Connecticut House Bill HB05150 Comm Sub / Bill

                     
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 5150  
February Session, 2024 
 
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING CANNABIS AND HEMP REGULATION.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Subsection (a) of section 21a-8a of the general statutes is 1 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2 
2024): 3 
(a) There is established an account to be known as the "consumer 4 
protection enforcement account". The account may contain any moneys 5 
required by law to be deposited in the account. Any balance remaining 6 
in the account at the end of any fiscal year shall be carried forward in 7 
the account for the fiscal year next succeeding. The account shall be used 8 
by the Department of Consumer Protection to (1) fund positions and 9 
other related expenses for the enforcement of Department of Consumer 10 
Protection licensing and registration laws, and (2) protect public health 11 
and safety, educate consumers and licensees and ensure compliance 12 
with cannabis and liquor control laws, as set forth in sections 10 and 31 13 
of this act. 14 
Sec. 2. Section 21a-240 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 15 
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 16 
1, 2024): 17 
The following words and phrases, as used in this chapter, shall have 18  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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the following meanings, unless the context otherwise requires: 19 
(1) "Abuse of drugs" means the use of controlled substances solely for 20 
their stimulant, depressant or hallucinogenic effect upon the higher 21 
functions of the central nervous system and not as a therapeutic agent 22 
prescribed in the course of medical treatment or in a program of 23 
research operated under the direction of a physician or pharmacologist. 24 
(2) "Administer" means the direct application of a controlled 25 
substance, whether by injection, inhalation, ingestion or any other 26 
means, to the body of a patient or research subject by: (A) A practitioner, 27 
or, in the practitioner's presence, by the practitioner's authorized agent; 28 
[, or] (B) the patient or research subject at the direction and in the 29 
presence of the practitioner; [,] or (C) a nurse or intern under the 30 
direction and supervision of a practitioner. 31 
(3) "Agent" means an authorized person who acts on behalf of or at 32 
the direction of a manufacturer, distributor, dispenser or prescribing 33 
practitioner, but does not include a common or contract carrier, public 34 
warehouseman [,] or employee of the carrier or warehouseman. 35 
(4) "Amphetamine-type substances" include amphetamine, optical 36 
isomers thereof, salts of amphetamine and its isomers, and chemical 37 
compounds which are similar thereto in chemical structure or which are 38 
similar thereto in physiological effect, and which show a like potential 39 
for abuse, which are controlled substances under this chapter unless 40 
modified. 41 
(5) "Barbiturate-type drugs" include barbituric acid and its salts, 42 
derivatives thereof and chemical compounds which are similar thereto 43 
in chemical structure or which are similar thereto in physiological effect, 44 
and which show a like potential for abuse, which are controlled 45 
substances under this chapter unless modified. 46 
(6) "Bureau" means the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, 47 
United States Department of Justice, or its successor agency. 48  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(7) "Cannabis-type substances" include all parts of any plant, or 49 
species of the genus cannabis or any infra specific taxon thereof whether 50 
growing or not; the seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of 51 
such a plant; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, 52 
mixture or preparation of such plant, its seeds or resin; but shall not 53 
include the mature stalks of such plant, fiber produced from such stalks, 54 
oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any other compound, 55 
manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such mature 56 
stalks, except the resin extracted therefrom, fiber, oil or cake, the 57 
sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination, or hemp, 58 
as defined in 7 USC 1639o, as amended from time to time. Included are 59 
cannabinon, cannabinol, cannabidiol and chemical compounds which 60 
are similar to cannabinon, cannabinol or cannabidiol in chemical 61 
structure or which are similar thereto in physiological effect, and which 62 
show a like potential for abuse, which are controlled substances under 63 
this chapter unless derived from hemp, as defined in section 22-61l. 64 
(8) "Controlled drugs" are those drugs which contain any quantity of 65 
a substance which has been designated as subject to the federal 66 
Controlled Substances Act, or which has been designated as a 67 
depressant or stimulant drug pursuant to federal food and drug laws, 68 
or which has been designated by the Commissioner of Consumer 69 
Protection pursuant to section 21a-243, as having a stimulant, 70 
depressant or hallucinogenic effect upon the higher functions of the 71 
central nervous system and as having a tendency to promote abuse or 72 
psychological or physiological dependence, or both. Such controlled 73 
drugs are classifiable as amphetamine-type, barbiturate-type, cannabis-74 
type, cocaine-type, hallucinogenic, morphine-type and other stimulant 75 
and depressant drugs. Specifically excluded from controlled drugs and 76 
controlled substances are alcohol, nicotine and caffeine. 77 
(9) "Controlled substance" means a drug, substance [,] or immediate 78 
precursor in schedules I to V, inclusive, of the Connecticut controlled 79 
substance scheduling regulations adopted pursuant to section 21a-243. 80 
(10) "Counterfeit substance" means a controlled substance which, or 81  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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the container or labeling of which, without authorization, bears the 82 
trademark, trade name or other identifying mark, imprint, number or 83 
device, or any likeness thereof, of a manufacturer, distributor or 84 
dispenser other than the person who in fact manufactured, distributed 85 
or dispensed the substance. 86 
(11) "Deliver or delivery" means the actual, constructive or attempted 87 
transfer from one person to another of a controlled substance, whether 88 
or not there is an agency relationship. 89 
(12) "Dentist" means a person authorized by law to practice dentistry 90 
in this state. 91 
(13) "Dispense" means to deliver a controlled substance to an ultimate 92 
user or research subject by or pursuant to the lawful order of a 93 
practitioner, including the prescribing, administering, packaging, 94 
labeling or compounding necessary to prepare the substance for the 95 
delivery. 96 
(14) "Dispenser" means a practitioner who dispenses. 97 
(15) "Distribute" means to deliver other than by administering or 98 
dispensing a controlled substance. 99 
(16) "Distributor" means a person who distributes and includes a 100 
wholesaler who is a person supplying or distributing controlled drugs 101 
which the person personally has not produced or prepared to hospitals, 102 
clinics, practitioners, pharmacies, other wholesalers, manufacturers and 103 
federal, state and municipal agencies. 104 
(17) "Drug" means: (A) [substances] Substances recognized as drugs 105 
in the official United States Pharmacopoeia, official Homeopathic 106 
Pharmacopoeia of the United States, or official National Formulary, or 107 
any supplement to any of them; (B) substances intended for use in the 108 
diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or prevention of disease in man 109 
or animals; (C) substances, other than food, intended to affect the 110 
structure or any function of the body of man or animals; and (D) 111  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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substances intended for use as a component of any article specified in 112 
subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision. [It] "Drug" does not 113 
include devices or their components, parts or accessories. 114 
(18) "Drug dependence" means a psychoactive substance dependence 115 
on drugs as that condition is defined in the most recent edition of the 116 
"Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders" of the American 117 
Psychiatric Association. 118 
(19) "Drug-dependent person" means a person who has a 119 
psychoactive substance dependence on drugs as that condition is 120 
defined in the most recent edition of the "Diagnostic and Statistical 121 
Manual of Mental Disorders" of the American Psychiatric Association. 122 
(20) (A) "Drug paraphernalia" means equipment, products and 123 
materials of any kind that are used, intended for use or designed for use 124 
in planting, propagating, cultivating, growing, harvesting, 125 
manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing, 126 
preparing, testing, analyzing, packaging, repackaging, storing, 127 
containing or concealing, or ingesting, inhaling or otherwise 128 
introducing into the human body, any controlled substance contrary to 129 
the provisions of this chapter, including, but not limited to: (i) Kits 130 
intended for use or designed for use in planting, propagating, 131 
cultivating, growing or harvesting of any species of plant that is a 132 
controlled substance or from which a controlled substance can be 133 
derived; (ii) kits used, intended for use or designed for use in 134 
manufacturing, compounding, converting, producing, processing or 135 
preparing controlled substances; (iii) isomerization devices used or 136 
intended for use in increasing the potency of any species of plant that is 137 
a controlled substance; (iv) testing equipment used, intended for use or 138 
designed for use in identifying or analyzing the strength, effectiveness 139 
or purity of controlled substances; (v) dilutents and adulterants, 140 
including, but not limited to, quinine hydrochloride, mannitol, mannite, 141 
dextrose and lactose used, intended for use or designed for use in 142 
cutting controlled substances; (vi) separation gins and sifters used, 143 
intended for use or designed for use in removing twigs and seeds from, 144  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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or in otherwise cleaning or refining, marijuana; (vii) capsules and other 145 
containers used, intended for use or designed for use in packaging small 146 
quantities of controlled substances; (viii) containers and other objects 147 
used, intended for use or designed for use in storing or concealing 148 
controlled substances; and (ix) objects used, intended for use or 149 
designed for use in ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing 150 
marijuana, cocaine, hashish [,] or hashish oil into the human body, 151 
including, but not limited to, wooden, acrylic, glass, stone, plastic or 152 
ceramic pipes with screens, permanent screens, hashish heads or 153 
punctured metal bowls; water pipes; carburetion tubes and devices; 154 
smoking and carburetion masks; roach clips; miniature cocaine spoons 155 
and cocaine vials; chamber pipes; carburetor pipes; electric pipes; air-156 
driven pipes; chillums; bongs; ice pipes and chillers. "Drug 157 
paraphernalia" does not include a product used by a manufacturer 158 
licensed pursuant to this chapter for the activities permitted under the 159 
license or by an individual to test any substance prior to injection, 160 
inhalation or ingestion of the substance to prevent accidental overdose 161 
by injection, inhalation or ingestion of the substance, provided the 162 
licensed manufacturer or individual is not using the product to engage 163 
in the unlicensed manufacturing or distribution of controlled 164 
substances. As used in this subdivision, "roach clip" means an object 165 
used to hold burning material, including, but not limited to, a marijuana 166 
cigarette, that has become too small or too short to be held between the 167 
fingers. 168 
(B) "Factory" means any place used for the manufacturing, mixing, 169 
compounding, refining, processing, packaging, distributing, storing, 170 
keeping, holding, administering or assembling illegal substances 171 
contrary to the provisions of this chapter, or any building, rooms or 172 
location which contains equipment or paraphernalia used for this 173 
purpose. 174 
(21) "Federal Controlled Substances Act, 21 USC 801 et seq." means 175 
Public Law 91-513, the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and 176 
Control Act of 1970. 177  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(22) "Federal food and drug laws" means the federal Food, Drug and 178 
Cosmetic Act, as amended, Title 21 USC 301 et seq. 179 
(23) "Hallucinogenic substances" are psychodysleptic substances, 180 
other than cannabis-type substances, which assert a confusional or 181 
disorganizing effect upon mental processes or behavior and mimic 182 
acute psychotic disturbances. Exemplary of such drugs are mescaline, 183 
peyote, psilocyn and d-lysergic acid diethylamide, which are controlled 184 
substances under this chapter unless modified. 185 
(24) "Hospital", as used in sections 21a-243 to 21a-283, inclusive, 186 
means an institution for the care and treatment of the sick and injured, 187 
approved by the Department of Public Health or the Department of 188 
Mental Health and Addiction Services as proper to be entrusted with 189 
the custody of controlled drugs and substances and professional use of 190 
controlled drugs and substances under the direction of a licensed 191 
practitioner. 192 
(25) "Intern" means a person who holds a degree of doctor of 193 
medicine or doctor of dental surgery or medicine and whose period of 194 
service has been recorded with the Department of Public Health and 195 
who has been accepted and is participating in training by a hospital or 196 
institution in this state. Doctors meeting the foregoing requirements and 197 
commonly designated as "residents" and "fellows" shall be regarded as 198 
interns for purposes of this chapter. 199 
(26) "Immediate precursor" means a substance which the 200 
Commissioner of Consumer Protection has found to be, and by 201 
regulation designates as being, the principal compound commonly used 202 
or produced primarily for use, and which is an immediate chemical 203 
intermediary used or likely to be used, in the manufacture of a 204 
controlled substance, the control of which is necessary to prevent, curtail 205 
or limit manufacture. 206 
(27) "Laboratory" means a laboratory approved by the Department of 207 
Consumer Protection as proper to be entrusted with the custody of 208 
controlled substances and the use of controlled substances for scientific 209  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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and medical purposes and for purposes of instruction, research or 210 
analysis. 211 
(28) "Manufacture" means the production, preparation, cultivation, 212 
growing, propagation, compounding, conversion or processing of a 213 
controlled substance, either directly or indirectly by extraction from 214 
substances of natural origin, or independently by means of chemical 215 
synthesis, or by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis, and 216 
includes any packaging or repackaging of the substance or labeling or 217 
relabeling of its container, except that this term does not include the 218 
preparation or compounding of a controlled substance by an individual 219 
for the individual's own use or the preparation, compounding, 220 
packaging or labeling of a controlled substance: (A) By a practitioner as 221 
an incident to the practitioner administering or dispensing of a 222 
controlled substance in the course of such practitioner's professional 223 
practice; [,] or (B) by a practitioner, or by the practitioner's authorized 224 
agent under such practitioner's supervision, for the purpose of, or as an 225 
incident to, research, teaching or chemical analysis and not for sale. 226 
(29) "Marijuana" means all parts of any plant, or species of the genus 227 
cannabis or any infra specific taxon thereof, whether growing or not; the 228 
seeds thereof; the resin extracted from any part of the plant; every 229 
compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture [,] or preparation of 230 
such plant, or its [seeds or] resin; [,] any high-THC hemp product; 231 
manufactured cannabinoids, synthetic cannabinoids, except as 232 
provided in subparagraph (E) of this subdivision; or cannabinon, 233 
cannabinol or cannabidiol and chemical compounds which are similar 234 
to cannabinon, cannabinol or cannabidiol in chemical structure or which 235 
are similar thereto in physiological effect, which are controlled 236 
substances under this chapter, except cannabidiol derived from hemp, 237 
as defined in section 22-61l, that is not a high-THC hemp product. 238 
"Marijuana" does not include: (A) The mature stalks of such plant, fiber 239 
produced from such stalks, oil or cake made from the seeds of such 240 
plant, any other compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or 241 
preparation of such mature stalks, except the resin extracted from such 242 
mature stalks or fiber, oil or cake; (B) the sterilized seed of such plant 243  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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which is incapable of germination; (C) hemp, as defined in section 22-244 
61l, (i) with a total THC concentration of not more than three-tenths per 245 
cent on a dry-weight basis, and (ii) that is not a high-THC hemp product; 246 
(D) any substance approved by the federal Food and Drug 247 
Administration or successor agency as a drug and reclassified in any 248 
schedule of controlled substances or unscheduled by the federal Drug 249 
Enforcement Administration or successor agency which is included in 250 
the same schedule designated by the federal Drug Enforcement 251 
Administration or successor agency; [or] (E) synthetic cannabinoids 252 
which are controlled substances that are designated by the 253 
Commissioner of Consumer Protection, by whatever official, common, 254 
usual, chemical or trade name designation, as controlled substances and 255 
are classified in the appropriate schedule in accordance with 256 
subsections (i) and (j) of section 21a-243; or (F) infused beverages, as 257 
defined in section 21a-420, as amended by this act. 258 
(30) "Narcotic substance" means any of the following, whether 259 
produced directly or indirectly by extraction from a substance of 260 
vegetable origin, or independently by means of chemical synthesis, or 261 
by a combination of extraction and chemical synthesis: (A) Morphine-262 
type: (i) Opium or opiate, or any salt, compound, derivative, or 263 
preparation of opium or opiate which is similar to any such substance 264 
in chemical structure or which is similar to any such substance in 265 
physiological effect and which shows a like potential for abuse, which 266 
is a controlled substance under this chapter unless modified; (ii) any 267 
salt, compound, isomer, derivative, or preparation of any such 268 
substance which is chemically equivalent or identical to any substance 269 
referred to in clause (i) of this [subdivision] subparagraph, but not 270 
including the isoquinoline alkaloids of opium; (iii) opium poppy or 271 
poppy straw; or (iv) (I) fentanyl or any salt, compound, derivative or 272 
preparation of fentanyl which is similar to any such substance in 273 
chemical structure or which is similar to any such substance in 274 
physiological effect and which shows a like potential for abuse, which 275 
is a controlled substance under this chapter unless modified, or (II) any 276 
salt, compound, isomer, derivative or preparation of any such substance 277  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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which is chemically equivalent or identical to any substance referred to 278 
in subclause (I) of this clause; or (B) cocaine-type; coca leaves or any salt, 279 
compound, derivative or preparation of coca leaves, or any salt, 280 
compound, isomer, derivatives or preparation of any such substance 281 
which is chemically equivalent or identical to any such substance or 282 
which is similar to any such substance in physiological effect and which 283 
shows a like potential for abuse, but not including decocainized coca 284 
leaves or extractions of coca leaves which do not contain cocaine or 285 
ecgonine. 286 
(31) "Nurse" means a person performing nursing as defined in section 287 
20-87a. 288 
(32) "Official written order" means an order for controlled substances 289 
written on a form provided by the bureau for that purpose under the 290 
federal Controlled Substances Act. 291 
(33) "Opiate" means any substance having an addiction-forming or 292 
addiction-sustaining liability similar to morphine or being capable of 293 
conversion into a drug having addiction-forming or addiction-294 
sustaining liability; it does not include, unless specifically designated as 295 
controlled under this chapter, the dextrorotatory isomer of 3-methoxy-296 
n-methylmorthinan and its salts (dextro-methorphan) but shall include 297 
its racemic and levorotatory forms. 298 
(34) "Opium poppy" means the plant of the species papaver 299 
somniferum l., except its seed. 300 
(35) Repealed by P.A. 99-102, S. 51. 301 
(36) "Other stimulant and depressant drugs" means controlled 302 
substances other than amphetamine-type, barbiturate-type, cannabis-303 
type, cocaine-type, hallucinogenics and morphine-type which are found 304 
to exert a stimulant and depressant effect upon the higher functions of 305 
the central nervous system and which are found to have a potential for 306 
abuse and are controlled substances under this chapter. 307  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(37) "Person" includes any corporation, limited liability company, 308 
association or partnership, or one or more individuals, government or 309 
governmental subdivisions or agency, business trust, estate, trust, or 310 
any other legal entity. Words importing the plural number may include 311 
the singular; words importing the masculine gender may be applied to 312 
females. 313 
(38) "Pharmacist" means a person authorized by law to practice 314 
pharmacy pursuant to section 20-590, 20-591, 20-592 or 20-593. 315 
(39) "Pharmacy" means an establishment licensed pursuant to section 316 
20-594. 317 
(40) "Physician" means a person authorized by law to practice 318 
medicine in this state pursuant to section 20-9. 319 
(41) "Podiatrist" means a person authorized by law to practice 320 
podiatry in this state. 321 
(42) "Poppy straw" means all parts, except the seeds, of the opium 322 
poppy, after mowing. 323 
(43) "Practitioner" means: (A) A physician, dentist, veterinarian, 324 
podiatrist, scientific investigator or other person licensed, registered or 325 
otherwise permitted to distribute, dispense, conduct research with 326 
respect to or to administer a controlled substance in the course of 327 
professional practice or research in this state; and (B) a pharmacy, 328 
hospital or other institution licensed, registered or otherwise permitted 329 
to distribute, dispense, conduct research with respect to or to administer 330 
a controlled substance in the course of professional practice or research 331 
in this state. 332 
(44) "Prescribe" means order or designate a remedy or any 333 
preparation containing controlled substances. 334 
(45) "Prescription" means a written, oral or electronic order for any 335 
controlled substance or preparation from a licensed practitioner to a 336 
pharmacist for a patient. 337  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(46) "Production" includes the manufacture, planting, cultivation, 338 
growing or harvesting of a controlled substance. 339 
(47) "Registrant" means any person licensed by this state and 340 
assigned a current federal Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drug 341 
Registry Number as provided under the federal Controlled Substances 342 
Act. 343 
(48) "Registry number" means the alphabetical or numerical 344 
designation of identification assigned to a person by the federal Drug 345 
Enforcement Administration, or other federal agency, which is 346 
commonly known as the federal registry number. 347 
(49) "Restricted drugs or substances" are the following substances 348 
without limitation and for all purposes: Datura stramonium; 349 
hyoscyamus niger; atropa belladonna, or the alkaloids atropine; 350 
hyoscyamine; belladonnine; apatropine; or any mixture of these 351 
alkaloids such as daturine, or the synthetic homatropine or any salts of 352 
these alkaloids, except that any drug or preparation containing any of 353 
the above-mentioned substances which is permitted by federal food and 354 
drug laws to be sold or dispensed without a prescription or written 355 
order shall not be a controlled substance; amyl nitrite; the following 356 
volatile substances to the extent that said chemical substances or 357 
compounds containing said chemical substances are sold, prescribed, 358 
dispensed, compounded, possessed or controlled or delivered or 359 
administered to another person with the purpose that said chemical 360 
substances shall be breathed, inhaled, sniffed or drunk to induce a 361 
stimulant, depressant or hallucinogenic effect upon the higher functions 362 
of the central nervous system: Acetone; benzene; butyl alcohol; butyl 363 
nitrate and its salts, isomers, esters, ethers or their salts; cyclohexanone; 364 
dichlorodifluoromethane; ether; ethyl acetate; formaldehyde; hexane; 365 
isopropanol; methanol; methyl cellosolve acetate; methyl ethyl ketone; 366 
methyl isobutyl ketone; nitrous oxide; pentochlorophenol; toluene; 367 
toluol; trichloroethane; trichloroethylene; 1,4 butanediol. 368 
(50) "Sale" is any form of delivery which includes barter, exchange or 369  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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gift, or offer therefor, and each such transaction made by any person 370 
whether as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee. 371 
(51) "State", when applied to a part of the United States, includes any 372 
state, district, commonwealth, territory or insular possession thereof, 373 
and any area subject to the legal authority of the United States of 374 
America. 375 
(52) "State food, drug and cosmetic laws" means the Uniform Food, 376 
Drug and Cosmetic Act, section 21a-91 et seq. 377 
(53) "Ultimate user" means a person who lawfully possesses a 378 
controlled substance for the person's own use or for the use of a member 379 
of such person's household or for administering to an animal owned by 380 
such person or by a member of such person's household. 381 
(54) "Veterinarian" means a person authorized by law to practice 382 
veterinary medicine in this state. 383 
(55) "Wholesaler" means a distributor or a person who supplies 384 
controlled substances that the person personally has not produced or 385 
prepared to registrants. 386 
(56) "Reasonable times" means the time or times any office, care-387 
giving institution, pharmacy, clinic, wholesaler, manufacturer, 388 
laboratory, warehouse, establishment, store or place of business, vehicle 389 
or other place is open for the normal affairs or business or the practice 390 
activities usually conducted by the registrant. 391 
(57) "Unit dose drug distribution system" means a drug distribution 392 
system used in a hospital or chronic and convalescent nursing home in 393 
which drugs are supplied in individually labeled unit of use packages, 394 
each patient's supply of drugs is exchanged between the hospital 395 
pharmacy and the drug administration area or, in the case of a chronic 396 
and convalescent nursing home between a pharmacy and the drug 397 
administration area, at least once each twenty-four hours and each 398 
patient's medication supply for this period is stored within a patient-399  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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specific container, all of which is conducted under the direction of a 400 
pharmacist licensed in Connecticut and, in the case of a hospital, directly 401 
involved in the provision and supervision of pharmaceutical services at 402 
such hospital at least thirty-five hours each week. 403 
(58) "Cocaine in a free-base form" means any substance which 404 
contains cocaine, or any compound, isomer, derivative or preparation 405 
thereof, in a nonsalt form. 406 
(59) "THC" means tetrahydrocannabinol, including, but not limited 407 
to, delta-7, delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol 408 
and delta-10-tetrahydrocannabinol, and any material, compound, 409 
mixture or preparation which contain their salts, isomers and salts of 410 
isomers, whenever the existence of such salts, isomers and salts of 411 
isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation, regardless 412 
of the source, except: (A) Dronabinol substituted in sesame oil and 413 
encapsulated in a soft gelatin capsule in a federal Food and Drug 414 
Administration or successor agency approved product; [,] or (B) any 415 
tetrahydrocannabinol product that has been approved by the federal 416 
Food and Drug Administration or successor agency to have a medical 417 
use and reclassified in any schedule of controlled substances or 418 
unscheduled by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration or 419 
successor agency. 420 
(60) "Total THC" means the sum of the percentage by weight of 421 
tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, multiplied by eight hundred seventy-422 
seven-thousandths, plus the percentage of weight of THC. 423 
(61) "Manufactured cannabinoid" means cannabinoids naturally 424 
occurring from a source other than marijuana that are similar in 425 
chemical structure or physiological effect to cannabinoids derived from 426 
marijuana, as defined in section 21a-243, but are derived by a chemical 427 
or biological process. 428 
(62) "Synthetic cannabinoid" means any material, compound, mixture 429 
or preparation which contains any quantity of a substance having a 430 
psychotropic response primarily by agonist activity at cannabinoid-431  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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specific receptors affecting the central nervous system that is produced 432 
artificially and not derived from an organic source naturally containing 433 
cannabinoids, unless listed in another schedule pursuant to section 21a-434 
243. 435 
(63) "High-THC hemp product" (A) means a manufacturer hemp 436 
product, as defined in section 22-61l, that has, or is advertised, labeled 437 
or offered for sale as having, total THC that exceeds [(A) for a hemp 438 
edible, hemp topical or hemp transdermal patch (i) one milligram on a 439 
per-serving basis, or (ii) five milligrams on a per-container basis, (B) for 440 
a hemp tincture, including, but not limited to, oil intended for ingestion 441 
by swallowing, buccal administration or sublingual absorption (i) one 442 
milligram on a per-serving basis, or (ii) twenty-five milligrams on a per-443 
container basis, (C) for a hemp concentrate or extract, including, but not 444 
limited to, a vape oil, wax or shatter, twenty-five milligrams on a per-445 
container basis, or (D) for a manufacturer hemp product not described 446 
in subparagraph (A), (B) or (C) of this subdivision, (i) one milligram on 447 
a per-serving basis, (ii) five milligrams on a per-container basis, or (iii)] 448 
(i) two and one-half milligrams on a per-container basis for any 449 
manufacturer hemp product, or (ii) three-tenths per cent on a dry-450 
weight basis for cannabis flower or cannabis trim, and (B) does not 451 
include an infused beverage, as defined in section 21a-420, as amended 452 
by this act. 453 
Sec. 3. Section 21a-408 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 454 
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 455 
1, 2024): 456 
As used in this section, sections 21a-408a to 21a-408o, inclusive, [and] 457 
sections 21a-408r to 21a-408v, inclusive, and section 4 of this act, unless 458 
the context otherwise requires: 459 
(1) "Advanced practice registered nurse" means an advanced practice 460 
registered nurse licensed pursuant to chapter 378; 461 
(2) "Cannabis establishment" has the same meaning as provided in 462 
section 21a-420, as amended by this act; 463  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(3) "Cannabis testing laboratory" means a person who (A) is located 464 
in this state, (B) is licensed by the department to analyze marijuana, and 465 
(C) meets the licensure requirements established in section 21a-408r and 466 
the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (d) of section 21a-408r; 467 
(4) "Cannabis testing laboratory employee" means a person who is 468 
(A) employed at a cannabis testing laboratory, and (B) registered 469 
pursuant to section 21a-408r and the regulations adopted pursuant to 470 
subsection (d) of section 21a-408r; 471 
(5) "Caregiver" means a person, other than the qualifying patient and 472 
the qualifying patient's physician, physician assistant or advanced 473 
practice registered nurse, who is eighteen years of age or older and has 474 
agreed to undertake responsibility for managing the well-being of the 475 
qualifying patient with respect to the palliative use of marijuana, 476 
provided (A) in the case of a qualifying patient (i) under eighteen years 477 
of age and not an emancipated minor, or (ii) otherwise lacking legal 478 
capacity, such person shall be a parent, guardian or person having legal 479 
custody of such qualifying patient, and (B) in the case of a qualifying 480 
patient eighteen years of age or older or an emancipated minor, the need 481 
for such person shall be evaluated by the qualifying patient's physician, 482 
physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse and such need 483 
shall be documented in the written certification; 484 
(6) "Cultivation" includes planting, propagating, cultivating, growing 485 
and harvesting; 486 
(7) "Debilitating medical condition" means (A) cancer, glaucoma, 487 
positive status for human immunodeficiency virus or acquired immune 488 
deficiency syndrome, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to 489 
the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological 490 
indication of intractable spasticity, epilepsy or uncontrolled intractable 491 
seizure disorder, cachexia, wasting syndrome, Crohn's disease, 492 
posttraumatic stress disorder, irreversible spinal cord injury with 493 
objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, cerebral palsy, 494 
cystic fibrosis or terminal illness requiring end-of-life care, except, if the 495  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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qualifying patient is under eighteen years of age, "debilitating medical 496 
condition" means terminal illness requiring end-of-life care, irreversible 497 
spinal cord injury with objective neurological indication of intractable 498 
spasticity, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, severe epilepsy or uncontrolled 499 
intractable seizure disorder, or (B) any medical condition, medical 500 
treatment or disease approved for qualifying patients by the 501 
Department of Consumer Protection and posted online pursuant to 502 
section 21a-408l; 503 
(8) "Dispensary facility" means a place of business where marijuana 504 
may be dispensed, sold or distributed in accordance with this chapter 505 
and any regulations adopted thereunder to qualifying patients and 506 
caregivers and for which the department has issued a dispensary facility 507 
license pursuant to this chapter; 508 
(9) "Employee" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-420, 509 
as amended by this act; 510 
(10) "Institutional animal care and use committee" means a committee 511 
that oversees an organization's animal program, facilities and 512 
procedures to ensure compliance with federal policies, guidelines and 513 
principles related to the care and use of animals in research; 514 
(11) "Institutional review board" means a specifically constituted 515 
review body established or designated by an organization to protect the 516 
rights and welfare of persons recruited to participate in biomedical, 517 
behavioral or social science research; 518 
(12) "Licensed dispensary" or "dispensary" means an individual who 519 
is a licensed pharmacist employed by a dispensary facility or hybrid 520 
retailer; 521 
(13) "Marijuana" [means marijuana, as defined] has the same meaning 522 
as provided in section 21a-240, as amended by this act; 523 
(14) "Nurse" means a person who is licensed as a nurse under chapter 524 
378; 525  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(15) "Palliative use" means the acquisition, distribution, transfer, 526 
possession, use or transportation of marijuana or paraphernalia relating 527 
to marijuana, including the transfer of marijuana and paraphernalia 528 
relating to marijuana from the patient's caregiver to the qualifying 529 
patient, to alleviate a qualifying patient's symptoms of a debilitating 530 
medical condition or the effects of such symptoms, but does not include 531 
any such use of marijuana by any person other than the qualifying 532 
patient; 533 
(16) "Paraphernalia" means drug paraphernalia, as defined in section 534 
21a-240, as amended by this act; 535 
(17) "Physician" means a person who is licensed as a physician under 536 
chapter 370; 537 
(18) "Physician assistant" means a person who is licensed as a 538 
physician assistant under chapter 370; 539 
(19) "Producer" means a person who is licensed as a producer 540 
pursuant to section 21a-408i; 541 
(20) "Qualifying patient" means a person who [:] (A) [Is] is a resident 542 
of Connecticut, (B) has been diagnosed by a physician, physician 543 
assistant or advanced practice registered nurse as having a debilitating 544 
medical condition, and (C) (i) is eighteen years of age or older, (ii) is an 545 
emancipated minor, or (iii) has written consent from a custodial parent, 546 
guardian or other person having legal custody of such person that 547 
indicates that such person has permission from such parent, guardian 548 
or other person for the palliative use of marijuana for a debilitating 549 
medical condition and that such parent, guardian or other person will 550 
(I) serve as a caregiver for the qualifying patient, and (II) control the 551 
acquisition and possession of marijuana and any related paraphernalia 552 
for palliative use on behalf of such person. "Qualifying patient" does not 553 
include an inmate confined in a correctional institution or facility under 554 
the supervision of the Department of Correction; 555 
(21) "Research program" means a study approved by the Department 556  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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of Consumer Protection in accordance with this chapter and undertaken 557 
to increase information or knowledge regarding the growth or 558 
processing of marijuana, or the medical attributes, dosage forms, 559 
administration or use of marijuana to treat or alleviate symptoms of any 560 
medical conditions or the effects of such symptoms; 561 
(22) "Research program employee" means a person who (A) is 562 
registered as a research program employee under section 21a-408t, or 563 
(B) holds a temporary certificate of registration issued pursuant to 564 
section 21a-408t; 565 
(23) "Research program subject" means a person registered as a 566 
research program subject pursuant to section 21a-408v; 567 
(24) "Usable marijuana" means the dried leaves and flowers of the 568 
marijuana plant, and any mixtures or preparations of such leaves and 569 
flowers, that are appropriate for the palliative use of marijuana, but does 570 
not include the seeds, stalks and roots of the marijuana plant; and 571 
(25) "Written certification" means a written certification issued by a 572 
physician, physician assistant or advanced practice registered nurse 573 
pursuant to section 21a-408c. 574 
Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) Each cannabis establishment 575 
shall submit marijuana samples to a cannabis testing laboratory for 576 
testing as set forth in subsection (b) of this section. 577 
(b) (1) A cannabis testing laboratory shall test each marijuana sample 578 
submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this section (A) for 579 
microbiological contaminants, mycotoxins, heavy metals and pesticide 580 
chemical residue, and (B) for purposes of conducting an active 581 
ingredient analysis, if applicable. 582 
(2) Microbiological contaminant testing conducted pursuant to 583 
subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall include, but 584 
not be limited to, microbiological contaminant testing for Aspergillus 585 
species as set forth by the Department of Consumer Protection and 586  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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posted on the department's Internet web site. 587 
(c) When conducting microbiological testing as set forth in subsection 588 
(b) of this section, the marijuana sample shall be tested by using (1) a 589 
molecular method which (A) includes quantitative polymerase chain 590 
reaction, (B) is certified for identifying microbiological DNA, and (C) is 591 
approved by (i) the Association of Official Analytical Collaboration 592 
International, or (ii) a comparable national research and standard 593 
making agency designated by the Commissioner of Consumer 594 
Protection, or (2) an alternative testing method approved by the 595 
Department of Consumer Protection and posted on the department's 596 
Internet web site. 597 
(d) If a marijuana sample does not pass the testing set forth in 598 
subsection (b) of this section, the cannabis establishment that submitted 599 
such failing marijuana sample to the cannabis testing laboratory shall: 600 
(1) Repeat testing as set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of this section 601 
on the marijuana batch from which such marijuana sample was taken, 602 
in a form and manner approved by the Department of Consumer 603 
Protection. If all repeated testing yields satisfactory results, the 604 
marijuana batch from which the marijuana samples were taken shall be 605 
released for sale; 606 
(2) If such cannabis establishment submits to the Commissioner of 607 
Consumer Protection a remediation plan that is sufficient to ensure 608 
public health and safety, and the commissioner approves such 609 
remediation plan, remediate the marijuana batch from which such 610 
marijuana sample was taken and repeat all testing as set forth in 611 
subsections (a) and (b) of this section on such remediated marijuana 612 
batch, in a form and manner approved by the Department of Consumer 613 
Protection. If all repeated testing yields satisfactory results, the 614 
marijuana batch from which the marijuana samples were taken shall be 615 
released for sale; or 616 
(3) If such cannabis establishment does not comply with subdivision 617 
(1) or (2) of this subsection, or if any subsequent laboratory testing does 618  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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not yield satisfactory results for the testing set forth in subsections (a) 619 
and (b) of this section, dispose of the entire marijuana batch from which 620 
the marijuana sample was taken in accordance with procedures 621 
established by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, as published 622 
on the Department of Consumer Protection's Internet web site. 623 
(e) For purposes of the testing set forth in subsections (a) and (b) of 624 
this section, the quantity and number of marijuana samples taken shall 625 
be sufficient to ensure representative sampling of the corresponding 626 
marijuana batch size. The size of such corresponding marijuana batch 627 
size shall not exceed the lesser of: 628 
(1) Twenty-five pounds; or 629 
(2) A smaller marijuana batch size, provided the Commissioner of 630 
Consumer Protection (A) has determined that such smaller marijuana 631 
batch size is necessary to protect public health and safety, and (B) posts 632 
such smaller marijuana batch size on the Department of Consumer 633 
Protection's Internet web site at least thirty days prior to the first date 634 
on which the commissioner requires such smaller marijuana batch size. 635 
Sec. 5. Section 21a-420 of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 636 
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 637 
1, 2024): 638 
As used in RERACA, unless the context otherwise requires: 639 
(1) "Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis 640 
Act" or "RERACA" means this section, sections 2-56j, 7-294kk, 7-294ll, 641 
12-330ll to 12-330nn, inclusive, 14-227p, 21a-278b, 21a-278c, 21a-279c, 642 
21a-279d, 21a-420a to 21a-420j, inclusive, 21a-420l to 21a-421r, inclusive, 643 
21a-421aa to 21a-421ff, inclusive, 21a-421aaa to 21a-421hhh, inclusive, 644 
21a-422 to 21a-422c, inclusive, 21a-422e to 21a-422g, inclusive, 21a-422j 645 
to 21a-422s, inclusive, 22-61n, as amended by this act, 23-4b, 47a-9a, 53-646 
247a, 53a-213a, 53a-213b, 54-33p, 54-56q, 54-56r, 54-125k and 54-142u, 647 
sections 23, 60, 63 to 65, inclusive, 124, 144 and 165 of public act 21-1 of 648 
the June special session, and the amendments in public act 21-1 of the 649  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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June special session to sections 7-148, 10-221, 12-30a, 12-35b, 12-412, 12-650 
650, 12-704d, 14-44k, 14-111e, 14-227a to 14-227c, inclusive, 14-227j, 15-651 
140q, 15-140r, 18-100h, 19a-342, 19a-342a, 21a-267, 21a-277, 21a-279, 21a-652 
279a, 21a-408 to 21a-408f, inclusive, as amended by this act, 21a-408h to 653 
21a-408p, inclusive, 21a-408r to 21a-408v, inclusive, 30-89a, 31-40q, 32-654 
39, 46b-120, 51-164n, 53-394, 53a-39c, 54-1m, 54-33g, 54-41b, 54-56e, 54-655 
56g, 54-56i, 54-56k, 54-56n, 54-63d, 54-66a and 54-142e, [and] section 20 656 
of public act 23-79, section 4 of this act and sections 6 to 10, inclusive, of 657 
this act; 658 
(2) "Backer" means any individual with a direct or indirect financial 659 
interest in a cannabis establishment. "Backer" does not include an 660 
individual with an investment interest in a cannabis establishment if (A) 661 
the interest held by such individual and such individual's spouse, 662 
parent or child, in the aggregate, does not exceed five per cent of the 663 
total ownership or interest rights in such cannabis establishment, and 664 
(B) such individual does not participate directly or indirectly in the 665 
control, management or operation of the cannabis establishment; 666 
(3) "Cannabis" means marijuana, as defined in section 21a-240, as 667 
amended by this act; 668 
(4) "Cannabis establishment" means a producer, dispensary facility, 669 
cultivator, micro-cultivator, retailer, hybrid retailer, food and beverage 670 
manufacturer, product manufacturer, product packager, delivery 671 
service or transporter; 672 
(5) "Cannabis flower" means the flower, including abnormal and 673 
immature flowers, of a plant of the genus cannabis that has been 674 
harvested, dried, cured, chopped or ground, and prior to any processing 675 
whereby the flower material is transformed into a cannabis product. 676 
"Cannabis flower" does not include (A) the leaves or stem of such plant, 677 
or (B) hemp, as defined in section 22-61l; 678 
(6) "Cannabis testing laboratory" means a laboratory that (A) is 679 
located in this state, (B) is licensed by the department to analyze 680 
cannabis, and (C) meets the licensure requirements established in 681  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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section 21a-408r and the regulations adopted pursuant to subsection (d) 682 
of section 21a-408r; 683 
(7) "Cannabis testing laboratory employee" means an individual who 684 
is (A) employed at a cannabis testing laboratory, and (B) registered 685 
pursuant to section 21a-408r and the regulations adopted pursuant to 686 
subsection (d) of section 21a-408r; 687 
(8) "Cannabis trim" means all parts, including abnormal or immature 688 
parts, of a plant of the genus cannabis, other than cannabis flower, that 689 
have been harvested, dried and cured, and prior to any processing, 690 
excluding chopping or grinding, whereby the plant material is 691 
transformed into a cannabis product. "Cannabis trim" does not include 692 
hemp, as defined in section 22-61l; 693 
(9) "Cannabis product" means cannabis, intended for use or 694 
consumption, that is in the form of (A) a cannabis concentrate, or (B) a 695 
product that contains cannabis and at least one other cannabis or 696 
noncannabis ingredient or component, excluding cannabis flower; 697 
(10) "Cannabis concentrate" means any form of concentration, 698 
including, but not limited to, extracts, oils, tinctures, shatter and waxes, 699 
that is extracted from cannabis; 700 
(11) "Cannabis-type substances" have the same meaning as 701 
"marijuana", as defined in section 21a-240, as amended by this act; 702 
(12) "Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Consumer 703 
Protection and includes any designee of the commissioner; 704 
(13) "Consumer" means an individual who is twenty-one years of age 705 
or older; 706 
(14) "Control" means the power to direct, or cause the direction of, the 707 
management and policies of a cannabis establishment, regardless of 708 
whether such power is possessed directly or indirectly; 709 
(15) "Cultivation" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-710  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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408, as amended by this act; 711 
(16) "Cultivation lot" means one or more lots, as defined in section 22-712 
61l, associated with a hemp producer's license issued pursuant to 713 
section 22-61l; 714 
[(16)] (17) "Cultivator" means a person that is licensed to engage in 715 
the cultivation, growing and propagation of the cannabis plant at an 716 
establishment with not less than fifteen thousand square feet of grow 717 
space; 718 
[(17)] (18) "Delivery service" means a person that is licensed to deliver 719 
cannabis from (A) micro-cultivators, retailers and hybrid retailers to 720 
consumers and research program subjects, and (B) hybrid retailers and 721 
dispensary facilities to qualifying patients, caregivers and research 722 
program subjects, as defined in section 21a-408, as amended by this act, 723 
or to hospices or other inpatient care facilities licensed by the 724 
Department of Public Health pursuant to chapter 368v that have a 725 
protocol for the handling and distribution of cannabis that has been 726 
approved by the department, or a combination thereof; 727 
[(18)] (19) "Department" means the Department of Consumer 728 
Protection; 729 
[(19)] (20) "Dispensary facility" means a place of business where 730 
cannabis may be dispensed, sold or distributed in accordance with 731 
chapter 420f and any regulations adopted pursuant to said chapter, to 732 
qualifying patients and caregivers, and to which the department has 733 
issued a dispensary facility license pursuant to chapter 420f and any 734 
regulations adopted pursuant to said chapter; 735 
[(20)] (21) "Disproportionately impacted area" means (A) for the 736 
period beginning July 1, 2021, and ending July 31, 2023, a United States 737 
census tract in the state that has, as determined by the Social Equity 738 
Council under subdivision (1) of subsection (i) of section 21a-420d, as 739 
amended by this act, (i) a historical conviction rate for drug-related 740 
offenses greater than one-tenth, or (ii) an unemployment rate greater 741  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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than ten per cent, [and] (B) [on and after] for the period beginning 742 
August 1, 2023, and ending June 30, 2024, a United States census tract in 743 
this state that has been identified by the Social Equity Council pursuant 744 
to subdivision (2) of subsection (i) of section 21a-420d, as amended by 745 
this act, (C) for the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending December 746 
31, 2024, (i) a United States census tract in this state that has been 747 
identified by the Social Equity Council pursuant to subdivision (2) of 748 
subsection (i) of section 21a-420d, as amended by this act, and (ii) a 749 
reservation, as defined in section 47-63, as set forth in subdivision (3) of 750 
subsection (i) of section 21a-420d, as amended by this act, and (D) on 751 
and after January 1, 2025, (i) a United States census tract in this state that 752 
has been identified by the Social Equity Council pursuant to subdivision 753 
(2) of subsection (i) of section 21a-420d, as amended by this act, (ii) a 754 
reservation, as defined in section 47-63, as set forth in subdivision (3) of 755 
subsection (i) of section 21a-420d, as amended by this act, and (iii) a 756 
parcel of land described in subdivision (4) of subsection (i) of section 757 
21a-420d, as amended by this act; 758 
[(21)] (22) "Disqualifying conviction" means a conviction within the 759 
last ten years which has not been the subject of an absolute pardon 760 
under the provisions of section 54-130a, or an equivalent pardon process 761 
under the laws of another state or the federal government, for an offense 762 
under (A) section 53a-276, 53a-277 or 53a-278, [;] (B) section 53a-291, 53a-763 
292 or 53a-293, [;] (C) section 53a-215, [;] (D) section 53a-138 or 53a-139, 764 
[;] (E) section 53a-142a, [;] (F) sections 53a-147 to 53a-162, inclusive, [;] 765 
(G) sections 53a-125c to 53a-125f, inclusive, [;] (H) section 53a-129b, 53a-766 
129c or 53a-129d, [;] (I) subsection (b) of section 12-737, [;] (J) section 53a-767 
48 or 53a-49, if the offense which is attempted or is an object of the 768 
conspiracy is an offense under the statutes listed in subparagraphs (A) 769 
to (I), inclusive, of this subdivision, [;] or (K) the law of any other state 770 
or of the federal government, if the offense on which such conviction is 771 
based is defined by elements that substantially include the elements of 772 
an offense under the statutes listed in subparagraphs (A) to (J), inclusive, 773 
of this subdivision; 774 
[(22)] (23) "Dispensary technician" means an individual who has had 775  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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an active pharmacy technician or dispensary technician registration in 776 
this state within the past five years, is affiliated with a dispensary facility 777 
or hybrid retailer and is registered with the department in accordance 778 
with chapter 420f and any regulations adopted pursuant to said chapter; 779 
[(23)] (24) "Edible cannabis product" means a cannabis product 780 
intended for humans to eat or drink; 781 
[(24)] (25) "Employee" means any person who is not a backer, but is a 782 
member of the board of a company with an ownership interest in a 783 
cannabis establishment, and any person employed by a cannabis 784 
establishment or who otherwise has access to such establishment or the 785 
vehicles used to transport cannabis, including, but not limited to, an 786 
independent contractor who has routine access to the premises of such 787 
establishment or to the cannabis handled by such establishment; 788 
[(25)] (26) "Equity" and "equitable" means efforts, regulations, 789 
policies, programs, standards, processes and any other functions of 790 
government or principles of law and governance intended to [:] (A) 791 
[Identify] identify and remedy past and present patterns of 792 
discrimination and disparities of race, ethnicity, gender and sexual 793 
orientation, [;] (B) ensure that such patterns of discrimination and 794 
disparities, whether intentional or unintentional, are neither reinforced 795 
nor perpetuated, [;] and (C) prevent the emergence and persistence of 796 
foreseeable future patterns of discrimination or disparities of race, 797 
ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation; 798 
[(26)] (27) "Equity joint venture" means a business entity that is 799 
controlled, and at least fifty per cent owned, by an individual or 800 
individuals, or such applicant is an individual, who meets the criteria of 801 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision [(50)] (54) of this section; 802 
[(27)] (28) "Extract" means the preparation, compounding, conversion 803 
or processing of cannabis, either directly or indirectly by extraction or 804 
independently by means of chemical synthesis, or by a combination of 805 
extraction and chemical synthesis to produce a cannabis concentrate; 806  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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[(28)] (29) "Financial interest" means any right to, ownership, an 807 
investment or a compensation arrangement with another person, 808 
directly, through business, investment or family. "Financial interest" 809 
does not include ownership of investment securities in a publicly-held 810 
corporation that is traded on a national exchange or over-the-counter 811 
market, provided the investment securities held by such person and 812 
such person's spouse, parent or child, in the aggregate, do not exceed 813 
one-half of one per cent of the total number of shares issued by the 814 
corporation; 815 
[(29)] (30) "Food and beverage manufacturer" means a person that is 816 
licensed to own and operate a place of business that acquires cannabis 817 
and creates food and beverages; 818 
[(30)] (31) "Grow space" means the portion of a premises owned and 819 
controlled by a producer, cultivator or micro-cultivator that is utilized 820 
for the cultivation, growing or propagation of the cannabis plant, and 821 
contains cannabis plants in an active stage of growth, measured starting 822 
from the outermost wall of the room containing cannabis plants and 823 
continuing around the outside of the room. "Grow space" does not 824 
include space used to cure, process, store harvested cannabis or 825 
manufacture cannabis once the cannabis has been harvested; 826 
(32) "Hemp manufacturer" means manufacturer, as defined in section 827 
22-61l; 828 
(33) "Hemp producer" means producer, as defined in section 22-61l; 829 
[(31)] (34) "Historical conviction count for drug-related offenses" 830 
means, for a given area, the number of convictions of residents of such 831 
area (A) for violations of sections 21a-267, 21a-277, 21a-278, 21a-279 and 832 
21a-279a, and (B) who were arrested for such violations between 833 
January 1, 1982, and December 31, 2020, inclusive, where such arrest 834 
was recorded in databases maintained by the Department of Emergency 835 
Services and Public Protection; 836 
[(32)] (35) "Historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses" 837  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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means, for a given area, the historical conviction count for drug-related 838 
offenses divided by the population of such area, as determined by the 839 
five-year estimates of the most recent American Community Survey 840 
conducted by the United States Census Bureau; 841 
[(33)] (36) "Hybrid retailer" means a person that is licensed to 842 
purchase cannabis and sell cannabis and medical marijuana products; 843 
(37) "Infused beverage" means a beverage that (A) is not an alcoholic 844 
beverage, as defined in section 30-1, (B) is intended for human 845 
consumption, and (C) is advertised, labeled or offered for sale as having 846 
total THC, as defined in section 21a-240, as amended by this act, that is 847 
not greater than two and one-half milligrams on a per-container basis, 848 
which container shall contain at least twelve fluid ounces; 849 
[(34)] (38) "Key employee" means an employee with the following 850 
management position or an equivalent title within a cannabis 851 
establishment: (A) President or chief officer, who is the top ranking 852 
individual at the cannabis establishment and is responsible for all staff 853 
and overall direction of business operations; (B) financial manager, who 854 
is the individual who reports to the president or chief officer and who is 855 
responsible for oversight of the financial operations of the cannabis 856 
establishment, which financial operations include one or more of the 857 
following: (i) Revenue and expense management; (ii) distributions; (iii) 858 
tax compliance; (iv) budget development; and (v) budget management 859 
and implementation; or (C) compliance manager, who is the individual 860 
who reports to the president or chief officer and who is generally 861 
responsible for ensuring the cannabis establishment complies with all 862 
laws, regulations and requirements related to the operation of the 863 
cannabis establishment; 864 
[(35)] (39) "Labor peace agreement" means an agreement between a 865 
cannabis establishment and a bona fide labor organization under section 866 
21a-421d pursuant to which the owners and management of the 867 
cannabis establishment agree not to lock out employees and that 868 
prohibits the bona fide labor organization from engaging in picketing, 869  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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work stoppages or boycotts against the cannabis establishment; 870 
[(36)] (40) "Manufacture" means to add or incorporate cannabis into 871 
other products or ingredients or create a cannabis product; 872 
[(37)] (41) "Medical marijuana product" means cannabis that may be 873 
exclusively sold to qualifying patients and caregivers by dispensary 874 
facilities and hybrid retailers and which are designated by the 875 
commissioner as reserved for sale to qualifying patients and caregivers 876 
and published on the department's Internet web site; 877 
[(38)] (42) "Micro-cultivator" means a person licensed to engage in the 878 
cultivation, growing and propagation of the cannabis plant at an 879 
establishment containing not less than two thousand square feet and not 880 
more than ten thousand square feet of grow space, prior to any 881 
expansion authorized by the commissioner; 882 
[(39)] (43) "Municipality" means any town, city or borough, 883 
consolidated town and city or consolidated town and borough; 884 
[(40)] (44) "Paraphernalia" means drug paraphernalia, as defined in 885 
section 21a-240, as amended by this act; 886 
[(41)] (45) "Person" means an individual, partnership, limited liability 887 
company, society, association, joint stock company, corporation, estate, 888 
receiver, trustee, assignee, referee or any other legal entity and any other 889 
person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity, whether 890 
appointed by a court or otherwise, and any combination thereof; 891 
[(42)] (46) "Producer" means a person that is licensed as a producer 892 
pursuant to section 21a-408i and any regulations adopted pursuant to 893 
said section; 894 
[(43)] (47) "Product manufacturer" means a person that is licensed to 895 
obtain cannabis, extract and manufacture products; 896 
[(44)] (48) "Product packager" means a person that is licensed to 897 
package and label cannabis; 898  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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[(45)] (49) "Qualifying patient" has the same meaning as provided in 899 
section 21a-408, as amended by this act; 900 
[(46)] (50) "Research program" has the same meaning as provided in 901 
section 21a-408, as amended by this act; 902 
[(47)] (51) "Retailer" means a person, excluding a dispensary facility 903 
and hybrid retailer, that is licensed to purchase cannabis from 904 
producers, cultivators, micro-cultivators, product manufacturers and 905 
food and beverage manufacturers and to sell cannabis to consumers and 906 
research programs; 907 
[(48)] (52) "Sale" or "sell" has the same meaning as provided in section 908 
21a-240, as amended by this act; 909 
[(49)] (53) "Social Equity Council" or "council" means the council 910 
established under section 21a-420d, as amended by this act; 911 
[(50)] (54) "Social equity applicant" means a person that has applied 912 
for a license for a cannabis establishment, where such applicant is 913 
controlled, and at least sixty-five per cent owned, by an individual or 914 
individuals, or such applicant is an individual, who: 915 
(A) Had an average household income of less than three hundred per 916 
cent of the state median household income over the three tax years 917 
immediately preceding such individual's application; and 918 
(B) (i) Was a resident of a disproportionately impacted area for not 919 
less than five of the ten years immediately preceding the date of such 920 
application; or 921 
(ii) Was a resident of a disproportionately impacted area for not less 922 
than nine years prior to attaining the age of eighteen; 923 
[(51)] (55) "THC" has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-924 
240, as amended by this act; 925 
[(52)] (56) "Third-party lottery operator" means a person, or a 926  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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constituent unit of the state system of higher education, that conducts 927 
lotteries pursuant to section 21a-420g, as amended by this act, identifies 928 
the cannabis establishment license applications for consideration 929 
without performing any review of the applications that are identified 930 
for consideration, and that has no direct or indirect oversight of or 931 
investment in a cannabis establishment or a cannabis establishment 932 
applicant; 933 
[(53)] (57) "Transfer" means to transfer, change, give or otherwise 934 
dispose of control over or interest in; 935 
[(54)] (58) "Transport" means to physically move from one place to 936 
another; 937 
[(55)] (59) "Transporter" means a person licensed to transport 938 
cannabis and manufacturer hemp products, as defined in section 22-61l, 939 
between cannabis establishments, cannabis testing laboratories and 940 
research programs; and 941 
[(56)] (60) "Unemployment rate" means, in a given area, the number 942 
of people sixteen years of age or older who are in the civilian labor force 943 
and unemployed divided by the number of people sixteen years of age 944 
or older who are in the civilian labor force. 945 
Sec. 6. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) During the period beginning 946 
July 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2025, the department shall issue 947 
a cultivator license or micro-cultivator license to a social equity 948 
applicant: 949 
(1) If prior to July 1, 2024, the social equity applicant submitted to the 950 
department a completed cultivator license application pursuant to 951 
subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by 952 
this act, and: 953 
(A) The Social Equity Council verified, pursuant to subdivision (1) of 954 
subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by 955 
this act, that the applicant met the criteria established for a social equity 956  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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applicant; or 957 
(B) The department issued a provisional cultivator license, but not a 958 
final cultivator license, to the social equity applicant pursuant to section 959 
21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by this act; 960 
(2) If during the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending March 31, 961 
2025, the social equity applicant submits to the department, in a form 962 
and manner prescribed by the commissioner: 963 
(A) A completed application for a cultivator license or micro-964 
cultivator license; 965 
(B) A copy of an agreement, between the social equity applicant and 966 
a hemp producer that has been continually licensed under section 22-967 
61l of the general statutes since January 1, 2023, which provides: 968 
(i) For the use of the hemp producer's cultivation lot, which may be 969 
located outside of a disproportionately impacted area; and 970 
(ii) That if the department issues a provisional cultivator license or a 971 
provisional micro-cultivator license to the social equity applicant 972 
pursuant to this section: 973 
(I) Such provisional cultivator license or provisional micro-cultivator 974 
license shall immediately be deemed to have automatically replaced 975 
both the provisional cultivator license application the social equity 976 
applicant submitted and any provisional cultivator license the 977 
department issued to the social equity applicant pursuant to subsection 978 
(a) of section 21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by this act, 979 
and such previously submitted provisional cultivator license 980 
application and previously issued provisional cultivator license shall 981 
immediately be deemed to have been automatically withdrawn or 982 
surrendered, as applicable, as set forth in subparagraph (C)(i) of this 983 
subdivision; and 984 
(II) The hemp producer shall immediately be deemed to have 985 
automatically surrendered such hemp producer's license under section 986  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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22-61l of the general statutes, as set forth in subparagraph (D) of this 987 
subdivision; 988 
(C) An acknowledgment by the social equity applicant that, if the 989 
department issues a provisional cultivator license or provisional micro-990 
cultivator license to the social equity applicant pursuant to this section: 991 
(i) Such provisional cultivator license or provisional micro-cultivator 992 
license shall immediately be deemed to have automatically replaced 993 
both the provisional cultivator license application the social equity 994 
applicant submitted and any provisional cultivator license the 995 
department issued to the social equity applicant pursuant to subsection 996 
(a) of section 21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by this act, 997 
and such previously submitted provisional cultivator license 998 
application and previously issued cultivator license shall immediately 999 
be deemed to have been automatically withdrawn or surrendered, as 1000 
applicable; and 1001 
(ii) The social equity applicant shall be (I) eligible to create not more 1002 
than one equity joint venture after such social equity applicant receives 1003 
a cultivator license under this section and commences cultivation 1004 
activities under such cultivator license, as provided in subsection (e) of 1005 
this section, or (II) ineligible to create an equity joint venture after such 1006 
social equity applicant receives a micro-cultivator license under this 1007 
section, as provided in subsection (e) of this section; 1008 
(D) An acknowledgment by the hemp producer which is a party to 1009 
the agreement described in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision that, if 1010 
the department issues a provisional cultivator license or provisional 1011 
micro-cultivator license to the social equity applicant pursuant to this 1012 
section, the hemp producer shall immediately be deemed to have 1013 
automatically surrendered such hemp producer's license under section 1014 
22-61l of the general statutes; 1015 
(E) Evidence that is sufficient for the department to verify that the 1016 
hemp producer which is a party to the agreement described in 1017 
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision has been continually licensed 1018  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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under section 22-61l of the general statutes since January 1, 2023; 1019 
(F) A written statement by the social equity applicant disclosing 1020 
whether any change occurred in the ownership or control of the social 1021 
equity applicant after the Social Equity Council verified that the social 1022 
equity applicant met the criteria for a social equity applicant pursuant 1023 
to subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general 1024 
statutes, as amended by this act; and 1025 
(G) The application fee required under subsection (b) of this section; 1026 
(3) Provided any change described in subparagraph (F) of 1027 
subdivision (2) of this subsection that has occurred is: 1028 
(A) Allowed under (i) section 21a-420g of the general statutes, as 1029 
amended by this act, and (ii) any regulation adopted, or policy or 1030 
procedure issued, pursuant to section 21a-420g of the general statutes, 1031 
as amended by this act, or 21a-420h of the general statutes; and 1032 
(B) Allowed under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this section, 1033 
whereby (i) the Social Equity Council has determined that the social 1034 
equity applicant continues to meet the criteria for a social equity 1035 
applicant, and (ii) the department has received a written notice from the 1036 
Social Equity Council affirming that the Social Equity Council has 1037 
determined that the social equity applicant continues to meet the criteria 1038 
for a social equity applicant; 1039 
(4) If pursuant to subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section, (A) 1040 
the Social Equity Council has reviewed the agreement described in 1041 
subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, and (B) the 1042 
department has received a written notice from the Social Equity Council 1043 
affirming that the Social Equity Council has determined that the social 1044 
equity applicant continues to meet the criteria for a social equity 1045 
applicant; and 1046 
(5) If all hemp, as defined in section 22-61l of the general statutes, has 1047 
been harvested from the cultivation lot described in subparagraph (B)(i) 1048  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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of subdivision (2) of this subsection. 1049 
(b) (1) A social equity applicant seeking a cultivator license under this 1050 
section shall submit to the department a three-million-dollar application 1051 
fee unless the social equity applicant has (A) received a provisional 1052 
cultivator license under subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general 1053 
statutes, as amended by this act, and (B) paid the fee required under 1054 
subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general 1055 
statutes, as amended by this act. 1056 
(2) A social equity applicant seeking a micro-cultivator license under 1057 
this section shall submit to the department a five-hundred-thousand-1058 
dollar application fee unless the social equity applicant has (A) received 1059 
a provisional cultivator license under subsection (a) of section 21a-420o 1060 
of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and (B) paid the fee 1061 
required under subdivision (3) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of 1062 
the general statutes, as amended by this act. 1063 
(3) The fee to renew a final cultivator license or final micro-cultivator 1064 
license issued pursuant to this section shall be the same as the fee to 1065 
renew a final cultivator license or final micro-cultivator license as set 1066 
forth in section 21a-420e of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 1067 
(4) All fees collected by the department under this section shall be 1068 
deposited in the Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund 1069 
established in subsection (c) of section 21a-420f of the general statutes. 1070 
(c) (1) If any change described in subparagraph (F) of subdivision (2) 1071 
of subsection (a) of this section has occurred, the Social Equity Council 1072 
shall (A) determine whether the social equity applicant continues to 1073 
meet the criteria for a social equity applicant, and (B) submit to the 1074 
department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, a 1075 
written notice disclosing such determination. 1076 
(2) The Social Equity Council shall (A) review the agreement 1077 
described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this 1078 
section, and (B) submit to the department, in a form and manner 1079  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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prescribed by the commissioner, a written notice disclosing whether the 1080 
social equity applicant continues to meet the criteria for a social equity 1081 
applicant. 1082 
(d) All harvested hemp described in subdivision (5) of subsection (a) 1083 
of this section shall continue to be deemed hemp until the department 1084 
issues a final cultivator license or final micro-cultivator license to the 1085 
social equity applicant pursuant to this section. After the department 1086 
issues a final cultivator license or final micro-cultivator license to the 1087 
social equity applicant pursuant to this section, such harvested hemp 1088 
shall be deemed to be cannabis and shall be subject to all cannabis 1089 
cultivation, testing, labeling, tracking, reporting and manufacturing 1090 
provisions of RERACA as such provisions apply to cultivators and 1091 
micro-cultivators. For the purposes of this subsection, "hemp" has the 1092 
same meaning as provided in section 22-61l of the general statutes. 1093 
(e) No social equity applicant that receives a cultivator license under 1094 
this section shall be eligible to create more than one equity joint venture, 1095 
and no such social equity applicant shall create any equity joint venture 1096 
unless such social equity applicant has received a cultivator license 1097 
under this section and commenced cultivation activities under such 1098 
cultivator license. No social equity applicant that receives a micro-1099 
cultivator license under this section shall be eligible to create an equity 1100 
joint venture. 1101 
(f) Each application submitted to the department pursuant to 1102 
subsection (a) of this section, and all information included in, or 1103 
submitted with, any application submitted pursuant to said subsection, 1104 
shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of section 21a-420e of 1105 
the general statutes. 1106 
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of RERACA, and except as 1107 
otherwise provided in subsections (a) to (f), inclusive, of this section: 1108 
(1) Each application submitted pursuant to subsection (a) of this 1109 
section shall be processed as any other cultivator application or micro-1110 
cultivator application that has been selected through the lottery; and 1111  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(2) Each social equity applicant, application submitted pursuant to 1112 
subsection (a) of this section, cultivator license issued pursuant to this 1113 
section and micro-cultivator license issued pursuant to this section shall 1114 
be subject to subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, of section 21a-420g of the 1115 
general statutes, as amended by this act. 1116 
Sec. 7. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) (1) During the period 1117 
beginning July 1, 2024, and ending December 31, 2024, a social equity 1118 
applicant that has submitted an application to the department for a 1119 
cultivator license pursuant to subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the 1120 
general statutes, as amended by this act, may withdraw such application 1121 
and apply for a micro-cultivator license pursuant to this section if: 1122 
(A) The Social Equity Council has verified that the applicant meets 1123 
the criteria for a social equity applicant pursuant to subdivision (1) of 1124 
subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by 1125 
this act; 1126 
(B) The social equity applicant is eligible to receive a provisional 1127 
cultivator license pursuant to subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the 1128 
general statutes, as amended by this act; 1129 
(C) The department has not already issued a provisional cultivator 1130 
license to the social equity applicant pursuant to subsection (a) of section 1131 
21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and 1132 
(D) The social equity applicant submits to the department, in a form 1133 
and manner prescribed by the commissioner, a written statement by the 1134 
social equity applicant: 1135 
(i) Withdrawing the social equity applicant's application under 1136 
subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general statutes, as amended by 1137 
this act; and 1138 
(ii) Acknowledging that if the social equity applicant withdraws the 1139 
application submitted under subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the 1140 
general statutes, as amended by this act, the social equity applicant shall 1141  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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be ineligible to create an equity joint venture, as provided in subsection 1142 
(e) of this section. 1143 
(2) No social equity applicant that withdraws an application in the 1144 
manner set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall be eligible to 1145 
receive a refund for any fee paid in connection with such withdrawn 1146 
application. 1147 
(b) During the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending December 1148 
31, 2025, the department shall issue a micro-cultivator license to a social 1149 
equity applicant pursuant to this section: 1150 
(1) If the social equity applicant meets the eligibility criteria 1151 
established in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section; 1152 
(2) If during the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending December 1153 
31, 2024, the social equity applicant submits to the department, in a form 1154 
and manner prescribed by the commissioner: 1155 
(A) A completed micro-cultivator license application; 1156 
(B) A written statement by the social equity applicant disclosing 1157 
whether any change occurred in the ownership or control of the social 1158 
equity applicant after the Social Equity Council verified that the 1159 
applicant met the criteria for a social equity applicant pursuant to 1160 
subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 21a-420o of the general 1161 
statutes, as amended by this act; and 1162 
(C) The application and conversion fees required under subdivision 1163 
(1) of subsection (c) of this section; and 1164 
(3) If any change described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of 1165 
this subsection has occurred: 1166 
(A) Such change in ownership or control is allowed under (i) section 1167 
21a-420g of the general statutes, as amended by this act, and (ii) any 1168 
regulation adopted, or policy or procedure issued, pursuant to section 1169 
21a-420g of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or 21a-420h of 1170  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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the general statutes; and 1171 
(B) Pursuant to subsection (d) of this section, (i) the Social Equity 1172 
Council has determined that the social equity applicant continues to 1173 
meet the criteria for a social equity applicant, and (ii) the department 1174 
has received a written notice from the Social Equity Council affirming 1175 
that the Social Equity Council has determined that the social equity 1176 
applicant continues to meet the criteria for a social equity applicant. 1177 
(c) (1) A social equity applicant that submits a micro-cultivator license 1178 
application pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall submit to the 1179 
department (A) an application fee in the amount of five hundred 1180 
thousand dollars, and (B) a conversion fee in the amount of five hundred 1181 
thousand dollars. 1182 
(2) The fee to renew a final micro-cultivator license issued pursuant 1183 
to this section shall be the same as the fee to renew a final micro-1184 
cultivator license as set forth in section 21a-420e of the general statutes, 1185 
as amended by this act. 1186 
(3) All fees collected by the department under this section shall be 1187 
deposited in the Cannabis Social Equity and Innovation Fund 1188 
established in subsection (c) of section 21a-420f of the general statutes. 1189 
(d) If any change described in subparagraph (B) of subdivision (2) of 1190 
subsection (b) of this section has occurred, the Social Equity Council 1191 
shall (1) determine whether the social equity applicant continues to meet 1192 
the criteria for a social equity applicant, and (2) submit to the 1193 
department, in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, a 1194 
written notice disclosing such determination. 1195 
(e) A social equity applicant that withdraws an application in the 1196 
manner set forth in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of this section shall 1197 
be ineligible to create an equity joint venture. 1198 
(f) Each application submitted to the department pursuant to 1199 
subsection (b) of this section, and all information included in, or 1200  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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submitted with, any application submitted pursuant to said subsection, 1201 
shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of section 21a-420e of 1202 
the general statutes. 1203 
(g) Notwithstanding any other provision of RERACA, and except as 1204 
otherwise provided in subsections (a) to (f), inclusive, of this section: 1205 
(1) Each application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) of this 1206 
section shall be processed as any other micro-cultivator application that 1207 
has been selected through the lottery; and 1208 
(2) Each social equity applicant, application submitted pursuant to 1209 
subsection (b) of this section and micro-cultivator license issued 1210 
pursuant to this section shall be subject to subsections (e) to (l), inclusive, 1211 
of section 21a-420g of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 1212 
Sec. 8. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes of this 1213 
section, "hemp" and "hemp products" have the same meanings as 1214 
provided in section 22-61l of the general statutes. 1215 
(b) The department shall issue a product manufacturer license to a 1216 
hemp manufacturer if: 1217 
(1) The hemp manufacturer (A) is licensed under section 22-61m of 1218 
the general statutes, as amended by this act, (B) has continuously held a 1219 
hemp manufacturer license issued under section 22-61m of the general 1220 
statutes, as amended by this act, since January 1, 2022, and (C) is not 1221 
licensed as a hemp producer under section 22-61l of the general statutes; 1222 
and 1223 
(2) During the period beginning July 1, 2024, and ending December 1224 
31, 2024, the hemp manufacturer submits to the department, in a form 1225 
and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection: 1226 
(A) A completed product manufacturer license application; 1227 
(B) A social equity plan and a workforce development plan that are 1228 
approved by the Social Equity Council before the department issues a 1229  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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product manufacturer license to the hemp manufacturer pursuant to 1230 
this section; 1231 
(C) An acknowledgment that if the department issues a final product 1232 
manufacturer license to the hemp manufacturer pursuant to this section, 1233 
the hemp manufacturer shall immediately be deemed to have 1234 
automatically surrendered such hemp manufacturer's license under 1235 
section 22-61m of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and 1236 
(D) An application fee in the amount of twenty-five thousand dollars. 1237 
(c) A holder of a provisional product manufacturer license issued 1238 
pursuant to this section may maintain an active hemp manufacturer 1239 
license issued pursuant to section 22-61m of the general statutes, as 1240 
amended by this act, provided the hemp manufacturer shall 1241 
immediately be deemed to have automatically surrendered such hemp 1242 
manufacturer's license under 22-61m of the general statutes, as 1243 
amended by this act, if the department issues a final product 1244 
manufacturer license pursuant to this section. 1245 
(d) The fee to receive or renew a final product manufacturer license 1246 
pursuant to this section shall be the same as the fee to receive or renew 1247 
a final product manufacturer license as set forth in section 21a-420e of 1248 
the general statutes, as amended by this act. 1249 
(e) All fees collected by the department under this section shall be 1250 
nonrefundable and deposited in the Cannabis Social Equity and 1251 
Innovation Fund established in subsection (c) of section 21a-420f of the 1252 
general statutes. 1253 
(f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, all 1254 
hemp and hemp products in the possession of a hemp manufacturer 1255 
shall continue to be deemed hemp while such hemp manufacturer 1256 
maintains an active hemp manufacturer license under section 22-61m of 1257 
the general statutes, as amended by this act. 1258 
(2) Immediately upon the department issuing a final product 1259  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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manufacturer license to a hemp manufacturer pursuant to this section, 1260 
and the automatic surrender of the hemp manufacturer's license under 1261 
section 22-61m of the general statutes, as amended by this act, all hemp 1262 
and hemp products in the possession of such hemp manufacturer shall 1263 
(A) be deemed cannabis in accordance with section 22-61n of the general 1264 
statutes, as amended by this act, and (B) comply with the requirements 1265 
for cannabis contained in all applicable provisions of the general 1266 
statutes and the regulations of Connecticut state agencies. 1267 
(g) Each application submitted to the department pursuant to 1268 
subsection (b) of this section, and all information included in, or 1269 
submitted with, any application submitted pursuant to said subsection, 1270 
shall be subject to the provisions of subsection (g) of section 21a-420e of 1271 
the general statutes. 1272 
(h) Each complete application submitted pursuant to subsection (b) 1273 
of this section shall be (1) processed as any product manufacturer 1274 
application selected through the lottery, and (2) subject to subsections 1275 
(e) to (l), inclusive, of section 21a-420g of the general statutes, as 1276 
amended by this act. 1277 
(i) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, pursuant to 1278 
section 4-182 of the general statutes, summarily suspend any credential 1279 
issued by the department to any person who violates any provision of 1280 
this section or chapter 420f or 420h of the general statutes. 1281 
(j) Any person licensed pursuant to this section shall be subject to the 1282 
provisions of section 21a-421p of the general statutes, and any violation 1283 
of this section shall constitute sufficient cause for purposes of subsection 1284 
(b) of section 21a-421p of the general statutes. 1285 
Sec. 9. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes of this 1286 
section, "manufacturer hemp product" has the same meaning as 1287 
provided in section 22-61l of the general statutes. 1288 
(b) No infused beverage shall be sold or distributed in this state 1289 
unless: 1290  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(1) The infused beverage is sold (A) on premises operating under a 1291 
package store permit issued pursuant to subsection (b) of section 30-20 1292 
of the general statutes, as amended by this act, or (B) at a dispensary 1293 
facility, hybrid retailer or retailer; 1294 
(2) If the infused beverage is sold at a dispensary facility, hybrid 1295 
retailer or retailer, the infused beverage is stored and displayed 1296 
separately from any cannabis, in the same manner provided for 1297 
manufacturer hemp products, in accordance with section 21a-409, 21a-1298 
420s or 21a-420r of the general statutes, respectively; 1299 
(3) The infused beverage meets the standards set forth for 1300 
manufacturer hemp products in subsections (v), (w) and (x) of section 1301 
22-61m of the general statutes, as amended by this act; and 1302 
(4) The infused beverage meets (A) the testing standards for 1303 
manufacturer hemp products established in, and any regulations 1304 
adopted pursuant to, section 22-61m of the general statutes, as amended 1305 
by this act, or (B) such other testing standards for manufacturer hemp 1306 
products as the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, in the 1307 
commissioner's discretion, may designate. 1308 
(c) No infused beverage shall be sold to any consumer who is 1309 
younger than twenty-one years of age. No owner, agent or employee of 1310 
a package store permitted under subsection (b) of section 30-20 of the 1311 
general statutes, as amended by this act, or of a dispensary facility, 1312 
hybrid retailer or retailer, shall sell any infused beverage to a consumer 1313 
without first verifying the consumer's age with a valid government 1314 
issued driver's license or identity card to establish that such person is 1315 
twenty-one years of age or older. 1316 
(d) No infused beverage shall be sold in packaging that comprises 1317 
more than two containers. 1318 
(e) Each infused beverage container shall prominently display a 1319 
symbol, in a size of not less than one-half inch by one-half inch and in a 1320 
format approved by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, which 1321  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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indicates that such infused beverage is not legal or safe for individuals 1322 
younger than twenty-one years of age. 1323 
(f) (1) Any violation of the provisions of subdivisions (2) to (4), 1324 
inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section and subsections (c) to (e), 1325 
inclusive, of this section shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade 1326 
practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the general statutes. 1327 
(2) Any violation of the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (b) 1328 
of this section shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice 1329 
under subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the general statutes and shall 1330 
be enforced by the Attorney General. 1331 
(3) The provisions of section 42-110g of the general statutes shall 1332 
apply to any violation of the provisions of subsections (b) to (e), 1333 
inclusive, of this section. 1334 
Sec. 10. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) A fee of fifty cents shall be 1335 
assessed by a dispensary facility, hybrid retailer or retailer on each 1336 
infused beverage container sold by such cannabis establishment. Such 1337 
fee shall not be subject to any sales tax or treated as income pursuant to 1338 
any provision of the general statutes. 1339 
(b) On October 1, 2024, and every six months thereafter, each 1340 
dispensary facility, hybrid retailer or retailer shall remit payment to the 1341 
department for each infused beverage container sold during the 1342 
preceding six-month period. The funds received by the department 1343 
from infused beverage sales shall be deposited in the consumer 1344 
protection enforcement account established in section 21a-8a of the 1345 
general statutes, as amended by this act, for the purposes of (1) 1346 
protecting public health and safety, (2) educating consumers and 1347 
licensees, and (3) ensuring compliance with cannabis and liquor control 1348 
laws. 1349 
Sec. 11. Section 21a-420c of the general statutes is repealed and the 1350 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1351  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(a) Except as provided in RERACA and chapter 420b or 420f, (1) no 1352 
person, other than a retailer, hybrid retailer, micro-cultivator or delivery 1353 
service, or an employee thereof in the course of [his or her] such 1354 
employee's employment, may sell or offer cannabis to a consumer, and 1355 
(2) no person, other than a hybrid retailer, dispensary facility or a 1356 
delivery service, or an employee thereof in the course of [his or her] such 1357 
employee's employment, may sell or offer cannabis to qualifying 1358 
patients and caregivers. 1359 
(b) No person except a delivery service, or an employee [thereof] of a 1360 
delivery service, subject to the restrictions set forth in section 21a-420z, 1361 
as amended by this act, acting in the course of [his or her] such 1362 
employee's employment may deliver cannabis to consumers. [, patients 1363 
or caregivers except that retailers, hybrid retailers, micro-cultivators and 1364 
dispensary facilities may utilize their own employees to deliver 1365 
cannabis to the same individuals they may sell to pursuant to subsection 1366 
(a) of this section until thirty days after the date the first five delivery 1367 
service licensees have commenced public operation, which date shall be 1368 
published by the commissioner on the department's Internet web site, 1369 
and thereafter all delivery to consumers, patients or caregivers shall be 1370 
done through a delivery service licensee.] No person except a delivery 1371 
service, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility, or an employee of a 1372 
delivery service, hybrid retailer or dispensary facility acting in the 1373 
course of such employee's employment, may deliver cannabis to 1374 
patients or caregivers. 1375 
(c) Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed an 1376 
unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-110b 1377 
and shall be enforced by the Attorney General, except the provisions of 1378 
section 42-110g shall apply to any violation of the provisions of this 1379 
section. 1380 
(d) (1) Any municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, prohibit 1381 
the operation of any business within such municipality that is found to 1382 
be in violation of the provisions of this section or if such operation poses 1383 
an immediate threat to public health and safety. 1384  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(2) If the chief executive officer of a municipality determines that a 1385 
business within the municipality is operating in violation of the 1386 
provisions of this section or poses an immediate threat to public health 1387 
and safety, the chief executive officer may apply to the Superior Court 1388 
for an order under subdivision (3) of this subsection. 1389 
(3) Upon an application under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 1390 
Superior Court, upon a finding that a business within the municipality 1391 
is operating in violation of the provisions of this section or poses an 1392 
immediate threat to public health and safety, may issue forthwith, ex 1393 
parte and without a hearing, an order which shall direct the chief law 1394 
enforcement officer of the municipality to take from such business 1395 
possession and control of any merchandise related to such violation or 1396 
immediate threat to public health and safety, which merchandise shall 1397 
include, but need not be limited to, (A) any cannabis or cannabis 1398 
product, (B) any cigarette, tobacco or tobacco product, (C) any 1399 
merchandise related to the merchandise described in subparagraphs (A) 1400 
and (B) of this subdivision, and (D) any proceeds related to the 1401 
merchandise described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, of this 1402 
subdivision. 1403 
(4) As used in this subsection, (A) "cigarette" has the same meaning 1404 
as provided in section 4-28h, (B) "immediate threat to public health and 1405 
safety" includes, but is not limited to, the presence of (i) any cannabis or 1406 
cannabis product in connection with a violation of this section, or (ii) 1407 
any cigarette or tobacco product alongside any cannabis or cannabis 1408 
product, and (C) "operation" and "operating" mean engaging in the sale 1409 
of, or otherwise offering for sale, goods and services to the general 1410 
public, including, but not limited to, through indirect retail sales. 1411 
(e) (1) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be 1412 
assessed a civil penalty of thirty thousand dollars for each violation. 1413 
Each day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate 1414 
offense. 1415 
(2) Any person who aids or abets any violation of the provisions of 1416  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of thirty thousand dollars 1417 
for each violation. Each day that such person aids or abets such violation 1418 
shall constitute a separate offense. For the purposes of this subdivision, 1419 
no person shall be deemed to have aided or abetted a violation of the 1420 
provisions of this section unless (A) such person was the owner, officer, 1421 
controlling shareholder or in a similar position of authority which 1422 
allowed such person to make command or control decisions regarding 1423 
the operations and management of another person who (i) is prohibited 1424 
from selling or offering any cannabis or cannabis product under this 1425 
section, and (ii) sold or offered any cannabis or cannabis product in 1426 
violation of this section, (B) such person knew that such other person (i) 1427 
is prohibited from selling or offering any cannabis or cannabis product 1428 
under this section, and (ii) sold or offered any cannabis or cannabis 1429 
product in violation of this section, (C) such person provided substantial 1430 
assistance or encouragement in connection with the sale or offer of such 1431 
cannabis or cannabis product in violation of this section, and (D) such 1432 
person's conduct was a substantial factor in furthering the sale or offer 1433 
of such cannabis or cannabis product in violation of this section. 1434 
(3) Any person who manages or controls a commercial property, or 1435 
who manages or controls a commercial building, room, space or 1436 
enclosure, in such person's capacity as an owner, lessee, agent, 1437 
employee or mortgagor, who knowingly leases, rents or makes such 1438 
property, building, room space or enclosure available for use, with or 1439 
without compensation, for the purpose of any sale or offer of any 1440 
cannabis or cannabis product in violation of this section shall be 1441 
assessed a civil penalty of ten thousand dollars for each violation. Each 1442 
day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. 1443 
(4) No person other than the Attorney General, upon complaint of the 1444 
Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or a municipality in which the 1445 
violation of this section occurred shall investigate any violation of this 1446 
subsection, assess any civil penalty under this subsection or institute a 1447 
civil action to recover any civil penalty imposed under this subsection. 1448 
If a municipality institutes a civil action to recover any civil penalty 1449 
imposed under this subsection, such penalty shall be paid first to the 1450  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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municipality to reimburse such municipality for the costs incurred in 1451 
instituting such action. One-half of the remainder, if any, shall be 1452 
payable to the treasurer of such municipality and one-half of such 1453 
remainder shall be payable to the Treasurer and deposited in the 1454 
General Fund. 1455 
(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 1456 
imposition of any criminal penalty on any person who (1) is prohibited 1457 
from selling or offering any cannabis or cannabis product under this 1458 
section, and (2) sells or offers any cannabis or cannabis product in 1459 
violation of this section. 1460 
Sec. 12. Subsections (i) to (k), inclusive, of section 21a-420d of the 2024 1461 
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 1462 
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1463 
(i) (1) Not later than August 1, 2021, and annually thereafter until July 1464 
31, 2023, the council shall use the most recent five-year United States 1465 
Census Bureau American Community Survey estimates or any 1466 
successor data to determine one or more United States census tracts in 1467 
the state that are a disproportionately impacted area and shall publish a 1468 
list of such tracts on the council's Internet web site. 1469 
(2) Not later than August 1, 2023, the council shall use poverty rate 1470 
data from the most recent five-year United States Census Bureau 1471 
American Community Survey estimates, population data from the most 1472 
recent decennial census and conviction information from databases 1473 
managed by the Department of Emergency Services and Public 1474 
Protection to identify all United States census tracts in the state that are 1475 
disproportionately impacted areas and shall publish a list of such tracts 1476 
on the council's Internet web site. In identifying which census tracts in 1477 
this state are disproportionately impacted areas and preparing such list, 1478 
the council shall: 1479 
(A) Not deem any census tract with a poverty rate that is less than the 1480 
state-wide poverty rate to be a disproportionately impacted area; 1481  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(B) After eliminating the census tracts described in subparagraph (A) 1482 
of this subdivision, rank the remaining census tracts in order from the 1483 
census tract with the greatest historical conviction rate for drug-related 1484 
offenses to the census tract with the lowest historical conviction rate for 1485 
drug-related offenses; and 1486 
(C) Include census tracts in the order of rank described in 1487 
subparagraph (B) of this subdivision until including the next census 1488 
tract would cause the total population of all included census tracts to 1489 
exceed twenty-five per cent of the state's population. 1490 
(3) On and after July 1, 2024, any reservation, as defined in section 47-1491 
63, of the Schaghticoke, Paucatuck Eastern Pequot or Golden Hill 1492 
Paugussett indigenous tribe recognized by this state under subsection 1493 
(b) of section 47-59a shall be deemed to be a disproportionately 1494 
impacted area, provided such reservation includes at least ten acres of 1495 
contiguous land and such land comprised part of such reservation on 1496 
July 1, 2024. 1497 
(4) On and after January 1, 2025, any parcel of land owned in fee 1498 
simple by any indigenous tribe recognized by this state under 1499 
subsection (b) of section 47-59a shall be deemed to be a 1500 
disproportionately impacted area, provided such parcel includes at least 1501 
ten acres of contiguous land and is located in a municipality that, prior 1502 
to July 1, 2024, contained any portion of a disproportionately impacted 1503 
area. 1504 
(j) After developing criteria for workforce development plans as 1505 
described in subdivision (4) of subsection (h) of this section, the council 1506 
shall review and approve or deny in writing any such plan submitted 1507 
by a producer under section 21a-420l or a hybrid-retailer under section 1508 
21a-420u, as amended by this act. 1509 
(k) The council shall develop criteria for evaluating the ownership 1510 
and control of any equity joint venture created under section 21a-420m, 1511 
as amended by this act, 21a-420u, as amended by this act, or 21a-420j 1512 
and shall review and approve or deny in writing such equity joint 1513  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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venture prior to such equity joint venture being licensed under section 1514 
21a-420m, as amended by this act, 21a-420u, as amended by this act, or 1515 
21a-420j. After developing criteria for social equity plans as described in 1516 
subdivision (5) of subsection (h) of this section, the council shall review 1517 
and approve or deny in writing any such plan submitted by a cannabis 1518 
establishment as part of its final license application. The council shall 1519 
not approve any equity joint venture applicant which shares with an 1520 
equity joint venture any individual owner who meets the criteria 1521 
established in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision [(50)] (54) of 1522 
section 21a-420, as amended by this act, other than an individual owner 1523 
in their capacity as a backer licensed under section 21a-420o, as 1524 
amended by this act. 1525 
Sec. 13. Subsection (c) of section 21a-420e of the 2024 supplement to 1526 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1527 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1528 
(c) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the following 1529 
fees shall be paid by each applicant: 1530 
(1) For a retailer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be five 1531 
hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five 1532 
thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a 1533 
final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 1534 
(2) For a hybrid retailer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be five 1535 
hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five 1536 
thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a 1537 
final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 1538 
(3) For a cultivator license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be one 1539 
thousand dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be twenty-1540 
five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal 1541 
of a final license shall be seventy-five thousand dollars. 1542 
(4) For a micro-cultivator license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be 1543 
two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall 1544  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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be five hundred dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal 1545 
of a final license shall be one thousand dollars. 1546 
(5) (A) For a product manufacturer license, the fee to enter the lottery 1547 
shall be seven hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional 1548 
license shall be five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license 1549 
or a renewal of a final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 1550 
(B) For a product manufacturer seeking authorization to expand the 1551 
product manufacturer's authorized activities to include the authorized 1552 
activities of a food and beverage manufacturer, the application fee for 1553 
such expanded authorization shall be five thousand dollars and the fee 1554 
to renew such expanded authorization shall be five thousand dollars. 1555 
The fees due under this subparagraph shall be in addition to the fees 1556 
due under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 1557 
(6) (A) For a food and beverage manufacturer license, the fee to enter 1558 
the lottery shall be two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a 1559 
provisional license shall be one thousand dollars and the fee to receive 1560 
a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be five thousand 1561 
dollars. 1562 
(B) For a food and beverage manufacturer seeking authorization to 1563 
expand the food and beverage manufacturer's authorized activities to 1564 
include the authorized activities of a product manufacturer, the 1565 
application fee for such expanded authorization shall be twenty-five 1566 
thousand dollars and the fee to renew such expanded authorization 1567 
shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. The fees due under this 1568 
subparagraph shall be in addition to the fees due under subparagraph 1569 
(A) of this subdivision. 1570 
(7) (A) For a product packager license, the fee to enter the lottery shall 1571 
be five hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be 1572 
five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal 1573 
of a final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars. 1574 
(B) For a product packager seeking authorization to expand the 1575  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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product packager's authorized activities to include the authorized 1576 
activities of a product manufacturer, the application fee for such 1577 
expanded authorization shall be thirty thousand dollars and the fee to 1578 
renew such expanded authorization shall be thirty thousand dollars. 1579 
The fees due under this subparagraph shall be in lieu of the fees due 1580 
under subparagraph (A) of this subdivision. 1581 
(8) For a delivery service or transporter license, the fee to enter the 1582 
lottery shall be two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional 1583 
license shall be one thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license 1584 
or a renewal of a final license shall be five thousand dollars. 1585 
(9) For an initial or renewal of a backer license, the fee shall be one 1586 
hundred dollars. 1587 
(10) For an initial or renewal of a key employee license, the fee shall 1588 
be one hundred dollars. 1589 
(11) For an initial or renewal of a registration of an employee who is 1590 
not a key employee, the fee shall be fifty dollars. 1591 
(12) The license conversion fee for a dispensary facility to become a 1592 
hybrid retailer shall be one million dollars, except as provided in section 1593 
21a-420u, as amended by this act. 1594 
(13) The license conversion fee for a producer to engage in the adult 1595 
use cannabis market shall be three million dollars, except as provided in 1596 
section 21a-420l. 1597 
(14) For a dispensary facility license, the fee to enter the lottery shall 1598 
be five hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be 1599 
five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal 1600 
of a final license shall be five thousand dollars. 1601 
(15) For a producer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be one 1602 
thousand dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be twenty-1603 
five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal 1604 
of a final license shall be seventy-five thousand dollars. 1605  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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Sec. 14. Subsection (b) of section 21a-420g of the 2024 supplement to 1606 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1607 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1608 
(b) Except as provided in section 21a-420o, as amended by this act, 1609 
and sections 6 to 8, inclusive, of this act, prior to the first date that the 1610 
department begins accepting applications for a license type, the 1611 
department shall determine the maximum number of applications that 1612 
shall be considered for such license type and post such information on 1613 
its Internet web site. Fifty per cent of the maximum number of 1614 
applications that shall be considered for each license type (1) shall be 1615 
selected through a social equity lottery for such license type, and (2) 1616 
shall be reserved by the department for social equity applicants. If, upon 1617 
the close of the application period for a license type, the department 1618 
receives more applications than the maximum number to be considered 1619 
in total or to be reserved for social equity applicants as set forth in this 1620 
subsection, a third-party lottery operator shall conduct a lottery to 1621 
identify applications for review by the department and the Social Equity 1622 
Council. 1623 
Sec. 15. Subsection (b) of section 21a-420m of the 2024 supplement to 1624 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1625 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1626 
(b) The equity joint venture shall be in any cannabis establishment 1627 
licensed business, other than a cultivator license, provided such equity 1628 
joint venture is at least fifty per cent owned and controlled by an 1629 
individual or individuals who meet, or the equity joint venture 1630 
applicant is an individual who meets, the criteria established in 1631 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision [(50)] (54) of section 21a-420, 1632 
as amended by this act. 1633 
Sec. 16. Section 21a-420o of the 2024 supplement to the general 1634 
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1635 
(Effective July 1, 2024): 1636 
(a) Thirty days after the Social Equity Council posts the criteria for 1637  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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social equity applicants on its Internet web site, the department shall 1638 
open up a three-month application period for cultivators during which 1639 
a social equity applicant may apply to the department for a provisional 1640 
cultivator license and final license for a cultivation facility located in a 1641 
disproportionately impacted area without participating in a lottery or 1642 
request for proposals. Such application for a provisional license shall be 1643 
granted upon: (1) [verification] Verification by the Social Equity Council 1644 
that the applicant meets the criteria for a social equity applicant; (2) the 1645 
applicant submitting to and passing a criminal background check; and 1646 
(3) payment of a three-million-dollar fee to be deposited in the Cannabis 1647 
Social Equity and Innovation Fund established in section 21a-420f. Upon 1648 
granting such provisional license, the department shall notify the 1649 
applicant of the project labor agreement requirements of section 21a-1650 
421e. The department shall not grant an application for a provisional 1651 
cultivator license under this subsection after December 31, 2025. 1652 
(b) To obtain a final cultivator license under this section, the social 1653 
equity applicant shall provide evidence of: (1) [a] A contract with an 1654 
entity providing an approved electronic tracking system as described in 1655 
section 21a-421n; (2) a right to exclusively occupy [a] the location [in a 1656 
disproportionately impacted area] at which the cultivation facility will 1657 
be located, which location shall be situated (A) in a disproportionately 1658 
impacted area, or (B) in the case of an exclusively outdoor grow, in a 1659 
municipality containing any portion of a disproportionately impacted 1660 
area, provided (i) such outdoor grow is conducted on land that such 1661 
municipality has approved for agricultural or farming uses, and (ii) all 1662 
cultivation complies with the provisions of the regulations adopted, and 1663 
policies and procedures issued, pursuant to section 21a-421j, as 1664 
amended by this act, permitting the outdoor cultivation of cannabis; (3) 1665 
any necessary local zoning approval and permits for the cultivation 1666 
facility; (4) a business plan; (5) a social equity plan approved by the 1667 
Social Equity Council; (6) written policies for preventing diversion and 1668 
misuse of cannabis and sales of cannabis to underage persons; and (7) 1669 
blueprints of the facility and all other security requirements of the 1670 
department. 1671  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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Sec. 17. Section 21a-420p of the 2024 supplement to the general 1672 
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1673 
(Effective July 1, 2024): 1674 
(a) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may issue or renew a 1675 
license for a person to be a micro-cultivator. No person may act as a 1676 
micro-cultivator or represent that such person is a licensed micro-1677 
cultivator unless such person has obtained a license from the 1678 
department pursuant to this section. 1679 
(b) A micro-cultivator is authorized to cultivate, grow, propagate, 1680 
manufacture and package the cannabis plant at an establishment 1681 
containing not less than two thousand square feet and not more than ten 1682 
thousand square feet of grow space, prior to any expansion authorized 1683 
by the commissioner, provided such micro-cultivator complies with the 1684 
provisions of any regulations adopted under section 21a-420q 1685 
concerning grow space. A micro-cultivator business shall meet physical 1686 
security controls set forth and required by the commissioner. 1687 
(c) A micro-cultivator may apply for expansion of its grow space, in 1688 
increments of five thousand square feet, on an annual basis, from the 1689 
date of initial licensure, if such licensee is not subject to any pending or 1690 
final administrative actions or judicial findings. If there are any pending 1691 
or final administrative actions or judicial findings against the licensee, 1692 
the department shall conduct a suitability review to determine whether 1693 
such expansion shall be granted, which determination shall be final and 1694 
appealable only to the Superior Court. The micro-cultivator may apply 1695 
for an expansion of its business annually upon renewal of its credential 1696 
until such licensee reaches a maximum of twenty-five thousand square 1697 
feet of grow space. If a micro-cultivator desires to expand beyond 1698 
twenty-five thousand square feet of grow space, the micro-cultivator 1699 
licensee may apply for a cultivator license one year after its last 1700 
expansion request. The micro-cultivator licensee shall not be required to 1701 
apply through the lottery application process to convert its license to a 1702 
cultivator license. If a micro-cultivator maintains its license and meets 1703 
all of the application and licensure requirements for a cultivator license, 1704  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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including payment of the cultivator license fee established under section 1705 
21a-420e, as amended by this act, the micro-cultivator licensee shall be 1706 
granted a cultivator license. 1707 
(d) A micro-cultivator may label, manufacture, package and perform 1708 
extractions on any cannabis cultivated, grown and propagated at its 1709 
licensed establishment provided it meets all licensure and application 1710 
requirements for a food and beverage manufact urer, product 1711 
manufacturer or product packager, as applicable. 1712 
(e) A micro-cultivator may sell, transfer or transport its cannabis to a 1713 
dispensary facility, hybrid retailer, retailer, delivery service, food and 1714 
beverage manufacturer, product manufacturer, research program, 1715 
cannabis testing laboratory or product packager, provided the cannabis 1716 
is cultivated, grown and propagated at the micro-cultivator's licensed 1717 
establishment and transported utilizing the micro-cultivator's own 1718 
employees or a transporter. A micro-cultivator shall not gift or transfer 1719 
cannabis or cannabis products at no cost to a consumer as part of a 1720 
commercial transaction. 1721 
(f) [A] (1) Subject to the requirements of this subsection and 1722 
subsection (b) of section 21a-420c, as amended by this act, a micro-1723 
cultivator may sell its own cannabis, including, but not limited to, its 1724 
own cannabis seedlings, to consumers, excluding qualifying patients 1725 
and caregivers, either through a delivery service or utilizing its own 1726 
employees. [, subject to the requirements of subsection (b) of section 21a-1727 
420c.] No cannabis establishment other than a micro-cultivator shall sell 1728 
cannabis seedlings to consumers. 1729 
(2) No micro-cultivator shall sell a cannabis seedling to a consumer 1730 
unless: 1731 
(A) The micro-cultivator cultivated the cannabis seedling in this state 1732 
from seed or clone; 1733 
(B) The cannabis seedling (i) has a standing height of not more than 1734 
six inches measured from the base of the stem to the tallest point of the 1735  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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plant, (ii) does not contain any bud or flower, and (iii) has been tested 1736 
for pesticides and heavy metals in accordance with the laboratory 1737 
testing standards established in the policies and procedures issued, and 1738 
final regulations adopted, by the commissioner pursuant to section 21a-1739 
421j, as amended by this act; and 1740 
(C) A label or informational tag is affixed to the cannabis seedling 1741 
disclosing the following in legible English, black lettering, Times New 1742 
Roman font, flat regular typeface, on a contrasting background and in 1743 
uniform size of not less than one-tenth of one inch, based on a capital 1744 
letter "K": 1745 
(i) The name of the micro-cultivator; 1746 
(ii) A product description for the cannabis seedling; 1747 
(iii) One of the following chemotypes anticipated after flowering: (I) 1748 
"High THC, Low CBD"; (II) "Low THC, High CBD"; or (III) "50/50 THC 1749 
and CBD"; 1750 
(iv) The results of the testing required under subparagraph (B)(iii) of 1751 
this subdivision; 1752 
(v) Directions for optimal care of the cannabis seedling; 1753 
(vi) Unobscured symbols, in a size of not less than one-half inch by 1754 
one-half inch and in a format approved by the commissioner, which 1755 
symbols shall indicate that the cannabis seedling contains THC and is 1756 
not legal or safe for individuals younger than twenty-one years of age; 1757 
and 1758 
(vii) A unique identifier generated by a cannabis analytic tracking 1759 
system maintained by the department and used to track cannabis under 1760 
the policies and procedures issued, and final regulations adopted, by 1761 
the commissioner pursuant to section 21a-421j, as amended by this act. 1762 
(3) Notwithstanding section 21a-421j, as amended by this act, no 1763 
cannabis seedling shall be required to be sold in child-resistant 1764  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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packaging. 1765 
(4) No micro-cultivator shall knowingly sell more than three cannabis 1766 
seedlings to a consumer in any six-month period. 1767 
(5) No micro-cultivator shall accept any returned cannabis seedling. 1768 
(6) Any micro-cultivator that engages in the delivery of cannabis as 1769 
set forth in subdivision (1) of this subsection shall maintain a secure 1770 
location, in a manner approved by the commissioner, at the micro-1771 
cultivator's premises where cannabis that is unable to be delivered may 1772 
be returned to the micro-cultivator. Such secure cannabis return location 1773 
shall meet specifications set forth by the commissioner and published 1774 
on the department's Internet web site or included in regulations adopted 1775 
by the department. A micro-cultivator shall cease delivery of cannabis 1776 
to consumers if [it] the micro-cultivator converts to being a cultivator. 1777 
Sec. 18. Subsection (b) of section 21a-420u of the 2024 supplement to 1778 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1779 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1780 
(b) Any equity joint venture created under this section shall be 1781 
created for the development of a cannabis establishment, other than a 1782 
cultivator, provided such equity joint venture is at least fifty per cent 1783 
owned and controlled by an individual or individuals who meet, or the 1784 
equity joint venture applicant is an individual who meets, the criteria 1785 
established in subparagraphs (A) and (B) of subdivision [(50)] (54) of 1786 
section 21a-420, as amended by this act. 1787 
Sec. 19. Section 21a-420v of the general statutes is repealed and the 1788 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1789 
(a) A dispensary facility or hybrid retailer may submit an application 1790 
to the department, in a form and manner prescribed by the 1791 
commissioner, to relocate its current dispensary facility or hybrid 1792 
retailer location. Such relocation application shall include: 1793 
(1) The number of qualifying patients the applicant served during the 1794  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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six-month period preceding the date of such relocation application, 1795 
broken down by month, and indicating whether such number increased 1796 
or decreased over such six-month period; 1797 
(2) Evidence of (A) alternative dispensary facilities and hybrid 1798 
retailers located within a ten-mile radius of the applicant, prior to the 1799 
proposed relocation, where qualifying patients may obtain medical 1800 
marijuana products, and (B) available public transportation to the 1801 
alternative dispensary facilities and hybrid retailers described in 1802 
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision; 1803 
(3) A statement disclosing whether the applicant will continue to 1804 
provide delivery services to the qualifying patients the applicant serves 1805 
prior to the proposed relocation and, if so, the duration and geographic 1806 
scope of such delivery services; 1807 
(4) A plan to communicate the proposed relocation to qualifying 1808 
patients, including, but not limited to, the content and methods of, and 1809 
timeframes and target audiences for, such communications; and 1810 
(5) A plan to communicate with nearby dispensary facilities and 1811 
hybrid retailers concerning the proposed relocation and the needs of the 1812 
qualifying patients served by the applicant. 1813 
[(a) Until June 30, 2023, the] (b) The commissioner may deny a 1814 
[change of location] relocation application from a dispensary facility or 1815 
hybrid retailer based on the needs of qualifying patients. 1816 
[(b)] (c) Prior to June 30, 2022, the commissioner shall not approve the 1817 
relocation of a dispensary facility or hybrid retailer to a location that is 1818 
further than ten miles from its current dispensary facility or hybrid 1819 
retailer location. 1820 
Sec. 20. Subsection (d) of section 21a-420w of the 2024 supplement to 1821 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1822 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1823 
(d) A food and beverage manufacturer may sell, transfer or transport 1824  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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its own products to, or obtain cannabis from, a cannabis establishment, 1825 
cannabis testing laboratory or research program, utilizing its employees 1826 
or a transporter. A food and beverage manufacturer may not deliver any 1827 
cannabis, cannabis products or food or beverage incorporating cannabis 1828 
to a consumer, directly or through a delivery service. 1829 
Sec. 21. Subsection (d) of section 21a-420x of the 2024 supplement to 1830 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1831 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1832 
(d) A product manufacturer may sell, transfer or transport its own 1833 
products to, or obtain cannabis from, a cannabis establishment, cannabis 1834 
testing laboratory or research program, provided such transportation is 1835 
performed by utilizing its own employees or a transporter. A product 1836 
manufacturer may not deliver any cannabis to a consumer directly or 1837 
through a delivery service. 1838 
Sec. 22. Section 21a-420y of the 2024 supplement to the general 1839 
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 1840 
(Effective July 1, 2024): 1841 
(a) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may issue or renew a 1842 
license for a person to be a product packager. No person may act as a 1843 
product packager or represent that such person is a product packager 1844 
unless such person has obtained a license from the department pursuant 1845 
to this section. 1846 
(b) A product packager may obtain cannabis from a producer, 1847 
cultivator, micro-cultivator, food and beverage manufacturer or a 1848 
product manufacturer, provided the product packager utilizes its own 1849 
employees or a transporter. The product packager may sell, transfer or 1850 
transport cannabis to and from any cannabis establishment, cannabis 1851 
testing laboratory or research program, provided the product packager 1852 
only transports cannabis packaged at its licensed establishment and 1853 
utilizing its own employees or a transporter. 1854 
(c) A product packager shall be responsible for ensuring that 1855  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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cannabis products are labeled and packaged in compliance with the 1856 
provisions of RERACA and the policies and procedures issued by the 1857 
commissioner to implement, and any regulations adopted pursuant to, 1858 
RERACA. 1859 
(d) A product packager shall ensure all equipment utilized for 1860 
processing and packaging cannabis is sanitary and inspected regularly 1861 
to deter the adulteration of cannabis. 1862 
(e) (1) A product packager may expand the product packager's 1863 
authorized activities to include the authorized activities of a product 1864 
manufacturer if: (A) The product packager submits to the department 1865 
(i) a completed license expansion application on a form and in a manner 1866 
prescribed by the commissioner, and (ii) the fee prescribed in 1867 
subparagraph (B) of subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of section 21a-420e, 1868 
as amended by this act; and (B) the commissioner authorizes the product 1869 
packager, in writing, to expand such product packager's authorized 1870 
activities to include the authorized activities of a product manufacturer. 1871 
(2) A product packager that expands the product packager's 1872 
authorized activities to include the authorized activities of a product 1873 
manufacturer under this subsection shall comply with all provisions of 1874 
this chapter, and all regulations, policies and procedures prescribed 1875 
pursuant to this chapter, concerning product manufacturers. In the 1876 
event of a conflict between any provision of this chapter, or any 1877 
regulation, policy or procedure prescribed pursuant to this chapter, 1878 
concerning product packagers and any such provision, regulation, 1879 
policy or procedure concerning product manufacturers, the provision, 1880 
regulation, policy or procedure imposing the more stringent public 1881 
health and safety standard shall prevail. 1882 
Sec. 23. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 21a-420z of the 1883 
2024 supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following 1884 
is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1885 
(b) Upon application for a delivery service or transporter license, the 1886 
applicant shall indicate whether the applicant is applying to (1) 1887  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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transport cannabis [(1)] and manufacturer hemp products, as defined in 1888 
section 22-61l, between cannabis establishments, in which case the 1889 
applicant shall apply for a transporter license, or (2) transport cannabis 1890 
from certain cannabis establishments to consumers or qualifying 1891 
patients and caregivers, or a combination thereof, in which case the 1892 
applicant shall apply for a delivery service license. 1893 
(c) A delivery service may (1) deliver cannabis from a micro-1894 
cultivator, retailer, or hybrid retailer directly to a consumer, and (2) 1895 
deliver cannabis and medical marijuana products from a hybrid retailer 1896 
or dispensary facility directly to a qualifying patient, caregiver, or 1897 
hospice or other inpatient care facility licensed by the Department of 1898 
Public Health pursuant to chapter 368v that has protocols for the 1899 
handling and distribution of cannabis that have been approved by the 1900 
Department of Consumer Protection. A delivery service may not store 1901 
or maintain control of cannabis or medical marijuana products for more 1902 
than twenty-four hours between the point when a consumer, qualifying 1903 
patient, caregiver or facility places an order, until the time that the 1904 
cannabis or medical marijuana product is delivered to such consumer, 1905 
qualifying patient, caregiver or facility. 1906 
(d) A transporter may deliver cannabis and manufacturer hemp 1907 
products, as defined in section 22-61l, between cannabis establishments, 1908 
research programs and cannabis testing laboratories and shall not store 1909 
or maintain control of cannabis for more than twenty-four hours from 1910 
the time the transporter obtains the cannabis from a cannabis 1911 
establishment, research program or cannabis testing laboratory until the 1912 
time such cannabis is delivered to the destination. 1913 
Sec. 24. Subsection (b) of section 21a-421j of the 2024 supplement to 1914 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 1915 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 1916 
(b) The commissioner shall adopt regulations in accordance with 1917 
chapter 54 to implement the provisions of RERACA. Notwithstanding 1918 
the requirements of sections 4-168 to 4-172, inclusive, in order to 1919  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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effectuate the purposes of RERACA and protect public health and 1920 
safety, prior to adopting such regulations the commissioner shall issue 1921 
policies and procedures to implement the provisions of RERACA that 1922 
shall have the force and effect of law. The commissioner shall post all 1923 
policies and procedures on the department's Internet web site and 1924 
submit such policies and procedures to the Secretary of the State for 1925 
posting on the eRegulations System, at least fifteen days prior to the 1926 
effective date of any policy or procedure. The commissioner shall also 1927 
provide such policies and procedures, in a manner prescribed by the 1928 
commissioner, to each licensee. Any such policy or procedure shall no 1929 
longer be effective upon the earlier of either the adoption of the policy 1930 
or procedure as a final regulation under section 4-172 or forty-eight 1931 
months from June 22, 2021, if such regulations have not been submitted 1932 
to the legislative regulation review committee for consideration under 1933 
section 4-170. The commissioner shall issue policies and procedures and 1934 
thereafter final regulations that include, but are not limited to, the 1935 
following: 1936 
(1) Setting appropriate dosage, potency, concentration and serving 1937 
size limits and delineation requirements for cannabis, provided a 1938 
standardized serving of edible cannabis product or beverage, other than 1939 
a medical marijuana product, shall contain not more than five 1940 
milligrams of THC. 1941 
(2) Requiring that each single standardized serving of cannabis 1942 
product in a multiple-serving edible product or beverage is physically 1943 
demarked in a way that enables a reasonable person to determine how 1944 
much of the product constitutes a single serving and a maximum 1945 
amount of THC per multiple-serving edible cannabis product or 1946 
beverage. 1947 
(3) Requiring that, if it is impracticable to clearly demark every 1948 
standardized serving of cannabis product or to make each standardized 1949 
serving easily separable in an edible cannabis product or beverage, the 1950 
product, other than cannabis concentrate or medical marijuana product, 1951 
shall contain not more than five milligrams of THC per unit of sale. 1952  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(4) Establishing, in consultation with the Department of Mental 1953 
Health and Addiction Services, consumer health materials that shall be 1954 
posted or distributed, as specified by the commissioner, by cannabis 1955 
establishments to maximize dissemination to cannabis consumers. 1956 
Consumer health materials may include pamphlets, packaging inserts, 1957 
signage, online and printed advertisements and advisories and printed 1958 
health materials. 1959 
(5) Imposing labeling and packaging requirements for cannabis sold 1960 
by a cannabis establishment that include, but are not limited to, the 1961 
following: 1962 
(A) Inclusion of universal symbols to indicate that cannabis, or a 1963 
cannabis product, contains THC and is not legal or safe for individuals 1964 
younger than twenty-one years of age, and prescribe how such product 1965 
and product packaging shall utilize and exhibit such symbols. 1966 
(B) A disclosure concerning the length of time it typically takes for 1967 
the cannabis to affect an individual, including that certain forms of 1968 
cannabis take longer to have an effect. 1969 
(C) A notation of the amount of cannabis the cannabis product is 1970 
considered the equivalent to. 1971 
(D) A list of ingredients and all additives for cannabis. 1972 
(E) [Child-resistant] Except as provided in subdivision (3) of 1973 
subsection (f) of section 21a-420p, as amended by this act, child-1974 
resistant, tamper-resistant and light-resistant packaging. [, including 1975 
requiring that an edible product be individually wrapped.] For the 1976 
purposes of this subparagraph, packaging shall be deemed to be (i) 1977 
child-resistant if the packaging satisfies the standard for special 1978 
packaging established in 16 CFR 1700.1(b)(4), as amended from time to 1979 
time, (ii) tamper-resistant if the packaging has at least one barrier to, or 1980 
indicator of, entry that would preclude the contents of such packaging 1981 
from being accessed or adulterated without indicating to a reasonable 1982 
person that such packaging has been breached, and (iii) light-resistant if 1983  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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the packaging is entirely and uniformly opaque and protects the entirety 1984 
of the contents of such packaging from the effects of light. 1985 
(F) [Packaging for] Except as provided in subdivision (3) of 1986 
subsection (f) of section 21a-420p, as amended by this act, (i) packaging 1987 
for cannabis intended for multiple servings to be resealable in such a 1988 
manner so as to render such packaging continuously child-resistant, as 1989 
described in subparagraph (E)(i) of this subdivision, and preserve the 1990 
integrity of the contents of such packaging, and (ii) if packaging for 1991 
cannabis intended for multiple servings contains any edible cannabis 1992 
product, for each single standardized serving to be easily discernible 1993 
and (I) individually wrapped, or (II) physically demarked and 1994 
delineated as required under this subsection. 1995 
(G) Impervious packaging that protects the contents of such 1996 
packaging from contamination and exposure to any toxic or harmful 1997 
substance, including, but not limited to, any glue or other adhesive or 1998 
substance that is incorporated in such packaging. 1999 
(H) Product tracking information sufficient to determine where and 2000 
when the cannabis was grown and manufactured such that a product 2001 
recall could be effectuated. 2002 
(I) A net weight statement. 2003 
(J) A recommended use by or expiration date. 2004 
(K) Standard and uniform packaging and labeling, including, but not 2005 
limited to, requirements (i) regarding branding or logos, (ii) that all 2006 
packaging be opaque, and (iii) that amounts and concentrations of THC 2007 
and cannabidiol, per serving and per package, be clearly marked on the 2008 
packaging or label of any cannabis product sold. 2009 
(L) For any cannabis concentrate cannabis product that contains a 2010 
total THC percentage greater than thirty per cent, a warning that such 2011 
cannabis product is a high-potency product and may increase the risk 2012 
of psychosis. 2013  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(M) Chemotypes, which shall be displayed as (i) "High THC, Low 2014 
CBD" where the ratio of THC to CBD is greater than five to one and the 2015 
total THC percentage is at least fifteen per cent, (ii) "Moderate THC, 2016 
Moderate CBD" where the ratio of THC to CBD is at least one to five but 2017 
not greater than five to one and the total THC percentage is greater than 2018 
five per cent but less than fifteen per cent, (iii) "Low THC, High CBD" 2019 
where the ratio of THC to CBD is less than one to five and the total THC 2020 
percentage is not greater than five per cent, or (iv) the chemotype 2021 
described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of this subparagraph that most closely 2022 
fits the cannabis or cannabis product, as determined by mathematical 2023 
analysis of the ratio of THC to CBD, where such cannabis or cannabis 2024 
product does not fit a chemotype described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of 2025 
this subparagraph. 2026 
(N) A requirement that, prior to being sold and transferred to a 2027 
consumer, qualifying patient or caregiver, cannabis packaging be 2028 
clearly labeled, whether printed directly on such packaging or affixed 2029 
by way of a separate label, other than an extended content label, with: 2030 
(i) A unique identifier generated by a cannabis analytic tracking 2031 
system maintained by the department and used to track cannabis under 2032 
the policies and procedures issued, and final regulations adopted, by 2033 
the commissioner pursuant to this section; and 2034 
(ii) The following information concerning the cannabis contained in 2035 
such packaging, which shall be in legible English, black lettering, Times 2036 
New Roman font, flat regular typeface, on a contrasting background 2037 
and in uniform size of not less than one-tenth of one inch, based on a 2038 
capital letter "K", which information shall also be available on the 2039 
Internet web site of the cannabis establishment that sells and transfers 2040 
such cannabis: 2041 
(I) The name of such cannabis, as registered with the department 2042 
under the policies and procedures issued, and final regulations adopted, 2043 
by the commissioner pursuant to this section. 2044 
(II) The expiration date, which shall not account for any refrigeration 2045  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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after such cannabis is sold and transferred to the consumer, qualifying 2046 
patient or caregiver. 2047 
(III) The net weight or volume, expressed in metric and imperial 2048 
units. 2049 
(IV) The standardized serving size, expressed in customary units, and 2050 
the number of servings included in such packaging, if applicable. 2051 
(V) Directions for use and storage. 2052 
(VI) Each active ingredient comprising at least one per cent of such 2053 
cannabis, including cannabinoids, isomers, esters, ethers and salts and 2054 
salts of isomers, esters and ethers, and all quantities thereof expressed 2055 
in metric units and as a percentage of volume. 2056 
(VII) A list of all known allergens, as identified by the federal Food 2057 
and Drug Administration, contained in such cannabis, or the denotation 2058 
"no known FDA identified allergens" if such cannabis does not contain 2059 
any allergen identified by the federal Food and Drug Administration. 2060 
(VIII) The following warning statement within, and outlined by, a red 2061 
box: 2062 
"This product is not FDA-approved, may be intoxicating, cause long-2063 
term physical and mental health problems, and have delayed side 2064 
effects. It is illegal to operate a vehicle or machinery under the influence 2065 
of cannabis. Keep away from children." 2066 
(IX) At least one of the following warning statements, rotated 2067 
quarterly on an alternating basis: 2068 
"Warning: Frequent and prolonged use of cannabis can contribute to 2069 
mental health problems over time, including anxiety, depression, 2070 
stunted brain development and impaired memory." 2071 
"Warning: Consumption while pregnant or breastfeeding may be 2072 
harmful." 2073  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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"Warning: Cannabis has intoxicating effects and may be habit-2074 
forming and addictive." 2075 
"Warning: Consuming more than the recommended amount may 2076 
result in adverse effects requiring medical attention.". 2077 
(X) All information necessary to comply with labeling requirements 2078 
imposed under the laws of this state [or] and federal law, including, but 2079 
not limited to, sections 21a-91 to 21a-120, inclusive, and 21a-151 to 21a-2080 
159, inclusive, the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 USC 301 et 2081 
seq., as amended from time to time, and the federal Fair Packaging and 2082 
Labeling Act, 15 USC 1451 et seq., as amended from time to time, for 2083 
similar products that do not contain cannabis. 2084 
(XI) Such additional warning labels for certain cannabis products as 2085 
the commissioner may require and post on the department's Internet 2086 
web site. 2087 
(6) Establishing laboratory testing standards, consumer disclosures 2088 
concerning mold and yeast in cannabis and permitted remediation 2089 
practices. 2090 
(7) Restricting forms of cannabis products and cannabis product 2091 
delivery systems to ensure consumer safety and deter public health 2092 
concerns. 2093 
(8) Prohibiting certain manufacturing methods, or inclusion of 2094 
additives to cannabis products, including, but not limited to, (A) added 2095 
flavoring, terpenes or other additives unless approved by the 2096 
department, or (B) any form of nicotine or other additive containing 2097 
nicotine. 2098 
(9) Prohibiting cannabis product types that appeal to children. 2099 
(10) Establishing physical and cyber security requirements related to 2100 
build out, monitoring and protocols for cannabis establishments as a 2101 
requirement for licensure. 2102  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(11) Placing temporary limits on the sale of cannabis in the adult-use 2103 
market, if deemed appropriate and necessary by the commissioner, in 2104 
response to a shortage of cannabis for qualifying patients. 2105 
(12) Requiring retailers and hybrid retailers to make best efforts to 2106 
provide access to (A) low-dose THC products, including products that 2107 
have one milligram and two and a half milligrams of THC per dose, and 2108 
(B) high-dose CBD products. 2109 
(13) Requiring producers, cultivators, micro-cultivators, product 2110 
manufacturers and food and beverage manufacturers to register brand 2111 
names for cannabis, in accordance with the policies and procedures and 2112 
subject to the fee set forth in, regulations adopted under chapter 420f. 2113 
(14) Prohibiting a cannabis establishment from selling, other than the 2114 
sale of medical marijuana products between cannabis establishments 2115 
and the sale of cannabis to qualified patients and caregivers, (A) 2116 
cannabis flower or other cannabis plant material with a total THC 2117 
concentration greater than thirty per cent on a dry-weight basis, and (B) 2118 
any cannabis product other than cannabis flower and cannabis plant 2119 
material with a total THC concentration greater than sixty per cent on a 2120 
dry-weight basis, except that the provisions of subparagraph (B) of this 2121 
subdivision shall not apply to the sale of prefilled cartridges for use in 2122 
an electronic cannabis delivery system, as defined in section 19a-342a 2123 
and the department may adjust the percentages set forth in 2124 
subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision in regulations adopted 2125 
pursuant to this section for purposes of public health or to address 2126 
market access or shortage. As used in this subdivision, "cannabis plant 2127 
material" means material from the cannabis plant, as defined in section 2128 
21a-279a. 2129 
(15) Permitting the outdoor cultivation of cannabis. 2130 
(16) Prohibiting packaging that is (A) visually similar to any 2131 
commercially similar product that does not contain cannabis, or (B) used 2132 
for any good that is marketed to individuals reasonably expected to be 2133 
younger than twenty-one years of age. 2134  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(17) Allowing packaging to include a picture of the cannabis product 2135 
and contain a logo of one cannabis establishment, which logo may be 2136 
comprised of not more than three colors and provided neither black nor 2137 
white shall be considered one of such three colors. 2138 
(18) Requiring packaging to (A) be entirely and uniformly one color, 2139 
and (B) not incorporate any information, print, embossing, debossing, 2140 
graphic or hidden feature, other than any permitted or required label. 2141 
(19) Requiring that packaging and labeling for an edible cannabis 2142 
product, excluding the warning labels required under this subsection 2143 
and a picture of the cannabis product described in subdivision (17) of 2144 
this subsection but including, but not limited to, the logo of the cannabis 2145 
establishment, shall only be comprised of black and white or a 2146 
combination thereof. 2147 
(20) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, 2148 
requiring that delivery device cartridges be labeled, in a clearly legible 2149 
manner and in as large a font as the size of the device reasonably allows, 2150 
with only the following information (i) the name of the cannabis 2151 
establishment where the cannabis is grown or manufactured, (ii) the 2152 
cannabis brand, (iii) the total THC and total CBD content contained 2153 
within the delivery device cartridge, (iv) the expiration date, and (v) the 2154 
unique identifier generated by a cannabis analytic tracking system 2155 
maintained by the department and used to track cannabis under the 2156 
policies and procedures issued, and final regulations adopted, by the 2157 
commissioner pursuant to this section. 2158 
(B) A cannabis establishment may emboss, deboss or similarly print 2159 
the name of the cannabis establishment's business entity, and one logo 2160 
with not more than three colors, on a delivery device cartridge. 2161 
(21) Prescribing signage to be prominently displayed at dispensary 2162 
facilities, retailers and hybrid retailers disclosing (A) possible health 2163 
risks related to mold, and (B) the use and possible health risks related to 2164 
the use of mold remediation techniques. 2165  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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Sec. 25. Subsection (b) of section 21a-421l of the general statutes is 2166 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2167 
2024): 2168 
(b) A cannabis establishment shall (1) store all cannabis in such a 2169 
manner as to prevent diversion, theft or loss, (2) make cannabis 2170 
accessible only to the minimum number of specifically authorized 2171 
employees essential for efficient operation, and (3) return any cannabis 2172 
to a secure location at the end of the scheduled business day. For the 2173 
purposes of this subsection, a location shall be deemed to be secure if 2174 
the location satisfies the requirements imposed in subsection (b) of 2175 
section 21a-262-4 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies for 2176 
controlled substances listed in schedules III, IV and V of the Connecticut 2177 
controlled substance scheduling regulations adopted pursuant to 2178 
section 21a-243. 2179 
Sec. 26. Subsection (b) of section 21a-421bb of the 2024 supplement to 2180 
the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2181 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 2182 
(b) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, cannabis 2183 
establishments shall not: 2184 
(1) Advertise, including, but not limited to, through a business name 2185 
or logo, cannabis, cannabis paraphernalia or goods or services related to 2186 
cannabis: 2187 
(A) In ways that target or are designed to appeal to individuals under 2188 
twenty-one years of age, including, but not limited to, spokespersons or 2189 
celebrities who appeal to individuals under the legal age to purchase 2190 
cannabis or cannabis products, depictions of a person under twenty-five 2191 
years of age consuming cannabis, or, the inclusion of objects, such as 2192 
toys, characters or cartoon characters, suggesting the presence of a 2193 
person under twenty-one years of age, or any other depiction designed 2194 
in any manner to be appealing to a person under twenty-one years of 2195 
age; or 2196  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(B) By using any image, or any other visual representation, of the 2197 
cannabis plant or any part of the cannabis plant, including, but not 2198 
limited to, the leaf of the cannabis plant; 2199 
(2) Engage in any advertising by means of any form of billboard 2200 
within one thousand five hundred feet of an elementary or secondary 2201 
school ground or a house of worship, recreation center or facility, child 2202 
care center, playground, public park or library, or engage in any 2203 
advertising by means of a billboard between the hours of six o'clock a.m. 2204 
and eleven o'clock p.m.; 2205 
(3) Engage in advertising by means of any television, radio, Internet, 2206 
mobile application, social media or other electronic communication, 2207 
billboard or other outdoor signage, or print publication unless the 2208 
cannabis establishment has reliable evidence that at least ninety per cent 2209 
of the audience for the advertisement is reasonably expected to be 2210 
twenty-one years of age or older; 2211 
(4) Engage in advertising or marketing directed toward location-2212 
based devices, including, but not limited to, cellular phones, unless the 2213 
marketing is a mobile device application installed on the device by the 2214 
owner of the device who is twenty-one years of age or older and 2215 
includes a permanent and easy opt-out feature and warnings that the 2216 
use of cannabis is restricted to persons twenty-one years of age or older; 2217 
(5) Advertise cannabis or cannabis products in a manner claiming or 2218 
implying, or permit any employee of the cannabis establishment to 2219 
claim or imply, that such products have curative or therapeutic effects, 2220 
or that any other medical claim is true, or allow any employee to 2221 
promote cannabis for a wellness purpose unless such claims are 2222 
substantiated as set forth in regulations adopted under chapter 420f or 2223 
verbally conveyed by a licensed pharmacist or other licensed medical 2224 
practitioner in the course of business in, or while representing, a hybrid 2225 
retail or dispensary facility; 2226 
(6) Sponsor charitable, sports, musical, artistic, cultural, social or 2227 
other similar events or advertising at, or in connection with, such an 2228  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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event unless the cannabis establishment has reliable evidence that (A) 2229 
not more than ten per cent of the in-person audience at the event is 2230 
reasonably expected to be under the legal age to purchase cannabis or 2231 
cannabis products, and (B) not more than ten per cent of the audience 2232 
that will watch, listen or participate in the event is expected to be under 2233 
the legal age to purchase cannabis products; 2234 
(7) Advertise cannabis, cannabis products or cannabis paraphernalia 2235 
in any physical form visible to the public within five hundred feet of an 2236 
elementary or secondary school ground or a recreation center or facility, 2237 
child care center, playground, public park or library; 2238 
(8) Cultivate cannabis or manufacture cannabis products for 2239 
distribution outside of this state in violation of federal law, advertise in 2240 
any way that encourages the transportation of cannabis across state lines 2241 
or otherwise encourages illegal activity; 2242 
(9) Except for dispensary facilities and hybrid retailers, exhibit within 2243 
or upon the outside of the facility used in the operation of a cannabis 2244 
establishment, or include in any advertisement, the word "dispensary" 2245 
or any variation of such term or any other words, displays or symbols 2246 
indicating that such store, shop or place of business is a dispensary; 2247 
(10) Exhibit within or upon the outside of the premises subject to the 2248 
cannabis establishment license, or include in any advertisement the 2249 
words "drug store", "pharmacy", "apothecary", "drug", "drugs" or 2250 
"medicine shop" or any combination of such terms or any other words, 2251 
displays or symbols indicating that such store, shop or place of business 2252 
is a pharmacy; 2253 
(11) Advertise on or in public or private vehicles or at bus stops, taxi 2254 
stands, transportation waiting areas, train stations, airports or other 2255 
similar transportation venues including, but not limited to, vinyl-2256 
wrapped vehicles or signs or logos on transportation vehicles not 2257 
owned by a cannabis establishment; 2258 
(12) Display cannabis, cannabis products or any image, or any other 2259  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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visual representation, of the cannabis plant or any part of the cannabis 2260 
plant, including, but not limited to, the leaf of the cannabis plant, so as 2261 
to be clearly visible to a person from the exterior of the facility used in 2262 
the operation of a cannabis establishment, or display signs or other 2263 
printed material advertising any brand or any kind of cannabis or 2264 
cannabis product, or including any image, or any other visual 2265 
representation, of the cannabis plant or any part of the cannabis plant, 2266 
including, but not limited to, the leaf of the cannabis plant, on the 2267 
exterior of any facility used in the operation of a cannabis establishment; 2268 
(13) Utilize radio or loudspeaker, in a vehicle or in or outside of a 2269 
facility used in the operation of a cannabis establishment, for the 2270 
purposes of advertising the sale of cannabis or cannabis products; [or] 2271 
(14) Operate any web site advertising or depicting cannabis, cannabis 2272 
products or cannabis paraphernalia unless such web site verifies that 2273 
the entrants or users are twenty-one years of age or older; or 2274 
(15) Engage in advertising or marketing that includes a discounted 2275 
price or other promotional offering as an inducement to purchase any 2276 
cannabis or cannabis product that is not a medical marijuana product. 2277 
Sec. 27. Section 22-61m of the 2024 supplement to the general statutes 2278 
is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 2279 
1, 2024): 2280 
(a) No person shall manufacture in the state without a license to 2281 
manufacture issued by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection. 2282 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a person who is 2283 
licensed in another state to manufacture, handle, store and market 2284 
manufacturer hemp products from applying for and obtaining a license 2285 
in accordance with the provisions of this section. 2286 
(b) Each applicant for a manufacturer license shall submit an 2287 
application on a form and in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner 2288 
of Consumer Protection. 2289  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(c) The following fees shall apply for a license to manufacture: 2290 
(1) A nonrefundable license application fee of seventy-five dollars; 2291 
and 2292 
(2) A nonrefundable licensing fee of three hundred seventy-five 2293 
dollars for a license to manufacture hemp. 2294 
(d) A license to manufacture issued by the Commissioner of 2295 
Consumer Protection pursuant to this section shall expire triennially on 2296 
June thirtieth. Such licenses shall not be transferable. 2297 
(e) In accordance with a hearing held pursuant to chapter 54, the 2298 
Commissioner of Consumer Protection may deny, suspend or revoke a 2299 
manufacturer license, issue fines of not more than [two thousand five 2300 
hundred] five thousand dollars per violation and place conditions upon 2301 
a manufacturer licensee who violates the provisions of this section and 2302 
any regulation adopted pursuant to this section. 2303 
(f) (1) Any individual who manufactures in this state without 2304 
obtaining a license pursuant to this section or who manufactures in this 2305 
state after such entity's license is suspended or revoked shall be fined 2306 
[two hundred fifty] ten thousand dollars in accordance with the 2307 
provisions of section 51-164n. 2308 
(2) Any entity who manufactures in this state without obtaining a 2309 
license pursuant to this section, or who manufactures in this state after 2310 
having a license suspended, shall be fined not more than [two thousand 2311 
five hundred] five thousand dollars per violation after a hearing 2312 
conducted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54. 2313 
(g) Nothing in this chapter or any regulations adopted pursuant to 2314 
this chapter shall be construed to apply to persons licensed pursuant to 2315 
section 21a-408i nor to require persons licensed pursuant to said section 2316 
to obtain a license pursuant to this chapter. 2317 
(h) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may inspect and shall 2318 
have access to the buildings, equipment, supplies, vehicles, records, real 2319  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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property and other information of any manufacturer applicant or 2320 
licensee that the commissioner deems necessary to carry out the 2321 
commissioner's duties pursuant to this section. 2322 
(i) (1) Each manufacturer shall follow the protocol in this subsection 2323 
for disposing of cannabis in the event that any hemp or hemp product 2324 
is deemed to exceed the prescribed THC concentration, as determined 2325 
by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or a manufacturer 2326 
licensee in possession of hemp or hemp products who desires to dispose 2327 
of obsolete, misbranded, excess or otherwise undesired product. Each 2328 
manufacturer licensee shall be responsible for all costs of disposal of 2329 
hemp samples and any hemp produced by such licensee that violates 2330 
the provisions of this section or any regulation adopted pursuant to this 2331 
section. Any cannabis that exceeds the prescribed THC concentration 2332 
allowable in hemp or hemp products shall be immediately embargoed 2333 
by such manufacturer and clearly labeled as adulterated by such 2334 
licensee and such licensee shall immediately notify both the Department 2335 
of Consumer Protection and the Department of Agriculture, in writing, 2336 
of such adulterated product. Such adulterated product shall be 2337 
destroyed and disposed of by the following method, as determined by 2338 
the Commissioner of Consumer Protection: 2339 
(A) Surrender, without compensation, of such hemp or hemp product 2340 
to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection who shall be responsible 2341 
for the destruction and disposal of such adulterated product; or 2342 
(B) By disposal in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of 2343 
Consumer Protection. 2344 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 2345 
subsection, upon written request of a manufacturer, the Commissioner 2346 
of Consumer Protection may permit such manufacturer to combine 2347 
different batches of raw hemp plant material to achieve a THC 2348 
concentration of 0.3 per cent on a dry weight basis, in lieu of embargo 2349 
or destruction. 2350 
(j) The manufacturer or manufacturer's authorized designee 2351  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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disposing of the hemp or hemp products shall maintain and make 2352 
available to the Commissioner of Consumer Protection a record of each 2353 
such disposal or destruction of product indicating: 2354 
(1) The date, time and location of disposal or destruction; 2355 
(2) The manner of disposal or destruction; 2356 
(3) The batch or lot information and quantity of hemp or hemp 2357 
product disposed of or destroyed; and 2358 
(4) The signatures of the persons disposing of the hemp or hemp 2359 
products, the authorized representative of the Commissioner of 2360 
Consumer Protection and any other persons present during the 2361 
disposal. 2362 
(k) Any hemp intended to be manufactured by a manufacturer into a 2363 
manufacturer hemp product shall be tested by an independent testing 2364 
laboratory located in this state. A manufacturer licensee shall make 2365 
available samples, in an amount and type determined by the 2366 
Commissioner of Consumer Protection, of hemp for an independent 2367 
testing laboratory employee to select random samples. The independent 2368 
testing laboratory shall test each sample in accordance with the 2369 
laboratory testing standards established in policies, procedures and 2370 
regulations adopted by the commissioner pursuant to section 21a-421j, 2371 
as amended by this act. 2372 
(l) Once a batch of hemp, intended to be sold as a manufacturer hemp 2373 
product, has been homogenized for sample testing and eventual 2374 
packaging and sale, until the independent testing laboratory provides 2375 
the results from its tests and analysis, the manufacturer shall segregate 2376 
and withhold from use the entire batch of hemp that is intended for use 2377 
as a manufacturer hemp product, except the samples that have been 2378 
removed by the independent testing laboratory for testing. During this 2379 
period of segregation, the manufacturer licensee shall maintain the 2380 
hemp batch in a secure, cool and dry location, as prescribed by the 2381 
Commissioner of Consumer Protection, so as to prevent the hemp from 2382  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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becoming adulterated. Such manufacturer shall not manufacture or sell 2383 
a manufacturer hemp product prior to the time that the independent 2384 
testing laboratory completes testing and analysis and provides such 2385 
results, in writing, to the manufacturer licensee who initiated such 2386 
testing. 2387 
(m) An independent testing laboratory shall immediately return or 2388 
dispose of any hemp or manufacturer hemp product upon the 2389 
completion of any testing, use or research. If an independent testing 2390 
laboratory disposes of hemp or manufacturer hemp products, the 2391 
laboratory shall dispose of such hemp in the following manner, as 2392 
determined by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection: 2393 
(1) By surrender, without compensation, of such hemp or 2394 
manufacturer hemp product to the Commissioner of Consumer 2395 
Protection who shall be responsible for the destruction and disposal of 2396 
such hemp or hemp product; or 2397 
(2) By disposal in a manner prescribed by the Commissioner of 2398 
Consumer Protection. 2399 
(n) If a sample does not pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy 2400 
metal or pesticide chemical residue test, based on the laboratory testing 2401 
standards established in policies, procedures and regulations adopted 2402 
by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to section 21a-2403 
421j, as amended by this act, the manufacturer licensee who sent such 2404 
batch for testing shall: 2405 
(1) Retest and reanalyze the hemp from which the sample was taken 2406 
by having an employee from the same laboratory randomly select 2407 
another sample from the same hemp batch. If the sample used to retest 2408 
or reanalyze such hemp yields satisfactory results for all testing 2409 
required under this section, an employee from a different laboratory 2410 
shall randomly select a different sample from the same hemp batch for 2411 
testing. If both samples yield satisfactory results for all testing required 2412 
under this section, the hemp batch from which the samples were taken 2413 
shall be released for manufacturing, processing and sale; 2414  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(2) If a remediation plan sufficient to ensure public health and safety 2415 
is submitted to and approved by the commissioner, remediate the hemp 2416 
batch from which the sample was taken and have a laboratory employee 2417 
randomly select a sample from such remediated hemp batch for testing. 2418 
If such randomly selected sample yields satisfactory results for any 2419 
testing required under this section, an employee from a different 2420 
laboratory shall randomly select a different sample from the same hemp 2421 
batch for testing. If both samples yield satisfactory results for all testing 2422 
required under this section, the hemp batch from which the samples 2423 
were taken may be released for manufacturing, processing or sale; or 2424 
(3) If the manufacturer does not retest or remediate, or if any 2425 
subsequent laboratory testing does not yield satisfactory results for any 2426 
testing required under this section, dispose of the entire batch from 2427 
which the sample was taken in accordance with procedures established 2428 
by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to subdivision 2429 
(1) of subsection (i) of this section. 2430 
(o) If a sample passes the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy metal 2431 
and pesticide chemical residue test, the independent testing laboratory 2432 
shall release the entire batch for manufacturing, processing or sale. 2433 
(p) The independent testing laboratory shall file with the Department 2434 
of Consumer Protection an electronic copy of each laboratory test result 2435 
for any batch that does not pass the microbiological, mycotoxin, heavy 2436 
metal or pesticide chemical residue test, at the same time that it 2437 
transmits such results to the manufacturer licensee who requested such 2438 
testing. Each independent testing laboratory shall maintain the test 2439 
results of each tested batch for a period of three years and shall make 2440 
such results available to the Department of Consumer Protection upon 2441 
request. 2442 
(q) Manufacturers shall maintain records required by the federal act, 2443 
this section, any regulation adopted pursuant to this section and the 2444 
policies, procedures and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of 2445 
Consumer Protection pursuant to section 21a-421j, as amended by this 2446  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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act. Each manufacturer shall make such records available to the 2447 
Department of Consumer Protection immediately upon request and in 2448 
electronic format, if available. 2449 
(r) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may adopt 2450 
regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to 2451 
implement the provisions of this section including, but not limited to, 2452 
establishing sampling and testing procedures to ensure compliance 2453 
with this section, prescribing storage and disposal procedures for hemp, 2454 
marijuana and manufacturer hemp products that fail to pass 2455 
Department of Consumer Protection prescribed independent testing 2456 
laboratory testing standards and establishing advertising and labeling 2457 
requirements for manufacturer hemp products. 2458 
(s) Any claim of health impacts, medical effects or physical or mental 2459 
benefits shall be prohibited on any advertising for, labeling of or 2460 
marketing of manufacturer hemp products regardless of whether such 2461 
manufacturer hemp products were manufactured in this state or 2462 
another jurisdiction. Any violation of this subsection shall be deemed an 2463 
unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of section 42-2464 
110b. 2465 
(t) Not later than February 1, 2020, the Commissioners of Agriculture 2466 
and Consumer Protection shall submit a report, in accordance with 2467 
section 11-4a, to the joint standing committee of the general assembly 2468 
having cognizance of matters relating to the environment on the status 2469 
of the pilot program, the development of the state plan and any 2470 
regulations for such pilot program or state plan. Such report shall also 2471 
include any legislative recommendations, including, but not limited to, 2472 
any recommendations for requiring the registration of any 2473 
manufacturer hemp product offered for sale in this state. 2474 
(u) (1) Any person who sells manufacturer hemp products shall not 2475 
be required to be licensed, provided such person only engages in: (A) 2476 
The retail or wholesale sale of manufacturer hemp products in which no 2477 
further manufacturing of hemp occurs, provided such manufacturer 2478  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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hemp products are acquired from a person authorized to manufacture 2479 
the manufacturer hemp products under the laws of this state or another 2480 
state, territory or possession of the United States or another sovereign 2481 
entity; (B) the acquisition of manufacturer hemp products for the sole 2482 
purpose of product distribution for resale; and (C) the retail sale of 2483 
manufacturer hemp products that is authorized under federal or state 2484 
law. 2485 
(2) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection or Commissioner of 2486 
Revenue Services may, pursuant to section 4-182, summarily suspend 2487 
any credential the Department of Consumer Protection or Department 2488 
of Revenue Services, respectively, issued to any person who [sells 2489 
manufacturer hemp products in violation of subdivision (1) of this 2490 
subsection or subsections (v) to (y), inclusive, of this section] violates 2491 
any provision of this section or chapter 214c, 228d, 420f or 420h. 2492 
(v) No manufacturer hemp product offered for sale in this state, or to 2493 
a consumer in this state, shall contain any synthetic cannabinoid, as 2494 
defined in section 21a-240, as amended by this act. 2495 
(w) No manufacturer hemp product offered for sale in this state, or 2496 
to a consumer in this state, shall be packaged, presented or advertised 2497 
in a manner that is likely to mislead a consumer by incorporating any 2498 
statement, brand, design, representation, picture, illustration or other 2499 
depiction that: (1) Bears a reasonable resemblance to trademarked or 2500 
characteristic packaging of (A) cannabis offered for sale (i) in this state 2501 
by a cannabis establishment licensed in this state, or (ii) on tribal land 2502 
by a tribal-credentialed cannabis entity, or (B) a commercially available 2503 
product other than a cannabis product, as defined in section 21a-420, as 2504 
amended by this act; or (2) implies that the manufacturer hemp product 2505 
(A) is a cannabis product, as defined in section 21a-420, as amended by 2506 
this act, (B) contains a total THC concentration greater than three-tenths 2507 
per cent on a dry-weight basis, or (C) is a high-THC hemp product, as 2508 
defined in section 21a-240, as amended by this act. 2509 
(x) No manufacturer hemp product that is a food, beverage, oil or 2510  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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other product intended for human ingestion shall be distributed or sold 2511 
in this state unless such product is contained within a package, or a label 2512 
is affixed to such package, that includes: 2513 
(1) A scannable barcode, Internet web site address or quick response 2514 
code that is linked to the certificate of analysis of the final form product 2515 
batch by an independent testing laboratory and discloses: 2516 
(A) The name of such product; 2517 
(B) The name, address and telephone number of such product's 2518 
manufacturer, packer and distributor, as applicable; 2519 
(C) The batch number, which shall match the batch number on such 2520 
package or label; and 2521 
(D) The concentration of cannabinoids present in such product, 2522 
including, but not limited to, total THC and any cannabinoids or active 2523 
ingredients comprising at least one per cent of such product; 2524 
(2) The expiration or best by date for such product, if applicable; 2525 
(3) A clear and conspicuous statement disclosing that: 2526 
(A) Children, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, should 2527 
avoid using such product prior to consulting with a health care 2528 
professional concerning such product's safety; 2529 
(B) Products containing cannabinoids should be kept out of reach of 2530 
children; and 2531 
(C) The federal Food and Drug Administration has not evaluated 2532 
such product for safety or efficacy; and 2533 
(4) If such product is intended to be inhaled, a clear and conspicuous 2534 
warning statement disclosing that smoking or vaporizing is hazardous 2535 
to human health. 2536 
(y) No manufacturer hemp product that is a topical, soap or cosmetic, 2537  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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as defined in section 21a-92, shall be distributed or sold in this state 2538 
unless such product is contained within a package, or a label is affixed 2539 
to such package, that includes: 2540 
(1) A scannable barcode, Internet web site address or quick response 2541 
code that is linked to the certificate of analysis of the final form extract 2542 
or final form product batch by an independent testing laboratory and 2543 
discloses: 2544 
(A) The name of such product; 2545 
(B) The name, address and telephone number of such product's 2546 
manufacturer, packer and distributor, as applicable; 2547 
(C) The batch number, which shall match the batch number on such 2548 
package or label; and 2549 
(D) The concentration of cannabinoids present in such batch, 2550 
including, but not limited to, total THC and any marketed cannabinoids; 2551 
(2) The expiration or best by date for such product, if applicable; and 2552 
(3) A clear and conspicuous statement disclosing the following: 2553 
"THE FDA HAS NOT EVALUATED T HIS PRODUCT FOR SAFETY 2554 
OR EFFICACY.". 2555 
[(z) Any violation of subsections (u) to (y), inclusive, of this section 2556 
shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection 2557 
(a) of section 42-110b.] 2558 
[(aa)] (z) Not later than October 31, 2023, and annually thereafter, the 2559 
Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection shall, in 2560 
consultation with the Department of Consumer Protection, publish a 2561 
training bulletin to inform local law enforcement agencies and officers 2562 
regarding the investigation and enforcement standards concerning 2563 
cannabis and high-THC hemp products. 2564 
[(bb)] (aa) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes: (1) 2565  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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CBD that is found in manufacturer hemp products shall not be 2566 
considered a controlled substance, as defined in section 21a-240, as 2567 
amended by this act, or legend drug, as defined in section 20-571; and 2568 
(2) CBD derived from hemp and contained in manufacturer hemp 2569 
products shall not be considered a controlled substance or adulterant. 2570 
(bb) No manufacturer hemp product shall: (1) Contain a total THC 2571 
concentration of (A) greater than three-tenths per cent on a dry-weight 2572 
basis, or (B) two and one-half milligrams of total THC on a per-container 2573 
basis; or (2) be sold in packaging that contains more than two containers 2574 
per package. 2575 
(cc) No manufacturer hemp product containing more than one-half 2576 
of one milligram of total THC shall be sold to any consumer who is 2577 
younger than twenty-one years of age. No individual or entity shall sell 2578 
to a consumer any manufacturer hemp product containing more than 2579 
one-half of one milligram of total THC without first verifying the 2580 
consumer's age by examining a current, valid and government-issued 2581 
driver's license or identity card to establish that such consumer is 2582 
twenty-one years of age or older. 2583 
(dd) No manufacturer hemp product shall be offered for sale in this 2584 
state in the same establishment that offers for sale any products that are 2585 
not hemp products. 2586 
(ee) (1) Any violation of subsections (u) to (y), inclusive, of this section 2587 
shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection 2588 
(a) of section 42-110b. 2589 
(2) Any violation of subsections (bb) to (dd), inclusive, of this section 2590 
shall be deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection 2591 
(a) of section 42-110b and shall be enforced by the Attorney General. The 2592 
provisions of section 42-110g shall apply to any violation of subsections 2593 
(u) to (dd), inclusive, of this section. 2594 
(ff) (1) Any municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, prohibit 2595 
the operation of any business within such municipality that is found to 2596  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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be in violation of the provisions of this section or if such operation poses 2597 
an immediate threat to public health and safety. 2598 
(2) If the chief executive officer of a municipality determines that a 2599 
business within the municipality is operating in violation of the 2600 
provisions of this section or poses an immediate threat to public health 2601 
and safety, the chief executive officer may apply to the Superior Court 2602 
for an order under subdivision (3) of this subsection. 2603 
(3) Upon an application under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 2604 
Superior Court, upon a finding that a business within the municipality 2605 
is operating in violation of the provisions of this section or poses an 2606 
immediate threat to public health and safety, may issue forthwith, ex 2607 
parte and without a hearing, an order which shall direct the chief law 2608 
enforcement officer of the municipality to take from such business 2609 
possession and control of any merchandise related to such violation or 2610 
immediate threat to public health and safety, which merchandise shall 2611 
include, but need not be limited to, (A) any cannabis, cannabis product 2612 
or manufacturer hemp product, (B) any cigarette, tobacco or tobacco 2613 
product, (C) any merchandise related to the merchandise described in 2614 
subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision, and (D) any proceeds 2615 
related to the merchandise described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), 2616 
inclusive, of this subdivision. 2617 
(4) As used in this subsection, (A) "cigarette" has the same meaning 2618 
as provided in section 4-28h, (B) "immediate threat to public health and 2619 
safety" includes, but is not limited to, the presence of (i) any cannabis, 2620 
cannabis product or manufacturer hemp product in connection with a 2621 
violation of this section, or (ii) any cigarette or tobacco product 2622 
alongside any cannabis, cannabis product or manufacturer hemp 2623 
product, and (C) "operation" and "operating" mean engaging in the sale 2624 
of, or otherwise offering for sale, goods and services to the general 2625 
public, including, but not limited to, through indirect retail sales. 2626 
(gg) (1) Any person who violates any provision of subsections (bb) to 2627 
(dd), inclusive, of this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of thirty 2628  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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thousand dollars for each violation. Each day that such violation 2629 
continues shall constitute a separate offense. 2630 
(2) Any person who aids or abets any violation of the provisions of 2631 
subsections (bb) to (dd), inclusive, of this section shall be assessed a civil 2632 
penalty of thirty thousand dollars for each violation. Each day that such 2633 
person aids or abets such violation shall constitute a separate offense. 2634 
For the purposes of this subdivision, no person shall be deemed to have 2635 
aided or abetted a violation of the provisions of subsections (bb) to (dd), 2636 
inclusive, of this section unless (A) such person was the owner, officer, 2637 
controlling shareholder or in a similar position of authority which 2638 
allowed such person to make command or control decisions regarding 2639 
the operations and management of another person who (i) is prohibited 2640 
from selling or offering any manufacturer hemp product under 2641 
subsections (bb) to (dd), inclusive, of this section, and (ii) sold or offered 2642 
any manufacturer hemp product in violation of subsections (bb) to (dd), 2643 
inclusive, of this section, (B) such person knew that such other person 2644 
(i) is prohibited from selling or offering any manufacturer hemp 2645 
product under subsections (bb) to (dd), inclusive, of this section, and (ii) 2646 
sold or offered any manufacturer hemp product in violation of 2647 
subsections (bb) to (dd), inclusive, of this section, (C) such person 2648 
provided substantial assistance or encouragement in connection with 2649 
the sale or offer of such manufacturer hemp product in violation of 2650 
subsections (bb) to (dd), inclusive, of this section, and (D) such person's 2651 
conduct was a substantial factor in furthering the sale or offer of such 2652 
manufacturer hemp product in violation of subsections (bb) to (dd), 2653 
inclusive, of this section. 2654 
(3) Any person who manages or controls a commercial property, or 2655 
who manages or controls a commercial building, room, space or 2656 
enclosure, in such person's capacity as an owner, lessee, agent, 2657 
employee or mortgagor, who knowingly leases, rents or makes such 2658 
property, building, room, space or enclosure available for use, with or 2659 
without compensation, for the purpose of any sale or offer of any 2660 
manufacturer hemp product in violation of subsections (bb) to (dd), 2661 
inclusive, of this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of ten thousand 2662  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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dollars for each violation. Each day that such violation continues shall 2663 
constitute a separate offense. 2664 
(4) No person other than the Attorney General, upon complaint of the 2665 
Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or a municipality in which the 2666 
violation of this section occurred shall investigate any violation of 2667 
subsections (bb) to (dd), inclusive, of this section, assess any civil 2668 
penalty under this subsection or institute a civil action to recover any 2669 
civil penalty imposed under this subsection. If a municipality institutes 2670 
a civil action to recover any civil penalty imposed under this subsection, 2671 
such penalty shall be paid first to the municipality to reimburse such 2672 
municipality for the costs incurred in instituting such action. One-half 2673 
of the remainder, if any, shall be payable to the treasurer of such 2674 
municipality and one-half of such remainder shall be payable to the 2675 
Treasurer and deposited in the General Fund. 2676 
(hh) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 2677 
shipment or transportation through this state of any hemp that is 2678 
lawfully produced under federal law. 2679 
Sec. 28. Subsection (c) of section 22-61n of the 2024 supplement to the 2680 
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 2681 
thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 2682 
(c) Hemp or hemp products purchased by a producer, cultivator, 2683 
micro-cultivator, [or] product manufacturer or food and beverage 2684 
manufacturer from a third party shall be tracked as a separate batch 2685 
throughout the manufacturing process in order to document the 2686 
disposition of such hemp or hemp products. Once hemp or hemp 2687 
products are received by a producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator, [or] 2688 
product manufacturer or food and beverage manufacturer, such hemp 2689 
or hemp products shall be deemed cannabis and shall comply with the 2690 
requirements for cannabis contained in the applicable provisions of the 2691 
general statutes and any regulations adopted pursuant to such 2692 
provisions. A producer, cultivator, micro-cultivator, [and] product 2693 
manufacturer and food and beverage manufacturer shall retain a copy 2694  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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of the certificate of analysis for purchased hemp or hemp products and 2695 
invoice and transport documents that evidence the quantity purchased 2696 
and date received. 2697 
Sec. 29. Subsection (b) of section 30-20 of the general statutes is 2698 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2699 
2024): 2700 
(b) (1) A package store permit shall allow the retail sale of alcoholic 2701 
liquor in sealed bottles or containers not to be consumed on the permit 2702 
premises. The holder of a package store permit may, in accordance with 2703 
regulations adopted by the Department of Consumer Protection 2704 
pursuant to the provisions of chapter 54, (A) offer free samples of 2705 
alcoholic liquor for tasting on the permit premises, (B) conduct fee-2706 
based wine education and tasting classes and demonstrations, and (C) 2707 
conduct tastings or demonstrations provided by a permittee or backer 2708 
of the package store for a nominal charge to charitable nonprofit 2709 
organizations. Any offering, tasting, wine education and tasting class or 2710 
demonstration held on permit premises shall be conducted only during 2711 
the hours the package store may sell alcoholic liquor under section 30-2712 
91. No tasting of wine on the permit premises shall be offered from more 2713 
than ten uncorked bottles at any one time. 2714 
(2) No store operating under a package store permit shall sell any 2715 
commodity other than alcoholic liquor except, notwithstanding any 2716 
other provision of law, such store may sell (A) cigarettes and cigars, (B) 2717 
publications, (C) bar utensils, including, but not limited to, corkscrews, 2718 
beverage strainers, stirrers or other similar items used to consume, or 2719 
related to the consumption of, alcoholic liquor, (D) gift packages of 2720 
alcoholic liquor shipped into the state by a manufacturer or out-of-state 2721 
shipper, which gift packages may include nonalcoholic items, other than 2722 
food or tobacco products, if the dollar value of the nonalcoholic items in 2723 
such gift package does not exceed the dollar value of the alcoholic items 2724 
in such gift package, (E) complementary fresh fruits used in the 2725 
preparation of mixed alcoholic beverages, (F) cheese, crackers or both, 2726 
(G) olives, (H) nonalcoholic beverages, (I) concentrates used in the 2727  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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preparation of mixed alcoholic beverages, (J) beer and wine-making kits 2728 
and products related to such kits, (K) ice in any form, (L) articles of 2729 
clothing imprinted with advertising related to the alcoholic liquor 2730 
industry, (M) gift baskets or other containers of alcoholic liquor, (N) 2731 
multiple packages of alcoholic liquors, provided in all such cases the 2732 
minimum retail selling price for such alcoholic liquor shall apply, (O) 2733 
lottery tickets authorized by the Department of Consumer Protection, if 2734 
licensed as an agent to sell such tickets by the department, (P) devices 2735 
and related accessories designed primarily for accessing and extracting 2736 
a beverage containing alcohol from prepackaged containers, including, 2737 
but not limited to, pods, pouches or similar containers, but excluding 2738 
devices, including, but not limited to, household blenders, that are not 2739 
designed primarily for such purposes, (Q) alcohol-infused confections 2740 
containing not more than one-half of one per cent of alcohol by weight 2741 
and which the commissioner has approved for sale under section 21a-2742 
101, [and] (R) gift baskets containing only containers of alcoholic liquor 2743 
and commodities authorized for sale under subparagraphs (A) to (Q), 2744 
inclusive, of this subdivision, and (S) infused beverages, as defined in 2745 
section 21a-420, as amended by this act, provided the package store 2746 
permittee purchased such infused beverages from the holder of a 2747 
wholesaler permit or a wholesaler permit for beer issued under section 2748 
30-17. A package store permit shall also allow the taking and 2749 
transmitting of orders for delivery of such merchandise in other states. 2750 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a package store permit 2751 
shall allow the participation in any lottery ticket promotion or giveaway 2752 
sponsored by the department. The annual fee for a package store permit 2753 
shall be five hundred thirty-five dollars. 2754 
Sec. 30. Section 30-63 of the general statutes is repealed and the 2755 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2024): 2756 
(a) No holder of any manufacturer, wholesaler or out-of-state 2757 
shipper's permit shall ship, transport or deliver within this state, or sell 2758 
or offer for sale, any alcoholic liquors, except for beer manufactured by 2759 
a permittee in this state and sold for consumption only on the 2760 
permittee's premises, unless the name of the brand, trade name or other 2761  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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distinctive characteristic by which such alcoholic liquors are bought and 2762 
sold, the name and address of the manufacturer thereof and the name 2763 
and address of each wholesaler permittee who is authorized by the 2764 
manufacturer or his authorized representative to sell such alcoholic 2765 
liquors are registered with the Department of Consumer Protection and 2766 
until such brand, trade name or other distinctive characteristic has been 2767 
approved by the department. Such registration shall be valid for a 2768 
period of three years. The fee for such registration, or renewal thereof, 2769 
shall be two hundred dollars for out-of-state shippers and fifteen dollars 2770 
for Connecticut manufacturers for each brand so registered, payable by 2771 
the manufacturer or such manufacturer's authorized representative 2772 
when such liquors are manufactured in the United States and by the 2773 
importer or such importer's authorized representative when such 2774 
liquors are imported into the United States. The department shall not 2775 
approve the brand registration of any fortified wine, as defined in 2776 
section 12-433, which is labeled, packaged or canned so as to appear to 2777 
be a wine or liquor cooler, as defined in section 12-433. 2778 
(b) No manufacturer, wholesaler or out-of-state shipper permittee 2779 
shall discriminate in any manner in price discounts between one 2780 
permittee and another on sales or purchases of alcoholic liquors bearing 2781 
the same brand or trade name and of like age, size and quality, nor shall 2782 
such manufacturer, wholesaler or out-of-state shipper permittee allow 2783 
in any form any discount, rebate, free goods, allowance or other 2784 
inducement for the purpose of making sales or purchases. Nothing in 2785 
this subsection shall be construed to prohibit beer manufacturers, beer 2786 
wholesalers or beer out-of-state shipper permittees from differentiating 2787 
in the manner in which their products are packaged on the basis of on-2788 
site or off-site consumption. 2789 
(c) For alcoholic liquor other than beer, each manufacturer, 2790 
wholesaler and out-of-state shipper permittee shall post with the 2791 
department, on a monthly basis, the bottle, can and case price of any 2792 
brand of goods offered for sale in Connecticut, which price when so 2793 
posted shall be the controlling price for such manufacturer, wholesaler 2794 
or out-of-state permittee for the month following such posting. On and 2795  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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after July 1, 2005, for beer, each manufacturer, wholesaler and out-of-2796 
state shipper permittee shall post with the department, on a monthly 2797 
basis, the bottle, can and case price, and the price per keg or barrel or 2798 
fractional unit thereof for any brand of goods offered for sale in 2799 
Connecticut which price when so posted shall be the controlling price 2800 
for such brand of goods offered for sale in this state for the month 2801 
following such posting. Such manufacturer, wholesaler and out-of-state 2802 
shipper permittee may also post additional prices for such bottle, can, 2803 
case, keg or barrel or fractional unit thereof for a specified portion of the 2804 
following month which prices when so posted shall be the controlling 2805 
prices for such bottle, can, case, keg or barrel or fractional unit thereof 2806 
for such specified portion of the following month. Notice of all 2807 
manufacturer, wholesaler and out-of-state shipper permittee prices 2808 
shall be given to permittee purchasers by direct mail, Internet web site 2809 
or advertising in a trade publication having circulation among the retail 2810 
permittees except a wholesaler permittee may give such notice by hand 2811 
delivery. Price postings with the department setting forth wholesale 2812 
prices to retailers shall be available for inspection during regular 2813 
business hours at the offices of the department by manufacturers and 2814 
wholesalers until three o'clock p.m. of the first business day after the last 2815 
day for posting prices. A manufacturer or wholesaler may amend such 2816 
manufacturer's or wholesaler's posted price for any month to meet a 2817 
lower price posted by another manufacturer or wholesaler with respect 2818 
to alcoholic liquor bearing the same brand or trade name and of like age, 2819 
vintage, quality and unit container size; provided that any such 2820 
amended price posting shall be filed before three o'clock p.m. of the 2821 
fourth business day after the last day for posting prices; and provided 2822 
further such amended posting shall not set forth prices lower than those 2823 
being met. Any manufacturer or wholesaler posting an amended price 2824 
shall, at the time of posting, identify in writing the specific posting being 2825 
met. On and after July 1, 2005, all wholesaler postings, other than for 2826 
beer, for the following month shall be provided to retail permittees not 2827 
later than the twenty-seventh day of the month prior to such posting. 2828 
All wholesaler postings for beer shall be provided to retail permittees 2829 
not later than the twentieth day of the month prior to such posting. 2830  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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(d) Monthly price schedules on a family brand case shall contain the 2831 
bottle price for each item contained in the family brand case, the unit 2832 
price and the case price. The bottle price posted for a family brand case 2833 
shall be equal to the bottle price posted for the same month in a case 2834 
containing the one class and specific brand of alcoholic liquor. For 2835 
purposes of this subsection, "family brand" means a group of different 2836 
products belonging to a single brand that are marketed under a parent 2837 
brand. Family brand cases shall be assembled and packaged by the 2838 
supplier or by a third party, on behalf of the supplier, and shall not be 2839 
assembled by the wholesaler. 2840 
(e) The provisions of this section shall not apply to the sale or 2841 
distribution of infused beverages, as defined in section 21a-420, as 2842 
amended by this act. 2843 
Sec. 31. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2024) (a) For the purposes of this 2844 
section, "infused beverage" has the same meaning as provided in section 2845 
21a-420 of the general statutes, as amended by this act. 2846 
(b) A fee of fifty cents shall be assessed by the holder of a wholesaler 2847 
permit or a wholesaler permit for beer issued under section 30-17 of the 2848 
general statutes on each infused beverage container sold to the holder 2849 
of a package store permit issued under subsection (b) of section 30-20 of 2850 
the general statutes, as amended by this act. Such fee shall not be subject 2851 
to any sales tax or treated as income pursuant to any provision of the 2852 
general statutes. 2853 
(c) On January 2, 2025, and every six months thereafter, each holder 2854 
of a wholesaler permit or a wholesaler permit for beer issued under 2855 
section 30-17 of the general statutes shall remit payment to the 2856 
department for each infused beverage container sold during the 2857 
preceding six-month period. The funds received by the department 2858 
from infused beverage sales shall be deposited in the consumer 2859 
protection enforcement account established in section 21a-8a of the 2860 
general statutes, as amended by this act, for the purposes of (1) 2861 
protecting public health and safety, (2) educating consumers and 2862  Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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licensees, and (3) ensuring compliance with cannabis and liquor control 2863 
laws. 2864 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 July 1, 2024 21a-8a(a) 
Sec. 2 July 1, 2024 21a-240 
Sec. 3 July 1, 2024 21a-408 
Sec. 4 July 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 5 July 1, 2024 21a-420 
Sec. 6 July 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 7 July 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 8 July 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 9 July 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 10 July 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 11 July 1, 2024 21a-420c 
Sec. 12 July 1, 2024 21a-420d(i) to (k) 
Sec. 13 July 1, 2024 21a-420e(c) 
Sec. 14 July 1, 2024 21a-420g(b) 
Sec. 15 July 1, 2024 21a-420m(b) 
Sec. 16 July 1, 2024 21a-420o 
Sec. 17 July 1, 2024 21a-420p 
Sec. 18 July 1, 2024 21a-420u(b) 
Sec. 19 July 1, 2024 21a-420v 
Sec. 20 July 1, 2024 21a-420w(d) 
Sec. 21 July 1, 2024 21a-420x(d) 
Sec. 22 July 1, 2024 21a-420y 
Sec. 23 July 1, 2024 21a-420z(b) to (d) 
Sec. 24 July 1, 2024 21a-421j(b) 
Sec. 25 July 1, 2024 21a-421l(b) 
Sec. 26 July 1, 2024 21a-421bb(b) 
Sec. 27 July 1, 2024 22-61m 
Sec. 28 July 1, 2024 22-61n(c) 
Sec. 29 July 1, 2024 30-20(b) 
Sec. 30 July 1, 2024 30-63 
Sec. 31 July 1, 2024 New section 
 
 
GL Joint Favorable Subst.   Substitute Bill No. 5150 
 
 
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FIN Joint Favorable