What is the law on driving and cannabis in Connecticut?
The state's rule on driving and cannabis comes down to impairment. Courts may take judicial notice that ingesting cannabis can impair a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle, and the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) says cannabis should not be consumed before or during operation of a motor vehicle.
THC values on our menus describe the flower, not the driver
The Derby and Hartford live menus both showed a THC value for every flower product on October 7, 2026. Those values describe the flower, not the person who bought it. An AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study of drivers arrested for DUI concluded that a quantitative threshold for per se laws for THC following cannabis use cannot be scientifically supported.
The product list on our flower aisle page shows live items from the menu of the store you have selected, with a switch to the other store. For the printed package, our guide on how to read a Connecticut cannabis label walks through the label.
Walking out of the store: how cannabis rides home in a car
Here is how we suggest a pickup trip home from Hi! People in Derby or Hartford goes.
- At the counter. Bring a motor vehicle operator's license or identity card with a full-face photograph: a person 21 or older may use either as legal proof of age, and each licensed retailer may accept it.
- In the parking lot. We suggest the locked glove box or trunk, so put the cannabis there before you pull out. Under chapter 420b, a person 21 or older may keep five ounces of cannabis plant material in a locked container at their residence or in a locked glove box or trunk of their motor vehicle.
- On the road. The package stays in the glove box or trunk until you are home, and the driver is someone who has not consumed cannabis before the trip.
- At home. Where you consume has its own rules, covered in our guide to where you can smoke weed in Connecticut.
Before you set out, opening times are on our Derby store page and Hartford store page. If you have a question about your order, call us at 860-420-BUDS (2837). For the limits that apply outside the car, see our page on the state's cannabis possession limits, and for the rest of the state's adult-use rules, our guide to the state's cannabis laws.
Questions shoppers ask about driving and cannabis
Where does cannabis go in the car on the way home?
Put it in a locked glove box or trunk, and do not drive under the influence. A person 21 or older may keep five ounces of cannabis plant material in a locked container at their residence or in a locked glove box or trunk of their motor vehicle.
Does the impaired-driving rule cover cannabis, or only alcohol?
It names alcohol and other intoxicating substances together. The state's motor vehicle statute says no person shall operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any intoxicating substance, or both. The rule applies to every driver, including adults 21 and older who buy cannabis from a licensed store. The next question covers how cannabis fits in.
What does judicial notice mean for cannabis and driving?
Connecticut courts may take judicial notice that ingesting cannabis can impair a person's ability to operate a motor vehicle. In plain terms, a court can accept that point as established without it being proved again in each case. The notice applies to every driver, including adults 21 and older who bought the cannabis legally.
Can I have cannabis before I drive?
No. DCP says cannabis should not be consumed before or during operation of a motor vehicle, and that includes adults 21 and older who bought it legally. If you plan to use cannabis, arrange for someone who has not used it to drive, and keep the package in the locked glove box or trunk until you are home.
Can my driver's license prove my age at the counter?
Yes, a person who is 21 or older with a motor vehicle operator's license or identity card with a full-face photograph may use it as legal proof of age, and each licensed retailer may accept it. Bring the card to the counter at our Derby or Hartford store.
What happens if a driver refuses an influence evaluation?
A driver who does not submit to an influence evaluation by a police officer trained as a DRE (DCP's term) may have their license suspended, DCP says in its cannabis and road safety article. For a question about your own case, ask a lawyer.
