If you have seen a THC drink for sale and are not sure you can legally buy it there, check the seller first. These rules come from the state Department of Consumer Protection (DCP). For the wider picture, see our guide to Connecticut cannabis laws in 2026.
What is the CT THC seltzer law for THC-infused drinks?
The CT THC seltzer law limits who may sell THC-infused drinks and how much THC they hold. Only cannabis retail establishments and package stores with an endorsement to sell infused beverages are allowed to sell beverages containing THC, and under DCP's 2026 notice infused beverage manufacturers may also sell on-premises for off-site consumption. Retailer drinks may contain up to ten milligrams of THC per container. These rules cover adults 21 and older.
Who is allowed to sell a THC drink
DCP's guidance on what package stores need to do to continue to sell THC-infused beverages says that effective October 1, 2024, only cannabis retail establishments and package stores with an endorsement to sell infused beverages are allowed to sell beverages containing THC.
DCP's notice on the 2026 legislative updates adds a third kind of seller. Beginning October 1, 2026, infused beverage manufacturers may also sell infused beverages on-premises for off-site consumption.
Hi! People holds two Connecticut adult-use cannabis retailer licenses, one for Derby and one for Hartford.
Hi! People has launched a hemp-infused fruit seltzer line, and the Hartford Business Journal reported on October 10, 2025 that the line would also be sold at a range of package stores throughout the state.
The container limit for retailer drinks
The same DCP notice sets the container figure for drinks sold by cannabis retailers. Retailer infused beverages may contain up to ten milligrams of THC per container.
The notice also allows a variance for laboratory method uncertainty of up to plus or minus ten per cent of the reported value for THC. The figure covers the whole can or bottle. For everything else printed on a package, see our guide on how to read a Connecticut cannabis label.
Like every adult-use product, retailer drinks are for adults 21 and older. If a drink is part of your plans for the day, read our guide to driving and cannabis before you get behind the wheel.
How to check a drink before you order it from us
- Pick your store and open the drinks aisle. On our drinks aisle page, the product list shows live items from the menu of the store you have selected, with a switch to the other store.
- Ask if you are unsure. If you cannot tell what a drink holds, call us at 860-420-BUDS (2837) before you order.
- Check delivery, then answer the door yourself. Derby schedules delivery to the towns on our delivery page, and checkout confirms each address. Hartford is pickup only. State law says the individual who placed the order must be the one who accepts delivery, and the delivery service must verify that person's identity and the consumer's age. Delivering cannabis to anyone under twenty-one is a class A misdemeanor for the licensee.
Still deciding on a format? Our comparison of THC drinks and edibles puts the two side by side.
Questions shoppers ask about THC drink rules
Can a gas station sell THC drinks?
Only if it is a cannabis retail establishment or a package store with an endorsement to sell infused beverages. DCP's package store guidance says that effective October 1, 2024 only those businesses are allowed to sell beverages containing THC. Its 2026 notice adds infused beverage manufacturers selling on-premises for off-site consumption beginning October 1, 2026. These rules cover adults 21 and older.
How much THC can a drink from a cannabis retailer hold?
For adults 21 or older, retailer infused beverages may contain up to ten milligrams of THC per container under DCP's 2026 notice. The same notice allows a variance for laboratory method uncertainty of up to plus or minus ten per cent of the reported value for THC.
Does a hemp-derived product still count as cannabis?
It can. DCP says high-THC hemp products and products with synthetic cannabinoids are considered cannabis. DCP defines a high-THC hemp product as one with more than five milligrams of total THC per container, or more than three-tenths per cent total THC on a dry-weight basis for flower or trim, that is not an infused beverage. Cannabis rules here are for adults 21 and older.
What does a package store need to sell THC drinks?
A package store that has THC-infused beverages for retail sale must have an endorsement on its package store permit. DCP's guidance says that effective October 1, 2024, only cannabis retail establishments and package stores with that endorsement are allowed to sell beverages containing THC, and buyers of cannabis products must be 21 or older.
Can I use an out-of-state ID to buy a THC drink?
According to DCP, any adult 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID may buy from licensed adult-use retailers or hybrid retailers regardless of state of residence. Retailer infused beverages may contain up to ten milligrams of THC per container, so check the seller and the label before you order.
Does a hemp product with a little THC need a special seller?
Yes, for the moderate-THC hemp category: since January 1, 2025, selling a moderate-THC hemp product requires a certificate of registration as a moderate-THC hemp product vendor. A moderate-THC hemp product has at least 0.5 milligrams and no more than 5 milligrams of THC per container. Cannabis drinks from a retailer are sold to adults 21 and older.
