Connecticut 2025 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB07181 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1
2	2
3		-	LCO 1 of 16
	3	+	LCO No. 5599 1 of 17
4	4
5		-	General Assembly ~~Substitute~~ Bill No. 7181
	5	+	General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7181
6	6		January Session, 2025
	7	+	LCO No. 5599
	8	+
	9	+
	10	+	Referred to Committee on GENERAL LAW
	11	+
	12	+
	13	+	Introduced by:
	14	+	(GL)
	15	+
7	16
8	17
9	18
10	19		AN ACT CONCERNING ENFORCEMENT OF THE STATE'S
11	20		CANNABIS, HEMP AND TOBACCO LAWS.
12	21		Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
13	22		Assembly convened:
14	23
15	24		Section 1. Subdivision (1) of section 21a-420 of the general statutes is 1
16	25		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2
17	26		2025): 3
18	27		(1) "Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis 4
19	28		Act" or "RERACA" means this section, sections 2-56j, 7-294kk, 7-294ll, 5
20	29		12-330ll to 12-330nn, inclusive, 14-227p, 21a-278b, 21a-278c, 21a-279c, 6
21	30		21a-279d, 21a-420a to 21a-420j, inclusive, 21a-420l to 21a-421r, inclusive, 7
22	31		21a-421aa to 21a-421ff, inclusive, 21a-421aaa to 21a-421hhh, inclusive, as 8
23	32		amended by this act, 21a-422 to 21a-422c, inclusive, 21a-422e to 21a-9
24	33		422g, inclusive, 21a-422j to 21a-422s, inclusive, 22-61n, 23-4b, 47a-9a, 53-10
25	34		247a, 53a-213a, 53a-213b, 54-33p, 54-56q, 54-56r, 54-125k and 54-142u, 11
26	35		sections 23, 60, 63 to 65, inclusive, 124, 144 and 165 of public act 21-1 of 12
27	36		the June special session, and the amendments in public act 21-1 of the 13
28	37		June special session to sections 7-148, 10-221, 12-30a, 12-35b, 12-412, 12-14
29	38		650, 12-704d, 14-44k, 14-111e, 14-227a to 14-227c, inclusive, 14-227j, 15-15
	39	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	40	+
	41	+
	42	+
	43	+	LCO No. 5599 2 of 17
	44	+
30	45		140q, 15-140r, 18-100h, 19a-342, 19a-342a, 21a-267, 21a-277, 21a-279, 21a-16
31	46		279a, 21a-408 to 21a-408f, inclusive, 21a-408h to 21a-408p, inclusive, 21a-17
32	47		408r to 21a-408w, inclusive, 21a-420aa, 21a-421s, 30-89a, 31-40q, 32-39, 18
33	48		46b-120, 51-164n, 53-394, 53a-39c, 54-1m, 54-33g, 54-41b, 54-56e, 54-56g, 19
34		-	54-56i, 54-56k, 54-56n, 54-63d, 54-66a and 54-142e, section 20 of public 20 Substitute Bill No. 7181
35		-
36		-
37		-	LCO 2 of 16
38		-
	49	+	54-56i, 54-56k, 54-56n, 54-63d, 54-66a and 54-142e, section 20 of public 20
39	50		act 23-79 and sections 2 to 5, inclusive, of this act; 21
40	51		Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There shall be within the 22
41	52		Department of Consumer Protection a state-wide cannabis and hemp 23
42	53		enforcement task force for the effective and cooperative enforcement of 24
43	54		the laws of this state concerning the cultivation, manufacturing, 25
44	55		distribution, transportation, display, purchase, sale, dispensing, 26
45	56		possession and use of (1) cannabis and cannabis products, as such terms 27
46	57		are defined in section 21a-420 of the general statutes, as amended by this 28
47	58		act, (2) infused beverages, as defined in section 21a-425 of the general 29
48	59		statutes, (3) hemp and hemp products, as such terms are defined in 30
49	60		section 22-61l of the general statutes, and (4) moderate-THC hemp 31
50	61		products, as defined in section 21a-426 of the general statutes. 32
51	62		(b) The state-wide cannabis and hemp enforcement task force shall 33
52	63		be authorized to conduct any investigation authorized by this section at 34
53	64		any place within the state as may be deemed necessary. 35
54	65		(c) The state-wide cannabis and hemp enforcement task force may 36
55	66		request and receive from any federal, state or local agency cooperation 37
56	67		and assistance in the performance of its duties, including, but not 38
57	68		limited to, the temporary assignment of such personnel as may be 39
58	69		necessary for the task force to perform its functions. 40
59	70		(d) The state-wide cannabis and hemp enforcement task force may 41
60	71		enter into mutual assistance and cooperation agreements with other 42
61	72		states pertaining to cannabis, cannabis product, infused beverage, 43
62	73		hemp, hemp product and moderate -THC hemp product law 44
63	74		enforcement matters extending across state boundaries, and may 45
64	75		consult and exchange information and personnel with agencies of other 46
	76	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
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	80	+	LCO No. 5599 3 of 17
	81	+
65	82		states with reference to cannabis, cannabis product, infused beverage, 47
66	83		hemp, hemp product and moderate -THC hemp product law 48
67	84		enforcement problems of mutual concern. 49
68	85		(e) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may, within available 50
69	86		appropriations, appoint a director and such other personnel as the 51
70		-	commissioner deems necessary for the duties of the state-wide cannabis 52 Substitute Bill No. 7181
71		-
72		-
73		-	LCO 3 of 16
74		-
	87	+	commissioner deems necessary for the duties of the state-wide cannabis 52
75	88		and hemp enforcement task force. 53
76	89		Sec. 3. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) Upon request by the state-54
77	90		wide cannabis and hemp enforcement task force established under 55
78	91		section 2 of this act, the Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public 56
79	92		Protection may from time to time select such number of police personnel 57
80	93		of any municipality of the state to act temporarily as special state police 58
81	94		officers to carry out the duties of the task force as the Commissioner of 59
82	95		Emergency Services and Public Protection, in consultation with the task 60
83	96		force, deems necessary. Such municipal police personnel shall be 61
84	97		appointed from a list of municipal police personnel recommended to the 62
85	98		State-Wide Cannabis and Hemp Enforcement Task Force Policy Board, 63
86	99		established under section 5 of this act, by the chiefs of police of the 64
87	100		municipalities and approved by the board. 65
88	101		(b) Each municipality shall be responsible for fully compensating the 66
89	102		municipal police personnel temporarily assigned to the state-wide 67
90	103		cannabis and hemp enforcement task force, and such compensation 68
91	104		shall be payable to such assigned municipal police personnel while on 69
92	105		duty with the task force. 70
93	106		(c) For purposes of indemnification of such municipal police 71
94	107		personnel and municipalities against any losses, damages or liabilities 72
95	108		arising out of the service and activities of the state-wide cannabis and 73
96	109		hemp enforcement task force, municipal police personnel while 74
97	110		assigned to, and performing the duties of, the task force shall be deemed 75
98	111		to be acting as employees of the state. 76
99	112		Sec. 4. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) Any municipal police officer, 77
	113	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	114	+
	115	+
	116	+
	117	+	LCO No. 5599 4 of 17
	118	+
100	119		while assigned to duty with the state-wide cannabis and hemp 78
101	120		enforcement task force established under section 2 of this act and 79
102	121		working at the direction of the Commissioner of Emergency Services 80
103		-	and Public Protection or the director of the task force, if any, shall, when 81
104		-	acting within the scope of his or her authority, have the same powers, 82
105		-	duties, privileges and immunities as are conferred upon him or her as a 83
106		-	state police officer. 84 Substitute Bill No. 7181
107		-
108		-
109		-	LCO 4 of 16
110		-
	122	+	and Public Protection or the director of the task force, shall, when acting 81
	123	+	within the scope of his or her authority, have the same powers, duties, 82
	124	+	privileges and immunities as are conferred upon him or her as a state 83
	125	+	police officer. 84
111	126		Sec. 5. (NEW) (Effective July 1, 2025) (a) There shall be a State-Wide 85
112	127		Cannabis and Hemp Enforcement Task Force Policy Board, within the 86
113	128		Department of Consumer Protection for administrative purposes only, 87
114	129		consisting of the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, the 88
115	130		Commissioner of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the 89
116	131		Commissioner of Revenue Services, the Attorney General and the Chief 90
117	132		State's Attorney. 91
118	133		(b) The policy board shall direct and supervise the formulation of 92
119	134		policies and operating procedures, and coordinate the activities, of the 93
120	135		state-wide cannabis and hemp enforcement task force established under 94
121	136		section 2 of this act with law enforcement agencies within and without 95
122	137		the state. 96
123	138		(c) The policy board may apply for, and shall administer, any federal, 97
124	139		state, local or private appropriations or grant funds made available for 98
125	140		the operation of the task force. 99
126	141		Sec. 6. Subdivision (6) of section 54-41a of the general statutes is 100
127	142		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 101
128	143		2025): 102
129	144		(6) "Investigative officer" means (A) any officer of the Connecticut 103
130	145		state police, (B) the chief inspector or any inspector in the Division of 104
131	146		Criminal Justice who is empowered by law to conduct investigations of 105
132	147		or to make arrests for offenses enumerated in this chapter, (C) any 106
133	148		municipal police officer who (i) has been duly sworn as a special state 107
134	149		police officer under the provisions of section 29-177 or section 3 of this 108
	150	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
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	154	+	LCO No. 5599 5 of 17
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135	156		act, [and who] (ii) is currently assigned to the state-wide narcotics task 109
136	157		force, [or] the state-wide organized crime investigative task force or the 110
137	158		state-wide cannabis and hemp enforcement task force, and (iii) is acting 111
138	159		under the direct authority of the Connecticut state police, and (D) any 112
139	160		attorney authorized by law to prosecute or participate in the 113
140	161		prosecution of offenses enumerated in this chapter; 114
141	162		Sec. 7. Section 21a-420c of the general statutes is repealed and the 115
142		-	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 116 Substitute Bill No. 7181
143		-
144		-
145		-	LCO 5 of 16
146		-
	163	+	following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 116
147	164		(a) As used in this section: 117
148	165		(1) "Cigarette" has the same meaning as provided in section 4-28h; 118
149	166		(2) "Electronic cigarette liquid" has the same meaning as provided in 119
150	167		section 21a-415, as amended by this act; 120
151	168		(3) "Electronic nicotine delivery system" has the same meaning as 121
152	169		provided in section 21a-415, as amended by this act; 122
153	170		(4) "Immediate threat to public health and safety" includes, but is not 123
154	171		limited to, the presence of (A) any cannabis or cannabis product in 124
155	172		connection with a violation of this section, or (B) any cigarette, tobacco 125
156	173		product, electronic cigarette liquid, electronic nicotine delivery system 126
157	174		or liquid nicotine container alongside any cannabis or cannabis product; 127
158	175		(5) "Liquid nicotine container" has the same meaning as provided in 128
159	176		section 19a-342a; and 129
160	177		(6) "Tobacco product" has the same meaning as provided in section 130
161	178		12-330a. 131
162	179		[(a)] (b) Except as provided in RERACA and chapter 420b or 420f, (1) 132
163	180		no person, other than a retailer, hybrid retailer, micro-cultivator or 133
164	181		delivery service, or an employee thereof in the course of such 134
165	182		employee's employment, may sell or offer any cannabis or cannabis 135
166	183		product to a consumer, and (2) no person, other than a hybrid retailer, 136
	184	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	185	+
	186	+
	187	+
	188	+	LCO No. 5599 6 of 17
	189	+
167	190		dispensary facility or a delivery service, or an employee thereof in the 137
168	191		course of such employee's employment, may sell or offer any cannabis 138
169	192		or cannabis product to a qualifying [patients and caregivers] patient or 139
170	193		caregiver. 140
171	194		[(b)] (c) No person except a delivery service, or an employee of a 141
172	195		delivery service, subject to the restrictions set forth in section 21a-420z, 142
173	196		acting in the course of such employee's employment may deliver any 143
174	197		cannabis or cannabis product to [consumers, patients or caregivers] a 144
175		-	consumer, qualifying patient or caregiver. 145 Substitute Bill No. 7181
176		-
177		-
178		-	LCO 6 of 16
179		-
	198	+	consumer, qualifying patient or caregiver. 145
180	199		[(c)] (d) Any violation of the provisions of this section shall be 146
181	200		deemed an unfair or deceptive trade practice under subsection (a) of 147
182	201		section 42-110b. 148
183	202		[(d)] (e) (1) Any municipality may, by vote of its legislative body, 149
184	203		prohibit the operation of any business within such municipality that is 150
185	204		found to be in violation of the provisions of this section or if such 151
186	205		operation poses an immediate threat to public health and safety. 152
187	206		(2) If the chief executive officer of a municipality determines that a 153
188	207		business within the municipality is operating in violation of the 154
189	208		provisions of this section or poses an immediate threat to public health 155
190	209		and safety, the chief executive officer may apply to the Superior Court 156
191	210		for an order under subdivision (3) of this subsection and, upon making 157
192	211		such application, submit a written copy of such application to the 158
193	212		Attorney General. 159
194	213		(3) Upon an application under subdivision (2) of this subsection, the 160
195	214		Superior Court, upon a finding that a business within the municipality 161
196	215		is operating in violation of the provisions of this section or poses an 162
197	216		immediate threat to public health and safety, may issue forthwith, ex 163
198	217		parte and without a hearing, an order that shall direct the chief law 164
199	218		enforcement officer of the municipality to take from such business 165
200	219		possession and control of any merchandise related to such violation or 166
201	220		immediate threat to public health and safety, which merchandise shall 167
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	225	+	LCO No. 5599 7 of 17
	226	+
202	227		include, but need not be limited to, (A) any cannabis or cannabis 168
203	228		product, (B) any cigarette, tobacco, [or] tobacco product, electronic 169
204	229		cigarette liquid, electronic nicotine delivery system or liquid nicotine 170
205	230		container, (C) any merchandise related to the merchandise described in 171
206	231		subparagraphs (A) and (B) of this subdivision, and (D) any proceeds 172
207	232		related to the merchandise described in subparagraphs (A) to (C), 173
208	233		inclusive, of this subdivision. 174
209	234		(4) As used in this subsection, [(A) "cigarette" has the same meaning 175
210	235		as provided in section 4-28h, (B) "immediate threat to public health and 176
211		-	safety" includes, but is not limited to, the presence of (i) any cannabis or 177 Substitute Bill No. 7181
212		-
213		-
214		-	LCO 7 of 16
215		-
	236	+	safety" includes, but is not limited to, the presence of (i) any cannabis or 177
216	237		cannabis product in connection with a violation of this section, or (ii) 178
217	238		any cigarette or tobacco product alongside any cannabis or cannabis 179
218	239		product, and (C)] "operation" and "operating" mean engaging in the sale 180
219	240		of, or otherwise offering for sale, goods and services to the general 181
220	241		public, including, but not limited to, through indirect retail sales. 182
221	242		[(e)] (f) (1) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall 183
222	243		be assessed a civil penalty of thirty thousand dollars for each violation. 184
223	244		Each day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate 185
224	245		offense. 186
225	246		(2) Any person who aids or abets any violation of the provisions of 187
226	247		this section shall be assessed a civil penalty of thirty thousand dollars 188
227	248		for each violation. Each day that such person aids or abets such violation 189
228	249		shall constitute a separate offense. For the purposes of this subdivision, 190
229	250		no person shall be deemed to have aided or abetted a violation of the 191
230	251		provisions of this section unless (A) such person was the owner, officer, 192
231	252		controlling shareholder or in a similar position of authority that allowed 193
232	253		such person to make command or control decisions regarding the 194
233	254		operations and management of another person who (i) is prohibited 195
234	255		from selling or offering any cannabis or cannabis product under this 196
235	256		section, and (ii) sold or offered any cannabis or cannabis product in 197
236	257		violation of this section, (B) such person knew that such other person (i) 198
237	258		is prohibited from selling or offering any cannabis or cannabis product 199
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	263	+	LCO No. 5599 8 of 17
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238	265		under this section, and (ii) sold or offered any cannabis or cannabis 200
239	266		product in violation of this section, (C) such person provided substantial 201
240	267		assistance or encouragement in connection with the sale or offer of such 202
241	268		cannabis or cannabis product in violation of this section, and (D) such 203
242	269		person's conduct was a substantial factor in furthering the sale or offer 204
243	270		of such cannabis or cannabis product in violation of this section. 205
244	271		(3) Any person who manages or controls a commercial property, or 206
245	272		who manages or controls a commercial building, room, space or 207
246	273		enclosure, in such person's capacity as an owner, lessee, agent, 208
247	274		employee or mortgagor, who knowingly leases, rents or makes such 209
248		-	property, building, room, space or enclosure available for use, with or 210 Substitute Bill No. 7181
249		-
250		-
251		-	LCO 8 of 16
252		-
	275	+	property, building, room, space or enclosure available for use, with or 210
253	276		without compensation, for the purpose of any sale or offer of any 211
254	277		cannabis or cannabis product in violation of this section shall be 212
255	278		assessed a civil penalty of ten thousand dollars for each violation. Each 213
256	279		day that such violation continues shall constitute a separate offense. 214
257	280		(4) No person other than the Attorney General, upon complaint of the 215
258	281		Commissioner of Consumer Protection, or a municipality in which the 216
259	282		violation of this section occurred shall assess any civil penalty under this 217
260	283		subsection or institute a civil action to recover any civil penalty imposed 218
261	284		under this subsection. If a municipality institutes a civil action to recover 219
262	285		any civil penalty imposed under this subsection, such penalty shall be 220
263	286		paid [first] to the municipality. [to reimburse such municipality for the 221
264	287		costs incurred in instituting such action. One-half of the remainder, if 222
265	288		any, shall be payable to the treasurer of such municipality and one-half 223
266	289		of such remainder shall be payable to the Treasurer and deposited in the 224
267	290		General Fund.] 225
268	291		[(f)] (g) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the 226
269	292		imposition of any criminal penalty on any person who (1) is prohibited 227
270	293		from selling or offering any cannabis or cannabis product under this 228
271	294		section, and (2) sells or offers any cannabis or cannabis product in 229
272	295		violation of this section. 230
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	300	+	LCO No. 5599 9 of 17
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273	302		Sec. 8. Subdivision (1) of subsection (f) of section 21a-420p of the 231
274	303		general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 232
275	304		thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 233
276	305		(f) (1) Subject to the requirements of this subsection and subsection 234
277	306		[(b)] (c) of section 21a-420c, as amended by this act, a micro-cultivator 235
278	307		may sell its own cannabis, including, but not limited to, its own cannabis 236
279	308		seedlings, to consumers, excluding qualifying patients and caregivers, 237
280	309		through a delivery service. No cannabis establishment other than a 238
281	310		micro-cultivator shall sell cannabis seedlings to consumers, and no 239
282	311		cannabis establishment other than a delivery service shall deliver 240
283	312		cannabis seedlings sold by a micro-cultivator to consumers. 241
284		-	Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 21a-420r of the general statutes is 242 Substitute Bill No. 7181
285		-
286		-
287		-	LCO 9 of 16
288		-
	313	+	Sec. 9. Subsection (d) of section 21a-420r of the general statutes is 242
289	314		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 243
290	315		1, 2025): 244
291	316		(d) A retailer may deliver cannabis through a delivery service or by 245
292	317		utilizing its own employees, subject to the provisions of subsection [(b)] 246
293	318		(c) of section 21a-420c, as amended by this act. 247
294	319		Sec. 10. Subsections (d) and (e) of section 21a-420t of the general 248
295	320		statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 249
296	321		(Effective October 1, 2025): 250
297	322		(d) On and after September 1, 2021, a dispensary facility or hybrid 251
298	323		retailer may apply to the department, in a form and in a manner 252
299	324		prescribed by the commissioner, to provide delivery services through a 253
300	325		delivery service or utilizing its own employees, subject to the provisions 254
301	326		of subsection [(b)] (c) of section 21a-420c, as amended by this act, to 255
302	327		qualifying patients, caregivers, research program subjects, as defined in 256
303	328		section 21a-408, and hospice and other inpatient care facilities licensed 257
304	329		by the Department of Public Health pursuant to chapter 368v that have 258
305	330		a protocol for the handling and distribution of cannabis that has been 259
306	331		approved by the Department of Consumer Protection. A dispensary 260
307	332		facility or hybrid retailer may deliver cannabis or medical marijuana 261
	333	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	334	+
	335	+
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	337	+	LCO No. 5599 10 of 17
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308	339		products only from its own inventory to qualifying patients and 262
309	340		caregivers. If such application is approved by the commissioner, the 263
310	341		dispensary facility or hybrid retailer may commence delivery services 264
311	342		on and after January 1, 2022, provided the commissioner may authorize 265
312	343		dispensary facilities or hybrid retailers to commence delivery services 266
313	344		prior to January 1, 2022, upon forty-five days advance written notice, 267
314	345		published on the department's Internet web site. 268
315	346		(e) Hybrid retailers may commence delivery of cannabis directly to 269
316	347		consumers as of the date the first adult use cannabis sales are permitted 270
317	348		by the commissioner as set forth in subsection (f) of this section, through 271
318	349		a delivery service, or utilizing their own employees, subject to the 272
319	350		provisions of subsection [(b)] (c) of section 21a-420c, as amended by this 273
320		-	act. 274 Substitute Bill No. 7181
321		-
322		-
323		-	LCO 10 of 16
324		-
	351	+	act. 274
325	352		Sec. 11. Section 12-285c of the general statutes is repealed and the 275
326	353		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 276
327	354		(a) No person engaged in the business of selling cigarettes or tobacco 277
328	355		products shall ship or transport, or cause to be shipped or transported, 278
329	356		any cigarettes or tobacco products to any person in this state except to: 279
330	357		(1) A cigarette distributor or dealer; (2) an export warehouse proprietor 280
331	358		pursuant to Chapter 52 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any 281
332	359		subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, 282
333	360		as amended from time to time, or an operator of a customs bonded 283
334	361		warehouse pursuant to 19 USC 1311 or 1555; or (3) a person who is an 284
335	362		officer, employee or agent of the United States [Government] 285
336	363		government, this state or a department, agency, instrumentality or 286
337	364		political subdivision of the United States or of this state, when such 287
338	365		person is acting in accordance with such person's official duties. 288
339	366		Notwithstanding the provisions of section 12-15, the Commissioner of 289
340	367		Revenue Services shall publish on the Internet web site of the 290
341	368		Department of Revenue Services a list of every cigarette distributor or 291
342	369		dealer. As used in this subsection, "cigarette distributor or dealer" means 292
343	370		a person licensed as a cigarette distributor under section 12-288 or 293
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344	377		licensed as a dealer under section 12-287 or a person whose name 294
345	378		appears on a list of licensed distributors and dealers published by the 295
346	379		Commissioner of Revenue Services. 296
347	380		(b) No common or contract carrier shall knowingly transport 297
348	381		cigarettes or tobacco products to a residential dwelling or to any person 298
349	382		in this state who the common or contract carrier reasonably believes is 299
350	383		not a person described in subdivisions (1) to (3), inclusive, of subsection 300
351	384		(a) of this section. No person other than a common or contract carrier 301
352	385		shall knowingly transport cigarettes or tobacco products to any person 302
353	386		in this state who is not a person described in subdivisions (1) to (3), 303
354	387		inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section. 304
355	388		(c) When a person engaged in the business of selling cigarettes or 305
356	389		tobacco products ships or transports, or causes to be shipped or 306
357		-	transported, any cigarettes or tobacco products to any described person 307 Substitute Bill No. 7181
358		-
359		-
360		-	LCO 11 of 16
361		-
	390	+	transported, any cigarettes or tobacco products to any described person 307
362	391		in this state, other than in the cigarette or tobacco product 308
363	392		manufacturer's original container or wrapping, the container or 309
364	393		wrapping shall be plainly and visibly marked with the word "cigarettes" 310
365	394		or the words "tobacco products", as applicable. Any person engaged in 311
366	395		the business of selling cigarettes or tobacco products who ships or 312
367	396		causes to be shipped any cigarettes or tobacco products to any described 313
368	397		person in this state (1) shall require, as a condition of delivery, the 314
369	398		customer who is receiving the cigarettes or tobacco products to sign an 315
370	399		acknowledgment of receipt and provide proper proof of age, and (2) 316
371	400		may not sell such cigarettes or tobacco products to such customer unless 317
372	401		such proof of age is provided. For purposes of this subsection, 318
373	402		"described person" means a person described in subdivisions (1) to (3), 319
374	403		inclusive, of subsection (a) of this section. 320
375	404		(d) Whenever any cigarettes or tobacco products have been or are 321
376	405		being shipped or transported in violation of this section, such cigarettes 322
377	406		or tobacco products are declared to be contraband goods and the 323
378	407		confiscation, search and forfeiture provisions of section 12-305 shall 324
379	408		apply. 325
	409	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	410	+
	411	+
	412	+
	413	+	LCO No. 5599 12 of 17
	414	+
380	415		(e) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be 326
381	416		guilty of a class A misdemeanor and, for a second or subsequent 327
382	417		violation, shall be guilty of a class C felony. 328
383	418		(f) The Commissioner of Revenue Services may impose a civil penalty 329
384	419		of not more than ten thousand dollars for each violation of this section. 330
385	420		For purposes of this subsection, each shipment or transport of cigarettes 331
386	421		or tobacco products shall constitute a separate violation. The Attorney 332
387	422		General, upon request of the commissioner, may bring an action in the 333
388	423		superior court for the judicial district of Hartford to collect such civil 334
389	424		penalty and for any injunctive or equitable relief. In any action brought 335
390	425		by the Attorney General to enforce the provisions of section 12-285b or 336
391	426		this section, the state shall be entitled to recover, when [it] the state is 337
392	427		the prevailing party, the costs of investigation, expert witness fees, costs 338
393		-	of the action [,] and reasonable attorneys' fees. 339 Substitute Bill No. 7181
394		-
395		-
396		-	LCO 12 of 16
397		-
	428	+	of the action [,] and reasonable attorneys' fees. 339
398	429		(g) A violation of this section shall be an unfair or deceptive act or 340
399	430		practice pursuant to subsection (a) of section 42-110b. 341
400	431		Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 21a-415 of the general statutes is 342
401	432		repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 343
402	433		1, 2025): 344
403	434		(a) As used in this chapter, section 13 of this act and section 53-344: 345
404	435		(1) "Authorized owner" means the owner or authorized designee of a 346
405	436		business entity that is applying for a registration or is registered with 347
406	437		the Department of Consumer Protection pursuant to this chapter; 348
407	438		(2) "Business entity" means any corporation, limited liability 349
408	439		company, association, partnership, sole proprietorship, government, 350
409	440		governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust or any 351
410	441		other legal entity; 352
411	442		(3) "Dealer registration" means an electronic nicotine delivery system 353
412	443		certificate of dealer registration issued by the Commissioner of 354
	444	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	445	+
	446	+
	447	+
	448	+	LCO No. 5599 13 of 17
	449	+
413	450		Consumer Protection pursuant to this section; 355
414	451		(4) "Manufacturer registration" means an electronic nicotine delivery 356
415	452		system certificate of manufacturer registration issued by the 357
416	453		Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to section 21a-415a to 358
417	454		any person who mixes, compounds, repackages or resizes any nicotine-359
418	455		containing electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product; 360
419	456		(5) "Electronic cigarette liquid" means a liquid that, when used in an 361
420	457		electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product, produces a vapor 362
421	458		that may or may not include nicotine and is inhaled by the user of such 363
422	459		electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product; 364
423	460		(6) "Electronic nicotine delivery system" means an electronic device 365
424	461		used in the delivery of nicotine or other substances to a person inhaling 366
425	462		from the device, and includes, but is not limited to, an electronic 367
426	463		cigarette, electronic cigar, electronic cigarillo, electronic pipe or 368
427		-	electronic hookah and any related device and any cartridge or other 369 Substitute Bill No. 7181
428		-
429		-
430		-	LCO 13 of 16
431		-
	464	+	electronic hookah and any related device and any cartridge or other 369
432	465		component of such device, including, but not limited to, electronic 370
433	466		cigarette liquid; 371
434	467		(7) "Vapor product" means any product that employs a heating 372
435	468		element, power source, electronic circuit or other electronic, chemical or 373
436	469		mechanical means, regardless of shape or size, to produce a vapor that 374
437	470		may include nicotine and is inhaled by the user of such product. "Vapor 375
438	471		product" does not include a medicinal or therapeutic product that is (A) 376
439	472		used by a licensed health care provider to treat a patient in a health care 377
440	473		setting, (B) used by a patient, as prescribed or directed by a licensed 378
441	474		health care provider in any setting, or (C) any drug or device, as defined 379
442	475		in the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, 21 USC 321, as amended 380
443	476		from time to time, any combination product, as described in said act, 21 381
444	477		USC 353(g), as amended from time to time, or any biological product, as 382
445	478		described in 42 USC 262, as amended from time to time, and 21 CFR 383
446	479		600.3, as amended from time to time, authorized for sale by the United 384
447	480		States Food and Drug Administration; 385
	481	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	482	+
	483	+
	484	+
	485	+	LCO No. 5599 14 of 17
	486	+
448	487		(8) "Sale" or "sell" means an act done intentionally by any person, 386
449	488		whether done as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee, of 387
450	489		transferring, or offering or attempting to transfer, for consideration, 388
451	490		including bartering or exchanging, or offering to barter or exchange; and 389
452	491		(9) "Deliver" or "delivering" means an act done intentionally by any 390
453	492		person, whether as principal, proprietor, agent, servant or employee, of 391
454	493		transferring, or offering or attempting to transfer, physical possession 392
455	494		or control of an electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product. 393
456	495		Sec. 13. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) No person engaged in the 394
457	496		business of shipping or transporting electronic nicotine delivery 395
458	497		systems or vapor products shall ship or transport, or cause to be shipped 396
459	498		or transported, any electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product 397
460	499		to any person in this state except to (1) a person who holds a dealer 398
461	500		registration or a manufacturer registration, or (2) a person who is an 399
462	501		officer, employee or agent of the United States government, this state or 400
463		-	a department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of the 401 Substitute Bill No. 7181
464		-
465		-
466		-	LCO 14 of 16
467		-
	502	+	a department, agency, instrumentality or political subdivision of the 401
468	503		United States or of this state, when such person is acting in accordance 402
469	504		with such person's official duties. The Commissioner of Consumer 403
470	505		Protection shall publish, on the Department of Consumer Protection's 404
471	506		Internet web site, a list of each person who holds a dealer registration or 405
472	507		a manufacturer registration. 406
473	508		(b) No common or contract carrier shall knowingly transport any 407
474	509		electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product to a residential 408
475	510		dwelling or to any person in this state who the common or contract 409
476	511		carrier reasonably believes is not a person described in subdivision (1) 410
477	512		or (2) of subsection (a) of this section. No person other than a common 411
478	513		or contract carrier shall knowingly transport any electronic nicotine 412
479	514		delivery system or vapor product to any person in this state who is not 413
480	515		a person described in subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this 414
481	516		section. 415
482	517		(c) When a person engaged in the business of selling or delivering 416
	518	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	519	+
	520	+
	521	+
	522	+	LCO No. 5599 15 of 17
	523	+
483	524		electronic nicotine delivery systems or vapor products ships or 417
484	525		transports, or causes to be shipped or transported, any electronic 418
485	526		nicotine delivery system or vapor product to any person described in 419
486	527		subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section, other than in the 420
487	528		electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product manufacturer's 421
488	529		original container or wrapping, the container or wrapping shall be 422
489	530		plainly and visibly marked with the words "electronic nicotine delivery 423
490	531		system" or "vapor product", as applicable. Any person engaged in the 424
491	532		business of selling or delivering electronic nicotine delivery systems or 425
492	533		vapor products who ships, or causes to be shipped, any electronic 426
493	534		nicotine delivery system or vapor product to any person described in 427
494	535		subdivision (1) or (2) of subsection (a) of this section (1) shall require, as 428
495	536		a condition of such sale or delivery, such person to sign an 429
496	537		acknowledgment of receipt and provide proper proof of age, and (2) 430
497	538		may not sell or deliver such electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor 431
498	539		product to such person unless such person provides proper proof of age. 432
499	540		(d) Any electronic nicotine delivery system or vapor product shipped 433
500		-	or transported in violation of this section is a common nuisance and is 434 Substitute Bill No. 7181
501		-
502		-
503		-	LCO 15 of 16
504		-
	541	+	or transported in violation of this section is a common nuisance and is 434
505	542		subject to immediate seizure by the Commissioner of Consumer 435
506	543		Protection, any agent or employee of the commissioner authorized to 436
507	544		make such seizure or any peace officer of this state whom the 437
508	545		commissioner has directed to make such seizure. The commissioner or 438
509	546		such agent, employee or peace officer shall hold such electronic nicotine 439
510	547		delivery system or vapor product subject to confiscation and destruction 440
511	548		by order of a court of competent jurisdiction. All costs of such seizure, 441
512	549		confiscation and destruction shall be borne by the shipper or 442
513	550		transporter. 443
514	551		(e) Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be 444
515	552		guilty of a class B misdemeanor and, for a second or subsequent 445
516	553		violation, shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor. 446
517	554		(f) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection may impose a civil 447
518	555		penalty of not more than ten thousand dollars for each violation of this 448
	556	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	557	+
	558	+
	559	+
	560	+	LCO No. 5599 16 of 17
	561	+
519	562		section. For purposes of this subsection, each shipment or transport of 449
520	563		electronic nicotine delivery systems or vapor products shall constitute a 450
521	564		separate violation. The Attorney General, upon request of the 451
522	565		commissioner, may bring an action in the superior court for the judicial 452
523	566		district of Hartford to collect such civil penalty and for any injunctive or 453
524	567		equitable relief. In any action brought by the Attorney General to 454
525	568		enforce the provisions of this section, the state shall be entitled to 455
526	569		recover, when the state is the prevailing party, the costs of investigation, 456
527	570		expert witness fees, costs of the action and reasonable attorneys' fees. 457
528	571		(g) A violation of this section shall be an unfair or deceptive act or 458
529	572		practice pursuant to subsection (a) of section 42-110b of the general 459
530	573		statutes. 460
531	574		Sec. 14. Section 21a-421aaa of the general statutes is repealed and the 461
532	575		following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 462
533	576		Any cannabis establishment licensee or any servant or agent of a 463
534	577		licensee who sells or delivers cannabis or cannabis paraphernalia to any 464
535	578		person under twenty-one years of age shall be guilty of a class [A 465
536		-	misdemeanor] E felony. For purposes of this section, "paraphernalia" 466 Substitute Bill No. 7181
537		-
538		-
539		-	LCO 16 of 16
540		-
	579	+	misdemeanor] E felony. For purposes of this section, "paraphernalia" 466
541	580		has the same meaning as provided in section 21a-420, as amended by 467
542	581		this act. 468
543	582		Sec. 15. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) Any cannabis establishment 469
544	583		licensee or any servant or agent of a licensee who sells or delivers any 470
545	584		synthetic cannabinoid to any person shall be guilty of a class E felony. 471
546	585		For purposes of this section, "synthetic cannabinoid" has the same 472
547	586		meaning as provided in section 21a-240 of the general statutes. 473
548	587		Sec. 16. Section 21a-418 of the general statutes is repealed. (Effective 474
549	588		October 1, 2025) 475
550	589		This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
551	590		sections:
	591	+
	592	+	Raised Bill No. 7181
	593	+
	594	+
	595	+
	596	+	LCO No. 5599 17 of 17
552	597
553	598		Section 1 July 1, 2025 21a-420(1)
554	599		Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 New section
555	600		Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 New section
556	601		Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 New section
557	602		Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 New section
558	603		Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 54-41a(6)
559	604		Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 21a-420c
560	605		Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 21a-420p(f)(1)
561	606		Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 21a-420r(d)
562	607		Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 21a-420t(d) and (e)
563	608		Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 12-285c
564	609		Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 21a-415(a)
565	610		Sec. 13 October 1, 2025 New section
566	611		Sec. 14 October 1, 2025 21a-421aaa
567	612		Sec. 15 October 1, 2025 New section
568	613		Sec. 16 October 1, 2025 Repealer section
569	614
570		-	Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
571		-	In Section 4, "if any," was added after "director of the task force," for
572		-	consistency.
	615	+	Statement of Purpose:
	616	+	To (1) establish a state-wide cannabis and hemp enforcement task force,
	617	+	(2) require a municipality to submit a copy of an application for a court
	618	+	order to the Attorney General, (3) authorize seizures of additional
	619	+	merchandise, (4) redirect funds derived from certain civil penalties to
	620	+	municipalities, (5) prohibit conduct concerning the shipment and
	621	+	transportation of tobacco products, electronic nicotine delivery systems
	622	+	and vapor products, (6) establish penalties concerning the unlawful
	623	+	shipment and transportation of cigarettes, tobacco products, electronic
	624	+	nicotine delivery systems and vapor products, and (7) provide that a
	625	+	cannabis establishment licensee, or any servant or agent thereof, shall
	626	+	be guilty of a class E felony if such person sells or delivers (A) any
	627	+	cannabis or cannabis paraphernalia to any person younger than twenty-
	628	+	one years of age, or (B) any synthetic cannabinoid to any person.
573	629
574		-	GL Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
	630	+	[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
	631	+	that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
	632	+	underlined.]
575	633