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Windham County Cannabis – Is It Legal & Where To Buy 2025

  1. Connecticut Cannabis
  2. Windham County Cannabis

Is Cannabis Cultivation Legal in Windham County?

Licensed cannabis cultivation for medical and recreational purposes in Windham County is legal provided the municipality allows it. The State of Connecticut’s Public Act 12-55 or the Palliative Use of Marijuana Act legalized medical cannabis in 2012. The state’s Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis Act (RERACA) legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021. This was updated in 2022 and 2023. Sec. 21a-422g of the RERACA allows municipalities to call for a vote on whether to allow the establishment of licensed recreational cannabis businesses within their jurisdictions.

Out of 15 towns in Windham County, only the following four have allowed licensed adult-use cannabis businesses as of October 26, 2022:

  • Windham
  • Thompson
  • Brooklyn
  • Ashford

The State of Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is the licensing authority for medical and recreational cannabis businesses. As of July 2023, though, the DCP no longer issued medical marijuana producer licenses. Medical marijuana producer licensees were, however, allowed to convert to expanded producer licenses that permit the cultivation of both medical and adult-use cannabis crops. These are the adult-use cannabis micro-cultivator license and adult-use cannabis cultivator license issued by the DCP. As of July 2023, applications for these licenses were also closed, but the DCP will announce future re-openings.

Sec. 21a-421j (15) of the RERACA allows cannabis cultivation indoors and outdoors. The cannabis micro-cultivator licensee may grow 2,000 square feet to 10,000 square feet of cannabis crops. This may be extended yearly by 5,000 square feet up to a maximum of 25,000 square feet with DCP approval. To expand further, the licensee must apply to convert to a cannabis cultivator license. The cannabis cultivator licensee may grow upwards of 15,000 square feet of cannabis crops.

In all counties and municipalities of the state, the home growing of cannabis is allowed for medical cannabis cardholders aged 18 and above and individuals above 21 years old. Each may grow a maximum of three immature and three mature cannabis plants, provided they do so in their primary residence. If several qualified individuals live in the same home, though, they can only grow a total of 12 cannabis plants. The cultivation area must be indoors, hidden from public sight, and not accessible to people under the age of 21.

Is Cannabis Manufacturing Legal in Windham County?

Licensed medical and recreational cannabis product manufacturing in Windham County is legal in the four municipalities that have allowed it, in accordance with Public Act 12-55 and the updated RERACA of the State of Connecticut.

The DCP issues the cannabis product manufacturer license and the cannabis food and beverage manufacturer license. The latter is necessary for cannabis manufacturers that intend to produce edible cannabis products. Applications for both licenses were closed as of July 2023, but the DCP will announce future re-openings.

Section 21a-421j-32 of the DCP regulations requires medical cannabis products to have only five ounces or less of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content for every single package. For adult-use cannabis products, a single package may only contain one ounce or less of THC content. Edible cannabis products, including beverages, may have only five milligrams or less of THC per serving and 100 milligrams or less of THC in a package of multiple servings. If the edible cannabis product cannot be easily separated into single servings, it may be packaged as multiple servings.

Is Cannabis Retail Legal in Windham County?

Licensed medical and recreational cannabis retail is legal only in the four municipalities of Windham County that allow it, as stipulated by the State of Connecticut’s Public Act 12-55 and the amended RERACA.

As of July 2023, the DCP no longer issued the medical marijuana dispensary license. Instead, license holders were allowed to convert to the cannabis hybrid retailer license, also granted by the DCP. This authorizes the sale of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders, as well as recreational cannabis and recreational cannabis products to individuals aged 21 and older. Businesses may also apply to the DCP for the adult-use cannabis retailer license which only authorizes the sale of recreational cannabis and recreational cannabis products to age-qualified consumers. Applications to both the hybrid retailer and adult-use cannabis retailer licenses were closed as of July 2023, but the DCP will be announcing re-openings.

Medical cannabis cardholders are allowed to purchase from licensed cannabis hybrid retailers not more than five ounces of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products each month, in any number of transactions. Age-qualified consumers are permitted to purchase from licensed cannabis hybrid retailers and adult-use cannabis retailers not more than one-fourth ounce of dried cannabis flowers or its equivalent in one transaction.

In addition to dried cannabis flowers, examples of cannabis products that licensed cannabis retailers are also allowed to sell are pre-rolled cigarettes, vape cartridges, and edibles such as brownies and cookies.

Is Cannabis Delivery Legal in Windham County?

The licensed delivery of medical and recreational cannabis is legal everywhere in Windham County. Sec. 21a-422g of the State of Connecticut’s amended RERACA prohibits counties and municipalities from banning the delivery of medical cannabis and medical cannabis products to medical cannabis cardholders, as well as recreational cannabis and recreational cannabis products to age-qualified consumers within their territories. Delivery must be made by an adult-use cannabis delivery service licensed by the DCP.

The DCP also issues the adult-use cannabis transporter license for the delivery of medical and recreational cannabis and cannabis products between licensed cannabis businesses.

How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Windham County

A resident of Windham County can join the Medical Marijuana Program of the State of Connecticut to get a medical cannabis card. A qualified licensed physician, physician assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse must issue a certification after diagnosing the adult patient with any of the following illnesses:

  • Terminal illness
  • Postherpetic neuralgia
  • Huntington's Disease with movement disorders
  • Uncontrolled intractable seizure disorder
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Severe rheumatoid arthritis
  • Chronic Pain of at least 6 months from a chronic condition
  • Cystic fibrosis
  • Glaucoma
  • Post-laminectomy syndrome with chronic radiculopathy
  • Tourette Syndrome
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Cancer
  • Intractable headache syndromes
  • Chronic pancreatitis
  • Fibromyalgia with spasticity or neuropathic pain
  • Epilepsy
  • Neuropathic facial pain
  • Intractable neuropathic pain unresponsive to standard medical treatments
  • Complex regional pain syndrome, Type 1 and Type II
  • HIV/AIDS
  • Osteogenesis imperfecta
  • Vulvodynia and vulvar burning
  • PTSD
  • Severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis
  • Hydrocephalus with intractable headache
  • Interstitial cystitis
  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Damage to the spinal cord with intractable spasticity
  • Ehlers-Danlos syndrome with chronic pain
  • Median Arcuate Ligament Syndrome (MALS)
  • Crohn's disease
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Sickle cell disease
  • Ulcerative colitis
  • Irreversible spinal cord injury with intractable spasticity
  • Wasting syndrome
  • Degenerative spinal disorders with chronic neuropathic pain
  • Cachexia
  • Muscular dystrophy

A Department of Administrative Services (DAS) Business Network Account will be created by the healthcare provider for the patient, where the certification will be posted. The name, phone number, and email address of the patient will be included. If the patient is in need of a caregiver, the healthcare provider will include the caregiver’s name, phone number, and email address, as well.

The caregiver must register online, followed by the patient’s registration. They must each submit documents proving their identity and state residency. Registration fees were removed for patients and caregivers effective July 1, 2023.

For patients younger than 18, certifications on a diagnosis of any of the following ailments from two healthcare providers are required:

  • Terminal illness
  • Muscular dystrophy
  • Tourette syndrome not responsive to standard medical treatment
  • Osteogenesis imperfecta
  • Uncontrollable intractable seizure disorder
  • Intractable neuropathic pain not responsive to standard medical treatments
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Intractable spasticity in irreversible spinal cord injury
  • Severe epilepsy
  • Chronic pancreatitis with recalcitrant pain
  • Cystic fibrosis

The certification must be signed by one of the healthcare providers, and the patient’s online registry account must be created by the other. A parent or guardian of the patient must be designated as the caregiver. The patient must be registered by the caregiver, after which the caregiver must also register online.

The approved medical cannabis cards are sent by mail to adult patients and caregivers.

Further inquiries may be sent to the Medical Marijuana Program through the following:

Phone: (860) 713-6066

E-mail: dcp.mmp@ct.gov

How Has Cannabis Legalization Impacted the Economy of Windham County?

According to the DCP, total sales from combined medical and adult-use cannabis and cannabis products in the State of Connecticut from June 1 to 30, 2023 reached almost $24 million. From that amount, $11.3 million was from medical cannabis and medical cannabis products while $12.5 million was from adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products.

Taxes are not levied on medical cannabis and medical cannabis products. Meanwhile, the following taxes apply to adult-use cannabis and adult-use cannabis products:

  • $0.00625 per milligram of THC content in cannabis plant materials
  • $0.0275 per milligram of THC content in edible cannabis products
  • $0.009 per milligram of THC content in other cannabis products
  • 6.35% state sales tax on all adult-use cannabis and cannabis products
  • Maximum of 3% municipal cannabis tax on cannabis businesses

The Effects of Cannabis Legalization on Crime Rates in Windham County

Medical cannabis was legalized in the State of Connecticut, including Windham County, in 2012, and adult-use cannabis was legalized in 2021. However, sales of adult-use cannabis and cannabis products began only in January 2023.

Data on the Crime Explorer page of the FBI shows that in 2011, a year before the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 5,525 marijuana possession arrests and 745 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 6,270 marijuana offense arrests in the state.

In 2013, a year after the legalization of medical cannabis, there were 2,391 marijuana possession arrests and 682 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 3,073 marijuana offense arrests across the state.

In 2018, there were 1,789 marijuana possession arrests and 533 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 2,322 marijuana offense arrests throughout the state.

In 2021, the latest data showed 408 marijuana possession arrests and 149 marijuana sales arrests, totaling 557 marijuana offense arrests statewide.

In those years, the number of DUI arrests was as follows:

  • 2011: 8,841 arrests
  • 2013: 8,261 arrests
  • 2018: 7,676 arrests
  • 2021: 6,133 arrests