Signed by Governor Dan Malloy

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the use of marijuana for treating certain medical conditions.

Highlights:

• Prohibits penalties under state law for the authorized use, possession, or production of medical marijuana for patients, primary caregivers, physicians, and dispensaries (Secs. 2-4 & 11).

• Requires a physician to certify a patient's need for the palliative use of medical marijuana and limits the certification to 1 year (Secs. 2 & 4).

• Defines “palliative use” as the acquisition, distribution, transfer, possession, or use of marijuana to alleviate a qualifying patient's symptoms of a medical condition (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the medical conditions for which medical marijuana may be used include, but are not limited to, the following medical conditions (Sec. 1):
• Cancer;
• Glaucoma;
• HIV or AIDS;
• Parkinson's disease;
• Multiple Sclerosis;
• Intractable spasticity;
• Epilepsy;
• Cachexia;
• Wasting syndrome;
• Crohn's disease;
• Posttraumatic stress disorder; or
• Any medical condition approved by the Department of Consumer Protection.

• Limits the combined amount of marijuana possessed by patients and their primary caregivers to a 1 month supply, as determined by the Department of Consumer Protection (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a patient from having more than 1 primary caregiver (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a primary caregiver from providing marijuana to more than 1 patient unless the caregiver and each patient have a parental, guardianship, conservatorship, or sibling relationship (Sec. 3).

• Requires patients and their primary caregivers to register with and pay a fee of up to $25 to the Department of Consumer Protection (Sec. 5).

• Requires patients' and caregivers' registration to be confidential (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits the use of medical marijuana in moving vehicles, the workplace, public or private school grounds, public or private university property, public places, and in the presence of an individual under the age of 18 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of medical marijuana by non-Connecticut residents, inmates in correctional facilities, or individuals under the age of 18 (Sec. 1).

• Requires a non-refundable fee of $25,000 for any individual applying for a license to produce marijuana (Sec. 10).

• Limits the number of licensed marijuana producers statewide to at least 3 but no more than 10 (Sec. 10).

• Prohibits any marijuana producer from selling, delivering, or transporting marijuana from or to a location outside the state of Connecticut (Sec. 10).

• Prohibits discrimination against employees, tenants, or students who use medical marijuana or are primary caregivers to an individual who uses medical marijuana (Sec. 17).

• Classifies marijuana as a Schedule 2 drug, whereas current law classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug (Sec. 18).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that authorizes the use of marijuana for treating certain medical conditions.

Highlights:

• Prohibits penalties under state law for the authorized use, possession, or production of medical marijuana for patients, primary caregivers, physicians, and dispensaries (Secs. 2-4 & 11).

• Requires a physician to certify a patient's need for the palliative use of medical marijuana and limits the certification to 1 year (Secs. 2 & 4).

• Defines “palliative use” as the acquisition, distribution, transfer, possession, or use of marijuana to alleviate a qualifying patient's symptoms of a medical condition (Sec. 1).

• Specifies that the medical conditions for which medical marijuana may be used include, but are not limited to, the following medical conditions (Sec. 1):
• Cancer;
• Glaucoma;
• HIV or AIDS;
• Parkinson's disease;
• Multiple Sclerosis;
• Intractable spasticity;
• Epilepsy;
• Cachexia;
• Wasting syndrome;
• Crohn's disease;
• Posttraumatic stress disorder; or
• Any medical condition approved by the Department of Consumer Protection.

• Limits the combined amount of marijuana possessed by patients and their primary caregivers to a 1 month supply, as determined by the Department of Consumer Protection (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a patient from having more than 1 primary caregiver (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits a primary caregiver from providing marijuana to more than 1 patient unless the caregiver and each patient have a parental, guardianship, conservatorship, or sibling relationship (Sec. 3).

• Requires patients and their primary caregivers to register with and pay a fee of up to $25 to the Department of Consumer Protection (Sec. 5).

• Requires patients' and caregivers' registration to be confidential (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits the use of medical marijuana in moving vehicles, the workplace, public or private school grounds, public or private university property, public places, and in the presence of an individual under the age of 18 (Sec. 2).

• Prohibits the use of medical marijuana by non-Connecticut residents, inmates in correctional facilities, or individuals under the age of 18 (Sec. 1).

• Requires a non-refundable fee of $25,000 for any individual applying for a license to produce marijuana (Sec. 10).

• Limits the number of licensed marijuana producers statewide to at least 3 but no more than 10 (Sec. 10).

• Prohibits any marijuana producer from selling, delivering, or transporting marijuana from or to a location outside the state of Connecticut (Sec. 10).

• Prohibits discrimination against employees, tenants, or students who use medical marijuana or are primary caregivers to an individual who uses medical marijuana (Sec. 17).

• Classifies marijuana as a Schedule 2 drug, whereas current law classified marijuana as a Schedule 1 drug (Sec. 18).

Full Bill Text