Yes. There are marijuana dispensaries in Stamford. Retail sales of recreational cannabis only began in the city and statewide on January 10, 2023, and Stamford is home to one of the nine licensed adult-use dispensaries in Connecticut.
Yes. There are medical marijuana dispensaries in Stamford as permitted pursuant to HB 5389, which legalized medical cannabis statewide in Connecticut in 2012.
Yes. You can purchase cannabis online from weed dispensaries in the city. However, you may only pick up your order at the store.
Retail sales of cannabis began in Stamford in January 2023. Therefore, if you are visiting any of the dispensaries in the city, expect to meet a line as cannabis enthusiasts continue to throng retail outlets in Stamford. However, you will likely encounter a dedicated line for persons seeking to purchase medical marijuana. If you are first-time cannabis and not sure what to buy, there are friendly staff at Stamford dispensaries who can help answer your questions.
Note that you must be 21 or older before you may be allowed to enter an adult-use dispensary in Stamford. If you intend to buy medical marijuana, you need a Connecticut medical marijuana card and a valid government-issued ID. You will not be able to use credit cards to complete your purchases, as cash is the accepted form of currency at dispensaries.
Despite the legal status of cannabis in Stamford, there is a limit to the amounts that can be purchased. Sales are limited to a quarter of an ounce of marijuana flower, or its equivalent, per transaction. You will also not be able to find marijuana flower with a THC concentration higher than 30% on a dry weight basis or tinctures and edibles with THC levels greater than 60%. Note these limitations do not apply to pre-filled vape cartridges.
Stamford dispensaries are regulated by the Department of Consumer Protection. They may begin operations in the city upon obtaining a license from the DCP and a business permit from the Stamford City Council. They are bound to follow the strict security and record-keeping requirements under state law, such as ensuring that the amounts of cannabis purchased by buyers are monitored.
No adult-use dispensary may sell recreational cannabis to persons under 21 or without valid government-issued IDs proving they are of legal age. Medical marijuana dispensaries must only sell cannabis to individuals with valid Connecticut medical marijuana cards. No persons under 18 may enter a medical marijuana dispensary without the presence of the individual's approved caregiver. Cannabis consumption is also illegal at the premises of a dispensary.
Recreational cannabis became legal in Stamford when Governor Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 1201, or the Responsible and Equitable Regulations of Adult-Use Cannabis Act (RERACA), in 2021. Under RERACA, Stamford adults aged 21 or older are allowed to possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis away from home and 5 ounces in locked containers at home or a car's trunk or vehicle's glove box.
RERACA permits adults aged 21 or older to cultivate up to six marijuana plants. However, plants must be cultivated indoors. Unlike cultivation, Stamford adults can buy recreational cannabis at any of the approved retail outlets now. Note that cannabis use is illegal on federal lands in Stamford and public places. Persons caught driving under the influence of cannabis are also liable to be charged with DUI.
Pursuant to the RERACA, persons with bona fide social relationships may give cannabis to one another, provided the gift is made without a promise of payment or exchange of goods and services and is not linked with a commercial transaction.
Connecticut's House Bill 5389 makes medical marijuana use legal for qualified persons in Stamford. HB 5389 states that only persons with qualifying medical conditions may use medical marijuana legally. These debilitating conditions include but are not limited to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Parkinson's disease, HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, cachexia, and Crohn's disease. A patient must have the diagnosis confirmed by a Connecticut-licensed physician. Inmates confined in correctional institutions or facilities under the supervision of the Department of Correction do not qualify for medical marijuana use regardless of their medical condition.
For persons under the age of 18, the parent or legal guardian of the patient must have two physicians confirm that the palliative use of cannabis is in the minor patient's best interest. Note that one of the physicians must be the primary care provider of the patient, while the other physician must be board-certified in the field of medicine involved in the treatment of the qualifying condition.
Note that under the RERACA, the monthly allotment of medical cannabis for registered medical cannabis patients has been increased to five ounces. However, patients with restricted or expanded allotments by their certifying practitioners have their limits unchanged. However, patients and caregivers who were approved previous to the recent possession change retain the previous 2.5 ounces limit mentioned on their registrations, but their monthly allowance will increase to 5 ounces at the dispensary.
Registered patients aged 18 or older can grow up to three immature and three mature cannabis plants at home, with a cap of 12 plants per household. Per state law, Stamford schools, employers, and landlords are prohibited from enrolling, hiring, firing, penalizing, or refusing to rent to persons based solely on the individuals' statuses as medical marijuana patients. Also, the public use of medical marijuana is illegal.
You can apply for a medical marijuana card in Stamford by obtaining a certification from your physician stating that you have been diagnosed with a qualifying condition. You can obtain your certification from a physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse approved in Connecticut. Before you may receive a certification from your physician, you will be required to provide a valid e-mail address and a primary telephone number.
After obtaining the required certification, visit the Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Business Network to create an account to access the online certification system. Upon completing the registration and verifying your account, log in to the medical marijuana registration portal to complete your application. On the application, you will be required to provide the following:
For more information on obtaining a medical marijuana card, call the Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program at (860) 713-6066 or review the Quick Reference Guide.
Cannabis use is legal at your residence if you own the property. If you do not own the residence, it is recommended that you obtain permission or review the lease agreement. It is illegal to use cannabis in public locations.
To purchase cannabis at a Stamford dispensary, you need a valid ID issued by Connecticut or the United States government showing you are 21 or older. If you want to buy medical cannabis, you must have a Connecticut-issued medical marijuana card in addition to a valid ID.
A gram of cannabis flower costs about $15, while pre-rolls are typically sold for $20.
Some popular cannabis strains in Stamford are:
No. Pursuant to the RERACA, smoking cannabis in public locations, including but not limited to parks, beaches, workplaces, hotels, and within 25 feet of entrances, is illegal in Stamford.
Possession of 1.5 ounces of cannabis is legal for adults aged 21 or older in Stamford. They are also permitted to have up to 5 ounces of cannabis in locked containers at home or locked trunk or glove box in the vehicle.
Medical marijuana patients can have up to 5 ounces per 30 days and grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature cannabis plants. No more than 12 total plants may be cultivated in a household regardless of the number of medical marijuana patients there. Note that adults can also cultivate cannabis under the same rules.
No. Shipping cannabis in or out of Stamford, across state lines, is illegal.
Yes, you can order both recreational and medical cannabis online in Stamford. However, you must visit the store in person to pick up your order.
No. There are no 24-hour dispensaries in Stamford.
Visitors can use recreational dispensaries in Stamford but are restricted from accessing medical marijuana in the city.
Yes. You need a medical marijuana card issued in Connecticut to access medical marijuana dispensaries and a government-issued ID to access recreational cannabis.
Curaleaf and Fine Fettle are the only cannabis dispensaries in Stamford currently.
Yes. Stamford dispensaries scan IDs before allowing visitors inside their facilities.
There are two dispensaries in Stamford. One of the dispensaries sells only medical marijuana, while the other sells both medical and recreational cannabis.
No. Stamford dispensaries typically accept cash but not credit cards.
You can visit as many Stamford dispensaries as you like in one day.
No. Stamford dispensaries do not accept health insurance.
Yes. Stamford dispensaries take inventory of sales in compliance with state laws. Hence, you cannot purchase more quantities than the law permits.
To enter a Stamford adult-use dispensary, you must be 21 or older. You must be 18 or older to enter a Stamford medical marijuana dispensary.
The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) regulates cannabis in the City of Stamford.
Department of Consumer Protection
450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 901
Hartford, CT 06103-1840
Phone: (860) 713-6100
To report illegal marijuana activities in Stamford, you may file a report to the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection using the options available on the Complaint Center page of the DCP website. Alternatively, you may contact the Stamford Police Department at (203) 977-4444 or its crime tips line at (203) 977-TIPS.