For marijuana smokers across Connecticut ages 21 and over, the legalization of cannabis will finally become a reality on Thursday, July 1. But even with that, recreational marijuana dispensaries will not become a reality until May of 2022 at the latest.
The Hartford Courant has reported that the bill to legalize pot is a 300-page document that begins to set the guidelines for the recreational marijuana market in Connecticut.
Here is what you should know: You can possess up to 1.5 ounces of weed on your person and up to 5 ounces in a locked container, but selling pot is still a crime.
Wherever cigarette smoking is not allowed, the same holds for smoking marijuana. Smoking pot at state parks and in hotels will also be illegal. Firing up a doobie in the car by either the driver or passenger(s) is also outlawed.
Have you been dreaming of becoming a dispensary owner in 2022? Of course you have, but know this, licenses will be assigned by lottery, but there will be fees to enter the lottery that range from $250 to $1,000.
I bet you’re wondering if this new law gives you the license to begin growing your own plants at home if you haven’t already. Eventually is the answer, but not until July 1 of 2023.
It will be up to cities and towns in Connecticut to decide whether to permit recreational marijuana dispensaries, but towns that allow dispensaries will receive a 3% local tax on all sales.
How much money will Connecticut rake in for the sale of recreational weed? From July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the expected tax revenue is approximately $26.3 million, which will grow to $73.4 million in the 2025-2026 budget year.
In the meantime, as the wait begins for dispensaries to pop up in 2022, this might be an opportunity to explore the different strains of marijuana like Indica, Sativa and Hybrid and how they make you feel. An in-depth look can be found at leafly.com.