Litchfield County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2024

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Litchfield County?

Litchfield County allows the indoor cultivation of marijuana for medical and adult use. This complies with Public Act No. 12-55 and Public Act No. 21-1, which were passed into law by the State of Connecticut in 2012 and 2021, respectively.

While personal cultivation is legal, Litchfield County residents are bound to follow the regulations set by the state. Medical marijuana was only allowed to be cultivated by medical marijuana patients aged 18 and above last October 1, 2021. Each patient may grow three mature and three immature plants, with a cap of 12 plants per residence. The cultivation area should be in the patient’s primary residence, in an indoor locked area protected by security measures to prevent unauthorized access. Plants must not be visible to the public and can not be sold or gifted to anyone. On the other hand, Litchfield County residents at least 21 years old may start cultivating adult-use marijuana by July 1, 2023. Regulations to be followed are the same as the personal cultivation of medical marijuana.

The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) licenses and regulates medical and adult-use cannabis establishments in Litchfield County, as part of Connecticut. Only duly licensed Medical Marijuana Producers and Adult-Use Growers (Cultivator, Micro-cultivator, and Producer) may cultivate marijuana in the county. Interested parties may need the following information:

• Medical Marijuana Producer License - Applications are not accepted as of March 2023. This license is granted to those who have successfully submitted their application requirements and have an indoor facility where medical marijuana may be cultivated. Agricultural expertise is required from these establishments and must have the capability to cultivate, sell, deliver, and transport marijuana. The initial application fee is $25,000, while the registration and renewal fees amount to $75,000. All of which are non-refundable.

• Adult-Use Growers - Applications are open since February 2022. Three licenses are available for adult-use growers. Cultivators may grow medical and adult-use marijuana in a grow space of at least 15,000 square feet. Micro-cultivators may also grow medical and adult-use marijuana but in a grow space ranging from 2,000 to 10,000 square feet only. An expansion of 5,000 square feet may be applied annually. Producers, on the other hand, may only grow medical marijuana. However, existing licensed producers may apply for an expanded producer license to be allowed to grow adult-use marijuana.

Litchfield County residents may use the State’s eLicense portal to check if an establishment has an active license to operate. As of March 2023, the county has licensed cultivators in Watertown and Morris.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Litchfield County?

Yes, manufacturing medical and adult-use marijuana is legal in Litchfield County following Public Act No. 12-55 and Public Act No. 21-1. Four different licenses may be granted by the DCP to establishments that would want to manufacture marijuana – Medical Marijuana Producer License, Product Manufacturer, Food and Beverage Manufacturer, and Product Packager. Licensees may be found in Litchfield and Watertown as of March 2023.

In addition to cultivating medical marijuana, licensed producers are authorized to produce, manufacture, package, and label medical marijuana. Product manufacturers are licensed to extract marijuana, perform chemical synthesis, and other manufacturing activities. Meanwhile, food and beverage manufacturers may use marijuana as an ingredient in any food or beverage intended for humans. However, they are not allowed to extract marijuana or create any product that is not a food or beverage. Lastly, product packagers ensure that manufactured marijuana products are packaged and labeled appropriately following state and local regulations including the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. Generally, packages should be child-resistant and tamper-evident. Labels must include the cannabis content, a list of ingredients and additives, the net weight of the product, recommended use-by date, and product tracking information.

All of these licensees may manufacture cannabis food and beverage products as long as they meet the requirements set by Public Act No. 21-1 and other regulations for a food and beverage manufacturer.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Litchfield County?

The retail of medical and adult-use marijuana is allowed in Litchfield County. Qualifying patients and adult-use marijuana consumers may be able to purchase flowers, vapes, pre-rolls, and edibles in Torrington, Thomaston, and Watertown.

Litchfield County residents are advised to purchase marijuana only from licensed retailers, hybrid retailers, and dispensary facilities. Retailers are licensed by the DCP to sell adult-use marijuana to consumers while hybrid retailers may sell both medical and adult-use marijuana for qualifying patients, caregivers, and consumers. On the other hand, medical marijuana dispensary facilities only sell medical marijuana to qualifying patients and caregivers.

Medical marijuana cardholders may purchase a total of five ounces of medical marijuana per transaction per month. Meanwhile, adult-use consumers who are at least 21 years old may purchase a total of 1/4 ounce of raw flowers per transaction with five ounces as the monthly limit. Retailers are not allowed to give marijuana as gifts to any qualifying patient, caregiver, and consumer.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Litchfield County?

Delivery of medical and adult-use marijuana is legal in Litchfield County. However, there are no delivery services offered in the county as of March 2023.

If delivery services become available, licensed micro-cultivators and retailers may only deliver to adult-use consumers while medical marijuana dispensary facilities are authorized to deliver medical marijuana to qualifying patients and caregivers. Hybrid retailers, on the other hand, can deliver to qualifying patients, caregivers, and adult-use consumers.

Aside from delivery services, the DCP also grants a transporter license to those who wish to deliver marijuana between marijuana business establishments, laboratories, and research programs.

Safety measures related to the storage, handling, and transport of marijuana, vehicles, employees, and documentation must be implemented by delivery services and transporter licensees to secure the products to be transferred. The qualifying patient, caregiver, or consumer must present a valid ID during delivery to verify their age and identity.

How to Get Medical Marijuana Card in Litchfield County

Litchfield County, in compliance with state laws, allows qualified residents to become medical marijuana patients through an online registration system with the help of a certifying physician.

Patients may only register if they are certified to have any of the following debilitating medical conditions and are not an inmate confined in a correctional facility:

• Cancer

• Glaucoma

• HIV/AIDS

• Parkinson’s disease

• Multiple sclerosis

• Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord

• Epilepsy, cachexia

• Wasting syndrome

• Crohn’s disease

• PTSD

• Sickle cell disease

• Post-laminectomy syndrome with chronic radiculopathy

• Severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis

• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• Ulcerative colitis

• Complex regional pain syndrome

• Cerebral palsy

• Cystic fibrosis

• Irreversible spinal cord injury

• Terminal illness needing end-of-life care

• Uncontrolled intractable seizure disorder

• Spasticity

• Severe rheumatoid arthritis

• Postherpetic neuralgia

• Hydrocephalus with intractable headache

• Intractable headaches syndrome

• Osteogenesis imperfecta

• Hydrocephalus with intractable headache

• Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with chronic pain

• Degenerative spinal disorders with chronic neuropathic pain

• Muscular dystrophy

• Ulcerative colitis

• Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)

• Interstitial cystitis

• Vulvodynia and vulvar burning

• Intractable neuropathic pain unresponsive to standard medical treatments

• Chronic pancreatitis

• Tourette Syndrome

• Chronic Pain of at least 6 months due to a chronic condition

• Huntington's Disease

Minor patients, aged under 18 years old, must have any of the following conditions:

• Cerebral palsy

• Cystic fibrosis

• Irreversible spinal cord injury with intractable spasticity

• Severe epilepsy

• Tourette syndrome

• Chronic pancreatitis

• Muscular dystrophy

• Terminal illness needing end-of-life care

• Uncontrolled intractable seizure disorder

• Osteogenesis imperfecta

• Intractable neuropathic pain not managed by standard medical treatments

Two certifying physicians and a caregiver is required for minor patients.

If deemed qualified to be registered in the medical marijuana program, the physician will require from the patient a valid e-mail address and primary telephone number to initiate the application. Next, the patient must create a DAS Business Network Account to access the online registration and verify the information submitted by the physician during the initial application. Proof of identity, proof of residency, a passport-sized photo, and a $100.00 registration fee are required to complete the application. The DCP will mail the medical marijuana registration card to approved applicants, excluding minor patients. Instead, the e-mail confirmation and the caregiver’s medical marijuana card must be used as proof of registration.

As of March 2023, Litchfield County has recorded 2,944 registered patients.

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Litchfield County?

Three taxes are imposed on the retail sale of marijuana in Litchfield County. Following state laws, approximately 20% of the retail price is the expected tax rate for every sale – 6.35% state sales tax, 3% sales tax for the city or town, and a 10%-15% tax based on the THC content of the product.

Based on records, retail sales in the State have increased since its legalization. Comparing January 2023 and February 2023 alone, adult-use retail sales increased from $5,104,892.05 to $7,024,251.95. Meanwhile, medical marijuana retail sales increased from $8,068,751.72 to $11,441,889.68.

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Litchfield County

Since Connecticut legalized the medical and adult use of marijuana, a decreasing record of crime rates related to marijuana is seen in the state. Based on its report on the FBI Crime Data Explorer, marijuana possession arrests in the state decreased from 5,525 in 2011 to 408 in 2021. Meanwhile, arrests due to marijuana sales decreased from 745 in 2011 to 149 in 2021.

Throughout the years, arrests for marijuana possession have been as follows: 2,527 in 2014, 1,952 in 2017, and 858 in 2020. On the other hand, the recorded marijuana sales arrests were 677 in 2014, 616 in 2017, and 220 in 2020.