Connecticut lawmakers have passed a bill to target the widespread illegal sale of cannabis in vape and convenience stores, which is undermining the state’s legal cannabis market. Four years after adult-use legalization, the state faces a flood of high-potency, untaxed products sold under the radar — often undercutting licensed dispensaries.
The legislation gives municipalities greater power to seize illegal products and penalize unauthorized vendors. It also lifts location restrictions for licensed cultivators, allowing them to operate outside “Disproportionately Impacted Areas” (DIAs), which many argued had limited business expansion. The bill additionally calls for the creation of a Cannabis and Hemp Enforcement Task Force.
Licensed businesses are applauding the move. “We’re following every rule, paying every tax, and watching illegal shops sell stronger, cheaper weed with no oversight,” said a licensed grower in Hartford. Regulators hope enforcement will bring balance to a market that has seen slower-than-expected growth.
Still, some critics say enforcement alone won’t solve consumer demand for cheaper options. They call for public education campaigns and incentives to lower legal product prices. With Massachusetts just across the border offering more potent cannabis at better prices, Connecticut’s challenge is not just enforcement — it’s competition.
Source: CT Insider
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