the fee to enter the 750 
lottery shall be two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional 751 
license shall be one thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license 752  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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or a renewal of a final license shall be five thousand dollars. 753 
(9) For an initial or renewal of a backer license, the fee shall be one 754 
hundred dollars. 755 
(10) For an initial or renewal of a key employee license, the fee shall 756 
be one hundred dollars. 757 
(11) For an initial or renewal of a registration of an employee who is 758 
not a key employee, the fee shall be fifty dollars. 759 
(12) The license conversion fee for a dispensary facility to become a 760 
hybrid retailer shall be one million dollars, except as provided in section 761 
21a-420u, as amended by this act. 762 
(13) The license conversion fee for a producer to engage in the adult 763 
use cannabis market shall be three million dollars, except as provided in 764 
section 21a-420l. 765 
(14) For a hemp producer that converts to a cultivator license under 766 
section 2 of this act, (A) the fee to receive an initial license shall be twelve 767 
dollars per square foot of grow space, provided, if the hemp producer 768 
participates in two approved equity joint ventures as described in 769 
section 3 of this act, such fee shall be six dollars per square foot of grow 770 
space, and (B) the fee to receive a renewal of a license shall be the same 771 
as the renewal fee established in subdivision (3) of this subsection. 772 
(15) For a hemp producer that converts to a micro-cultivator license 773 
under section 2 of this act, (A) the fee to receive an initial license shall be 774 
twelve dollars per square foot of grow space, provided, if the hemp 775 
producer participates in two approved equity joint ventures as 776 
described in section 3 of this act, such fee shall be six dollars per square 777 
foot of grow space, and (B) the fee to receive renewal of a final license 778 
shall be the same as the renewal fee established in subdivision (4) of this 779 
subsection. 780 
[(d)] (e) For any dispensary facility that has become a hybrid retailer, 781  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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the renewal fee shall be the same as the fee for a hybrid retailer set forth 782 
in subdivision (2) of subsection [(c)] (d) of this section. For any producer, 783 
the renewal fee shall be the same as set forth in section 21a-408i. A social 784 
equity applicant shall pay fifty per cent of the amount of any of the fees 785 
specified in subsection [(c)] (d) of this section for the first three renewal 786 
cycles of the applicable cannabis establishment license applied for, and 787 
the full amount thereafter, provided in the case of the fees set forth in 788 
subdivisions (12) and (13) of subsection [(c)] (d) of this section, a social 789 
equity applicant shall pay the full amount of the fee. 790 
[(e)] (f) (1) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, [and thereafter,] 791 
the fees collected by the department under this section shall be paid to 792 
the State Treasurer and credited to the General Fund, except that the fees 793 
collected under subdivisions (12) and (13) of subsection [(c)] (d) of this 794 
section shall be deposited in the Social Equity and Innovation Fund 795 
established under section 21a-420f, as amended by this act. 796 
(2) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and thereafter, the fees 797 
collected by the department under this section shall be paid to the State 798 
Treasurer and credited to the General Fund, except that the fees 799 
collected under subdivisions (12) to (15), inclusive, of subsection (d) of 800 
this section shall be deposited in the Social Equity and Innovation Fund 801 
established under section 21a-420f, as amended by this act. 802 
[(f)] (g) For each license type: 803 
(1) Applicants shall apply on a form and in a manner prescribed by 804 
the commissioner, which form shall include a method for the applicant 805 
to request consideration as a social equity applicant; and 806 
(2) The department shall post on its Internet web site the application 807 
period, which shall specify the first and last date that the department 808 
will accept applications for that license type. The first date that the 809 
department shall accept applications shall be no sooner than thirty days 810 
after the date the Social Equity Council posts the criteria and supporting 811 
documentation necessary to qualify for consideration as a social equity 812  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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applicant as set forth in section 21a-420g. Only complete license 813 
applications received by the department during the application period 814 
shall be considered. 815 
Sec. 11. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 21a-420f of the general 816 
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 817 
(Effective July 1, 2023): 818 
(a) (1) There is established an account to be known as the "cannabis 819 
regulatory and investment account" which shall be a separate, 820 
nonlapsing account within the General Fund. The account shall contain 821 
any moneys required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in 822 
the account shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 823 
Management, in consultation with the Social Equity Council, as defined 824 
in section 21a-420, as amended by this act, to state agencies for the 825 
purpose of paying costs incurred to implement the activities authorized 826 
under RERACA, as defined in section 21a-420, as amended by this act. 827 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of section 21a-420e, as amended 828 
by this act, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and June 30, 2023, 829 
the following shall be deposited in the cannabis regulatory and 830 
investment account: (A) All fees received by the state pursuant to 831 
section 21a-421b and subdivisions (1) to (11), inclusive, of subsection 832 
[(c)] (d) of section 21a-420e, as amended by this act; (B) the tax received 833 
by the state under section 12-330ll; and (C) the tax received by the state 834 
under chapter 219 from a cannabis retailer, hybrid retailer or micro-835 
cultivator, as those terms are defined in section 12-330ll. 836 
(3) At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, all moneys 837 
remaining in the cannabis regulatory and investment account shall be 838 
transferred to the General Fund. 839 
(b) (1) There is established an account to be known as the "social 840 
equity and innovation account" which shall be a separate, nonlapsing 841 
account within the General Fund. The account shall contain any moneys 842 
required by law to be deposited in the account. Moneys in the account 843  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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shall be allocated by the Secretary of the Office of Policy and 844 
Management, in consultation with the Social Equity Council, to state 845 
agencies for the purpose of (A) paying costs incurred by the Social 846 
Equity Council, (B) administering programs under RERACA to provide 847 
(i) access to capital for businesses, (ii) technical assistance for the start-848 
up and operation of a business, (iii) funding for workforce education, 849 
and (iv) funding for community investments, and (C) paying costs 850 
incurred to implement the activities authorized under RERACA. 851 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 21a-420e, as amended 852 
by this act, and 21a-420o, for the fiscal years ending June 30, 2022, and 853 
June 30, 2023, the following shall be deposited in the social equity and 854 
innovation account: All fees received by the state pursuant to sections 855 
21a-420l, 21a-420o and 21a-420u, as amended by this act, and 856 
subdivisions (12) and (13) of subsection [(c)] (d) of section 21a-420e, as 857 
amended by this act. 858 
(3) At the end of the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, five million 859 
dollars shall be transferred from the social equity and innovation 860 
account to the General Fund, or, if the account contains less than five 861 
million dollars, all remaining moneys in the account. All moneys in the 862 
account not transferred to the General Fund pursuant to this 863 
subdivision shall be transferred to the Social Equity and Innovation 864 
Fund established under subsection (c) of this section. 865 
Sec. 12. Subsection (f) of section 21a-420j of the general statutes is 866 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 867 
2023): 868 
(f) An equity joint venture applicant shall pay fifty per cent of the 869 
amount of any applicable fee specified in subsection [(c)] (d) of section 870 
21a-420e, as amended by this act, for the first three renewal cycles of the 871 
applicable cannabis establishment license applied for, and shall pay the 872 
full amount of such fee thereafter. 873 
Sec. 13. Subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of section 21a-420m of the 874  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 875 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 876 
(b) The equity joint venture shall be in any cannabis establishment 877 
licensed business, other than a cultivator license, provided such equity 878 
joint venture is at least fifty per cent owned and controlled by an 879 
individual or individuals who meet, or the equity joint venture 880 
applicant is an individual who meets, the criteria established in 881 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision [(48)] (51) of section 21a-420, 882 
as amended by this act. 883 
(c) The equity joint venture applicant shall submit an application to 884 
the Social Equity Council that may include, but need not be limited to, 885 
evidence of business formation, ownership allocation, terms of 886 
ownership and financing and proof of social equity status. The equity 887 
joint venture applicant shall submit to the Social Equity Council 888 
information including, but not limited to, the organizing documents of 889 
the entity that outline the ownership stake of each backer, initial backer 890 
investment and payout information to enable the council to determine 891 
the terms of ownership. 892 
(d) Upon obtaining the written approval of the Social Equity Council 893 
for an equity joint venture, the equity joint venture applicant shall apply 894 
for a license from the department in the same form as required by all 895 
other licensees of the same license type, except that such application 896 
shall not be subject to the lottery. 897 
(e) A producer, including the backer of such producer, shall not 898 
increase its ownership in an equity joint venture in excess of fifty per 899 
cent during the seven-year period after a license is issued by the 900 
department [under] pursuant to this section. 901 
(f) Equity joint ventures that share a common producer or producer 902 
backer and that are retailers or hybrid retailers shall not be located 903 
within twenty miles of another commonly owned equity joint venture. 904 
(g) If a producer has paid a reduced conversion fee, as described in 905  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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subsection (b) of section 21a-420l, and subsequently did not create two 906 
equity joint ventures under this section that, not later than fourteen 907 
months after the Department of Consumer Protection approved the 908 
producer's license expansion application under section 21a-420l, each 909 
received a final license from the department, the producer shall be liable 910 
for the full conversion fee of three million dollars established in section 911 
21a-420l minus such paid reduced conversion fee. 912 
(h) No producer that receives license expansion authorization under 913 
section 21a-420l shall create more than two equity joint ventures. No 914 
such producer shall apply for, or create, any additional equity joint 915 
venture if, on the effective date of this section, such producer has created 916 
at least two equity joint ventures that have each received a provisional 917 
license. 918 
(i) An equity joint venture applicant shall pay fifty per cent of the 919 
amount of any applicable fee specified in subsection [(c)] (d) of section 920 
21a-420e, as amended by this act, for the first three renewal cycles of the 921 
applicable cannabis establishment license applied for, and shall pay the 922 
full amount of such fee thereafter. 923 
Sec. 14. Subsection (b) of section 21a-420n of the general statutes is 924 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 925 
2023): 926 
(b) A cultivator is authorized to cultivate, grow and propagate 927 
cannabis at an establishment containing not less than fifteen thousand 928 
square feet of grow space, provided such cultivator complies with the 929 
provisions of any regulations adopted under section 21a-420q, as 930 
amended by this act, concerning grow space. A cultivator establishment 931 
shall meet physical security controls and protocols set forth and 932 
required by the commissioner. A cultivator that converts under section 933 
2 of this act shall not cultivate, grow or propagate cannabis at an 934 
establishment containing more than eighty thousand square feet of 935 
grow space. 936  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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Sec. 15. Subsection (c) of section 21a-420p of the general statutes is 937 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 938 
2023): 939 
(c) A micro-cultivator may apply for expansion of its grow space, in 940 
increments of five thousand square feet, on an annual basis, from the 941 
date of initial licensure, if such licensee is not subject to any pending or 942 
final administrative actions or judicial findings. If there are any pending 943 
or final administrative actions or judicial findings against the licensee, 944 
the department shall conduct a suitability review to determine whether 945 
such expansion shall be granted, which determination shall be final and 946 
appealable only to the Superior Court. The micro-cultivator may apply 947 
for an expansion of its business annually upon renewal of its credential 948 
until such licensee reaches a maximum of twenty-five thousand square 949 
feet of grow space or, if such licensee converted under section 2 of this 950 
act, a maximum of ten thousand square feet of grow space. If a micro-951 
cultivator desires to expand beyond twenty-five thousand square feet of 952 
grow space, the micro-cultivator licensee may apply for a cultivator 953 
license one year after its last expansion request. The micro-cultivator 954 
licensee shall not be required to apply through the lottery application 955 
process to convert its license to a cultivator license. If a micro-cultivator 956 
maintains its license and meets all of the application and licensure 957 
requirements for a cultivator license, including payment of the 958 
cultivator license fee established under section 21a-420e, as amended by 959 
this act, the micro-cultivator licensee shall be granted a cultivator 960 
license. 961 
Sec. 16. Section 21a-420q of the general statutes is repealed and the 962 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 963 
The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 964 
provisions of chapter 54, to establish the maximum grow space 965 
permitted by a cultivator and micro-cultivator. Such regulations shall 966 
not permit a cultivator or micro-cultivator that converts under section 2 967 
of this act to cultivate more than eighty thousand square feet or ten 968 
thousand square feet of grow space, respectively, or the aggregate grow 969  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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space of all cultivators and micro-cultivators that convert under said 970 
section 2 of this act to exceed two hundred fifty thousand square feet. In 971 
adopting such regulations, the commissioner shall seek to ensure an 972 
adequate supply of cannabis for the market. Notwithstanding the 973 
requirements of sections 4-168 to 4-172, inclusive, in order to effectuate 974 
this section, prior to adopting such regulations, the commissioner shall 975 
issue policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this section 976 
that shall have the force and effect of law. The commissioner shall post 977 
all policies and procedures on the department's Internet web site and 978 
submit such policies and procedures to the Secretary of the State for 979 
posting on the eRegulations System, at least fifteen days prior to the 980 
effective date of any policy or procedure. Any such policy or procedure 981 
shall no longer be effective upon the earlier of either the adoption of the 982 
policy or procedure as a final regulation under section 4-172 or forty-983 
eight months from July 1, 2021, if such regulations have not been 984 
submitted to the legislative regulation review committee for 985 
consideration under section 4-170. 986 
Sec. 17. Section 21a-420r of the general statutes is repealed and the 987 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 988 
(a) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may issue or renew a 989 
license for a person to be a retailer. No person may act as a retailer or 990 
represent that such person is a retailer unless such person has obtained 991 
a license from the department pursuant to this section. 992 
(b) A retailer may obtain cannabis from a cultivator, micro-cultivator, 993 
producer, product packager, food and beverage manufacturer, product 994 
manufacturer or transporter or an undeliverable return from a delivery 995 
service. A retailer may sell, transport or transfer cannabis or cannabis 996 
products to a delivery service, laboratory or research program. A retailer 997 
may sell cannabis to a consumer or research program. A retailer may 998 
not conduct sales of medical marijuana products nor offer discounts or 999 
other inducements to qualifying patients or caregivers. A retailer shall 1000 
not gift or transfer cannabis at no cost to a consumer as part of a 1001 
commercial transaction. 1002  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(c) Retailers shall maintain a secure location, in a manner approved 1003 
by the commissioner, at the licensee's premises where cannabis that is 1004 
unable to be delivered by an employee or delivery service may be 1005 
returned to the retailer. Such secure cannabis return location shall meet 1006 
specifications set forth by the commissioner and published on the 1007 
department's Internet web site or included in regulations adopted by 1008 
the department. 1009 
(d) A retailer may deliver cannabis through a delivery service or by 1010 
utilizing its own employees, subject to the provisions of subsection (b) 1011 
of section 21a-420c. 1012 
(e) Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 4-168 to 4-172, 1013 
inclusive, in order to effectuate the purposes of this section and protect 1014 
public health and safety, the commissioner, prior to amending any 1015 
regulations adopted pursuant to chapter 54 to implement the provisions 1016 
of this section, shall issue policies and procedures to implement the 1017 
provisions of this section, which policies and procedures shall have the 1018 
force and effect of law. The commissioner shall post each such policy or 1019 
procedure on the department's Internet web site, and submit such policy 1020 
or procedure to the Secretary of the State for posting on the eRegulations 1021 
System, at least fifteen days prior to the effective date of such policy or 1022 
procedure. Any such policy or procedure shall no longer be effective 1023 
upon the earlier of either the adoption of such policy or procedure as a 1024 
final regulation pursuant to section 4-172 or June 30, 2027, if such 1025 
regulations have not been submitted to the legislative regulation review 1026 
committee for consideration under section 4-170. At a minimum, such 1027 
policies, procedures and regulations shall require that each 1028 
manufacturer hemp product be: 1029 
(1) Labeled in a manner that indicates that such manufacturer hemp 1030 
product is (A) a manufacturer hemp product, (B) subject to different 1031 
testing standards than cannabis, and (C) not cannabis or a cannabis 1032 
product; and 1033 
(2) Stored separately from cannabis and cannabis products and 1034  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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displayed with signage approved by the department. 1035 
Sec. 18. Section 21a-420s of the general statutes is repealed and the 1036 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 1037 
(a) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may issue or renew a 1038 
license for a hybrid retailer. No person may act as a hybrid retailer or 1039 
represent that such person is a hybrid retailer unless such person has 1040 
obtained a license from the department pursuant to this section. 1041 
(b) A hybrid retailer may obtain cannabis from a cultivator, micro-1042 
cultivator, producer, product packager, food and beverage 1043 
manufacturer, product manufacturer or transporter. In addition to the 1044 
activities authorized under section 21a-420t, a hybrid retailer may sell, 1045 
transport or transfer cannabis to a delivery service, laboratory or 1046 
research program. A hybrid retailer may sell cannabis products to a 1047 
consumer or research program. A hybrid retailer shall not gift or 1048 
transfer cannabis at no cost to a consumer, qualifying patient or 1049 
caregiver as part of a commercial transaction. 1050 
(c) In addition to conducting general retail sales, a hybrid retailer may 1051 
sell cannabis and medical marijuana products, to qualifying patients 1052 
and caregivers. Any cannabis or medical marijuana products sold to 1053 
qualifying patients and caregivers shall be dispensed by a licensed 1054 
pharmacist and shall be recorded in the electronic prescription drug 1055 
monitoring program, established pursuant to section 21a-254, in real-1056 
time or immediately upon completion of the transaction, unless not 1057 
reasonably feasible for a specific transaction, but in no case longer than 1058 
one hour after completion of the transaction. Only a licensed pharmacist 1059 
or dispensary technician may upload or access data in the prescription 1060 
drug monitoring program. 1061 
(d) A hybrid retailer shall maintain a licensed pharmacist on premises 1062 
at all times when the hybrid retail location is open to the public or to 1063 
qualifying patients and caregivers. 1064 
(e) The hybrid retailer location shall include a private consultation 1065  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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space for pharmacists to meet with qualifying patients and caregivers. 1066 
Additionally, the hybrid retailer premises shall accommodate an 1067 
expedited method of entry that allows for priority entrance into the 1068 
premises for qualifying patients and caregivers. 1069 
(f) Hybrid retailers shall maintain a secure location, in a manner 1070 
approved by the commissioner, at the licensee's premises where 1071 
cannabis that is unable to be delivered may be returned to the hybrid 1072 
retailer. Such secure cannabis return location shall meet specifications 1073 
set forth by the commissioner and published on the department's 1074 
Internet web site or included in regulations adopted by the department. 1075 
(g) Cannabis dispensed to a qualifying patient or caregiver that are 1076 
unable to be delivered and are returned by the delivery service to the 1077 
hybrid retailer shall be returned to the licensee inventory system and 1078 
removed from the prescription drug monitoring program not later than 1079 
forty-eight hours after receipt of the cannabis from the delivery service. 1080 
(h) A hybrid retailer may not convert its license to a retailer license. 1081 
To obtain a retailer license, a hybrid retailer shall apply through the 1082 
lottery application process. A hybrid retailer may convert to a 1083 
dispensary facility if the hybrid retailer complies with all applicable 1084 
provisions of chapter 420f, and upon written approval by the 1085 
department. 1086 
(i) Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 4-168 to 4-172, 1087 
inclusive, in order to effectuate the purposes of this section and protect 1088 
public health and safety, the commissioner, prior to amending any 1089 
regulations adopted pursuant to chapter 54 to implement the provisions 1090 
of this section, shall issue policies and procedures to implement the 1091 
provisions of this section, which policies and procedures shall have the 1092 
force and effect of law. The commissioner shall post each such policy or 1093 
procedure on the department's Internet web site, and submit such policy 1094 
or procedure to the Secretary of the State for posting on the eRegulations 1095 
System, at least fifteen days prior to the effective date of such policy or 1096 
procedure. Any such policy or procedure shall no longer be effective 1097  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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upon the earlier of either the adoption of such policy or procedure as a 1098 
final regulation pursuant to section 4-172 or June 30, 2027, if such 1099 
regulations have not been submitted to the legislative regulation review 1100 
committee for consideration under section 4-170. At a minimum, such 1101 
policies, procedures and regulations shall require that each 1102 
manufacturer hemp product be: 1103 
(1) Labeled in a manner that indicates that such manufacturer hemp 1104 
product is (A) a manufacturer hemp product, (B) subject to different 1105 
testing standards than cannabis, and (C) not cannabis or a cannabis 1106 
product; and 1107 
(2) Stored separately from cannabis and cannabis products and 1108 
displayed with signage approved by the department. 1109 
Sec. 19. Subsections (b) to (i), inclusive, of section 21a-420u of the 1110 
general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1111 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 1112 
(b) Any equity joint venture created under this section shall be 1113 
created for the development of a cannabis establishment, other than a 1114 
cultivator, provided such equity joint venture is at least fifty per cent 1115 
owned and controlled by an individual or individuals who meet, or the 1116 
equity joint venture applicant is an individual who meets, the criteria 1117 
established in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision [(48)] (51) of 1118 
section 21a-420, as amended by this act. 1119 
(c) An equity joint venture applicant shall submit an application to 1120 
the Social Equity Council that may include, but need not be limited to, 1121 
evidence of business formation, ownership allocation, terms of 1122 
ownership and financing and proof of social equity status. The equity 1123 
joint venture applicant shall submit to the Social Equity Council 1124 
information including, but not limited to, the organizing documents of 1125 
the entity that outline the ownership stake of each backer, initial backer 1126 
investment and payout information to enable the council to determine 1127 
the terms of ownership. 1128  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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(d) Upon receipt of written approval of the equity joint venture by 1129 
the Social Equity Council, the equity joint venture applicant shall apply 1130 
for a license from the department in the same form as required by all 1131 
other licensees of the same license type and subject to the same fees as 1132 
required by all other licensees of the same license type. 1133 
(e) A dispensary facility, including the backers of such dispensary 1134 
facility, shall not increase its ownership in an equity joint venture in 1135 
excess of fifty per cent during the seven-year period after a license is 1136 
issued by the department [under] pursuant to this section. 1137 
(f) Equity joint ventures that are retailers or hybrid retailers that share 1138 
a common dispensary facility or dispensary facility backer owner shall 1139 
not be located within twenty miles of another commonly owned equity 1140 
joint venture. 1141 
(g) If a dispensary facility has paid the reduced conversion fee, in 1142 
accordance with subsection (a) of this section, and did not subsequently 1143 
create one equity joint venture under this section that, not later than 1144 
fourteen months after the Department of Consumer Protection 1145 
approved the dispensary facility's license conversion application under 1146 
section 21a-420t, receives a final license from the department, the 1147 
dispensary facility shall be liable for the full conversion fee of one 1148 
million dollars established in section 21a-420e, as amended by this act, 1149 
minus such paid reduced conversion fee. 1150 
(h) No dispensary facility that receives approval to convert the 1151 
dispensary facility's license to a hybrid-retailer license under section 1152 
21a-420t shall create more than two equity joint ventures. No such 1153 
dispensary facility shall apply for, or create, any additional equity joint 1154 
venture if [, on the effective date of this section,] such dispensary facility 1155 
has created at least two equity joint ventures that have each received a 1156 
provisional license. 1157 
(i) An equity joint venture applicant shall pay fifty per cent of the 1158 
amount of any applicable fee specified in subsection [(c)] (d) of section 1159  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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21a-420e, as amended by this act, for the first three renewal cycles of the 1160 
applicable cannabis establishment license applied for, and shall pay the 1161 
full amount of such fee thereafter. 1162 
Sec. 20. Section 21a-421f of the general statutes is repealed and the 1163 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 1164 
(a) The Social Equity Council, in coordination with the Departments 1165 
of Consumer Protection and Economic and Community Development, 1166 
shall develop a cannabis business accelerator program to provide 1167 
technical assistance to participants by partnering participants with a 1168 
cannabis establishment. The Social Equity Council may partner with a 1169 
constituent unit of the state system of higher education in developing 1170 
the program. 1171 
(b) Any individual who would qualify as a social equity applicant 1172 
may apply to participate in the accelerator program under this section. 1173 
(c) [On and after October 1, 2021, the] The Social Equity Council may 1174 
accept applications from an individual described in subsection (b) of this 1175 
section for the component of the accelerator program corresponding to 1176 
each of the following license types: (1) Retailer, (2) cultivator, (3) product 1177 
manufacturer, (4) food and beverage manufacturer, and (5) product 1178 
packager. 1179 
(d) [On and after July 1, 2022, the] The council may accept 1180 
applications from (1) retailers, (2) cultivators, (3) product 1181 
manufacturers, (4) food and beverage manufacturers, (5) product 1182 
packagers, (6) hybrid-retailers, and (7) micro-cultivators, licensed 1183 
pursuant to section 21a-420e, as amended by this act, to partner with 1184 
participants in the accelerator program component corresponding to the 1185 
same license type, provided an accelerator retailer participant may be 1186 
partnered with either a retailer or hybrid retailer and an accelerator 1187 
cultivator participant may be partnered with either a cultivator or 1188 
micro-cultivator. 1189 
(e) As part of the cannabis business accelerator program, accelerator 1190  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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participants may be required to participate in training on accounting 1191 
methods, business services, how to access capital markets and financing 1192 
opportunities and on regulatory compliance. Social equity applicants 1193 
who have been awarded either a provisional license or a final license for 1194 
a cannabis establishment may participate in the training programs made 1195 
available under this section. 1196 
(f) The Social Equity Council shall facilitate opportunities for 1197 
participants in the cannabis business accelerator program to meet with 1198 
potential investors. 1199 
(g) A participant who has partnered with a cannabis establishment 1200 
pursuant to subsection (d) of this section shall be allowed to participate 1201 
in any activity of the cannabis establishment with the same privileges 1202 
afforded by the cannabis establishment's license to employees of such 1203 
cannabis establishment. 1204 
(h) Each participant shall annually apply for and obtain a registration, 1205 
on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, prior to 1206 
participating in any activity of a cannabis establishment. The Social 1207 
Equity Council may charge a registration fee to participants. 1208 
(i) The Social Equity Council may determine the duration of the 1209 
program and number of participants under this section. 1210 
Sec. 21. Section 22-61n of the general statutes is repealed and the 1211 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2023): 1212 
(a) As used in this section: [, "producer", "cultivator", "micro-1213 
cultivator", "product manufacturer", "hybrid retailer" and "retailer" have 1214 
the same meanings as provided in section 21a-420; and "hemp" and 1215 
"hemp products" have the same meanings as provided in section 22-61l.] 1216 
(1) "Cultivator" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-420, 1217 
as amended by this act; 1218 
(2) "Dispensary facility" has the same meaning as provided in section 1219  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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21a-420, as amended by this act; 1220 
(3) "Hemp" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-61l; 1221 
(4) "Hemp products" has the same meaning as provided in section 22-1222 
61l; 1223 
(5) "Hybrid retailer" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-1224 
420, as amended by this act; 1225 
(6) "Micro-cultivator" has the same meaning as provided in section 1226 
21a-420, as amended by this act; 1227 
(7) "Producer" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-420, 1228 
as amended by this act; 1229 
(8) "Producer hemp product" has the same meaning as provided in 1230 
section 22-61l; 1231 
(9) "Product manufacturer" has the same meaning as provided in 1232 
section 21a-420, as amended by this act; and 1233 
(10) "Retailer" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-420, 1234 
as amended by this act. 1235 
(b) Any producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator and product 1236 
manufacturer may manufacture, market, cultivate or store hemp and 1237 
hemp products in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and 1238 
any regulations adopted [under] pursuant to said chapter, except that a 1239 
producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator and product manufacturer may 1240 
obtain hemp and hemp products from a person authorized under the 1241 
laws of this state or another state, territory or possession of the United 1242 
States or another sovereign entity to possess and sell such hemp and 1243 
hemp products. 1244 
(c) Hemp or hemp products purchased by a producer, cultivator, 1245 
micro-cultivator or product manufacturer from a third party shall be 1246 
tracked as a separate batch throughout the manufacturing process in 1247  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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order to document the disposition of such hemp or hemp products. 1248 
Once hemp or hemp products are received by a producer, cultivator, 1249 
micro-cultivator or product manufacturer, such hemp or hemp products 1250 
shall be deemed cannabis and shall comply with the requirements for 1251 
cannabis contained in the applicable provisions of the general statutes 1252 
and any regulations adopted [under] pursuant to such provisions. A 1253 
producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator and product manufacturer shall 1254 
retain a copy of the certificate of analysis for purchased hemp or hemp 1255 
products and invoice and transport documents that evidence the 1256 
quantity purchased and date received. 1257 
(d) No hemp or producer hemp [products shall] product may be 1258 
dispensed, sold or distributed within a dispensary facility that is 1259 
licensed [under] pursuant to chapter 420f or the business premises of a 1260 
retailer or hybrid retailer. [or a retailer.] 1261 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 July 1, 2023 21a-420 
Sec. 2 July 1, 2023 New section 
Sec. 3 July 1, 2023 New section 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2023 21a-278b(a) 
Sec. 5 July 1, 2023 21a-408 
Sec. 6 July 1, 2023 21a-408h 
Sec. 7 July 1, 2023 21a-409 
Sec. 8 July 1, 2023 21a-420b(d) and (e) 
Sec. 9 July 1, 2023 21a-420d(k) 
Sec. 10 July 1, 2023 21a-420e 
Sec. 11 July 1, 2023 21a-420f(a) and (b) 
Sec. 12 July 1, 2023 21a-420j(f) 
Sec. 13 July 1, 2023 21a-420m(b) to (i) 
Sec. 14 July 1, 2023 21a-420n(b) 
Sec. 15 July 1, 2023 21a-420p(c) 
Sec. 16 July 1, 2023 21a-420q 
Sec. 17 July 1, 2023 21a-420r 
Sec. 18 July 1, 2023 21a-420s 
Sec. 19 July 1, 2023 21a-420u(b) to (i)  Substitute Bill No. 6700 
 
 
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Sec. 20 July 1, 2023 21a-421f 
Sec. 21 July 1, 2023 22-61n 
 
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:   
Section 1(1) was rewritten for consistency with standard drafting 
conventions and accuracy; in Section 4(a), "420f or" was changed to 
"420f, [or]" and "[or] as amended by this act," was changed to "as 
amended by this act, or" for consistency with standard drafting 
conventions; in Sections 5(3)(A) and (B), "who is" was added for clarity; 
in Sections 8(d) and (e), "53-247a and" was changed to "53-247a, [and]" 
for consistency with standard drafting conventions; and in Section 9(k), 
"section 21a-420j" was changed to "[section] 21a-420j" and "or" was 
unbracketed for consistency with standard drafting conventions. 
 
GL Joint Favorable Subst.