What changed in Connecticut on October 1, 2026
If you shopped here before this fall, your tax lines are figured differently. Before October 1, 2026, the statewide cannabis tax was based on the milligrams of THC in a product. Per the Department of Revenue Services cannabis tax page, it is now a flat 10.75% of gross receipts from adult-use sales. Our guide to how the state cannabis tax works walks through the state's own worked example, one tax line at a time.
The same date brought a privacy rule. Effective October 1, 2026, a retailer cannot keep the personal data it collects to verify your age for longer than 24 hours without your express written consent.
Drinks changed as well: retailer infused beverages may now contain up to 10 mg of THC per container. DCP lists the new rules in its notice on the 2026 legislative updates, and our page on the state's THC drink laws covers the rest of the drink rules.
One thing stayed put. Public Act 26-8 keeps the one ounce per day retail limit for consumers. For the full picture of this year's law, start with our overview of Connecticut cannabis laws for 2026.
Rules to know before you walk in
Bring your ID every time. State law defines a consumer as someone 21 or older, and a driver's license or identity card with a full-face photograph counts as legal proof of age.
Adults 21 and older may carry up to one and one-half ounces of cannabis plant material on their person. Up to five ounces can be kept in a locked container at home or in a locked glove box or trunk of your car. Those limits come from chapter 420b of the state's General Statutes, and our page on how much cannabis you can legally possess goes through them in more detail.
Each adult 21 or older may also grow up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants in their primary residence. Our home grow rules cover where those plants can and cannot live.
Where you use cannabis is its own question. DCP says landlords may prohibit smoking and vaping at home but generally may not prohibit possession or consumption of other forms of cannabis. Read where you can legally smoke weed for the rest of that picture, and our guide to driving after using cannabis before you get behind the wheel.
Your first visit and how ordering works
Bring your photo ID and cash or a debit card. Both of our stores take cash and debit cards. Neither store takes credit cards, and our Derby store has an ATM on site if you need cash.
You do not have to decide everything at the counter. Online ordering is open 24/7, and an order placed ahead is ready for in-store pickup. Both of our Hi! People Cannabis Market stores, Derby and Hartford, are open 7 days a week.
New to all of this? Our first-time visit guide answers the questions people bring in with them, and what to expect at our Derby store is written for that location.
Reading a live menu like a budtender
It is tempting to choose flower on THC alone. Our flower listings show a THC value and, on nearly every product, terpene values, so when two flowers sit close on THC you have a second line to compare.
The terpene names you will see listed are in our terpene guide. Strain labels are a separate question, and our comparison of indica vs sativa vs hybrid sorts out what those labels do and do not tell you.
Flower is sold by weight. If the sizes are new to you, start with our breakdown of an eighth, a quarter and a half ounce. Once a package is in your hand, every cannabis label sold in the state must carry a DCP-issued symbol showing it contains THC and a symbol that it is not safe or legal for people under 21. Our guide on how to read a Connecticut cannabis label walks through everything else printed on it, and any unfamiliar word is in our cannabis glossary.
We prioritize products from licensed Connecticut cultivators and processors, and you can browse the flower we carry before you come in.
Product guides for choosing a format
Flower is one format of several, and the choice between the others comes down to how you want to consume and how long you are willing to wait.
Extracts are where the vocabulary gets thick, since live resin, rosin and distillate differ in how they are made. For vapes, our comparison of a vape cartridge and a disposable sets the two side by side. Pre-rolls come plain or infused, which is the whole subject of infused pre-rolls vs regular pre-rolls.
Edibles and drinks follow different caps. DCP says edibles can have no more than 100 mg of THC total in a multiple-serving package, a separate limit from the drink cap above. That is why THC drinks and edibles get their own comparison, and why how long edibles take to kick in is worth reading before you try one.
Whatever you bring home, how to store cannabis is the page for putting it away.
Questions shoppers ask about Connecticut cannabis
Can I buy cannabis in Connecticut if I live in another state?
Yes, if you are 21 or older. DCP says non-residents are charged the same state and local taxes as Connecticut residents for adult-use cannabis, and the same 1.5 oz possession limit applies to out-of-state residents as to Connecticut residents. Our page on buying cannabis as an out-of-state resident has the details, and if you are asking about the medical program instead, see whether you need a medical card. DCP also answers the question directly in its knowledge base article for out-of-state buyers.
When did adult-use sales start in Connecticut?
Adult-use sales began on January 10, 2023 at licensed retailers. Possession came first: DCP says possession of up to 1.5 oz became fully legal for adults 21 and older on July 1, 2021.
Can cannabis be delivered to my home?
State law allows it: a delivery service may deliver cannabis from a retailer directly to a consumer. The delivery service must verify the identity of the person and the age of the consumer upon delivery, so only the adult who placed the order, 21 or older with matching ID, can accept it. Check our delivery page for your town before you order, and our cannabis delivery guide has the rest.
Start with the menu, then plan the trip
Open our live menu first, and check our deals page for current offers.
When your cart is ready, plan the trip from the Derby store page or the Hartford store page, or see all of our locations together. Our New Haven store is coming soon, and the New Haven page is where opening news will go. Anything this guide did not answer may be on our FAQ page, and you can always call us at 860-420-BUDS (2837).