Connecticut Creates New Cannabis Oversight Division Amid Industry Growth

10 April 2025

Connecticut’s cannabis industry is getting its own regulatory home.

The state has created a new cannabis division within the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) to oversee licensing, inspections, and enforcement for both medical and adult-use marijuana. The move comes as cannabis sales continue to climb, and as calls grow for more specialized oversight in a market that now generates tens of millions of dollars each month.

The new division will be led by Lila McKinley, a veteran DCP attorney who helped shape Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis regulations. Industry leaders welcomed her appointment, citing her experience and transparency.

Separating cannabis regulation from pharmaceutical oversight marks a major shift in how the state approaches this growing sector — treating it less like a controlled substance and more like a standalone, revenue-driving industry.

Bottom line: As Connecticut’s cannabis market expands, the state is reshaping how it governs the industry — with more focused oversight to match its growing complexity and importance.