CBD Oil in Connecticut: Is it Legal & Where to Buy

Hemp may be federally legal, but each state has its own laws regulating the sale of products like CBD, even when derived from the hemp plant. We've compiled useful information for anyone interested in knowing if CBD is legal in Connecticut, how to buy CBD oil in Connecticut, and even a few local recommendations for brick and mortar CBD shops.

CBD in Connecticut: Things You Should Know

The state of Connecticut has recently gone through some changes in legislation regarding medicinal and recreational marijuana. While hemp-based CBD products are legal across the United States thanks to the passing of the 2018 Farm Bill, each state, however, has different laws on their books regarding marijuana. These new changes in CT law will allow consumers to have greater options for buying CBD oil in the state through dispensaries, vape stores, head shops, and in natural retail outlets. 

Is CBD Legal in Connecticut?

Hemp-derived CBD is legal throughout the United States, providing it contains 0.3% or less THC. However, those who live in Connecticut now have access to both hemp- and marijuana-derived CBD. Thanks to the new changes in Connecticut legislation, a host of CBD vendors have been popping up around the state. And if you don’t do your homework, you’ll wind up spending your hard-earned money on cheap products from questionable brands. 

Is Marijuana Legal in Connecticut?

In 2021, the Connecticut legislature legalized both recreational and medicinal marijuana by passing CB1201, which legalized possession and use of the plant of up to 1.5 ounces. If you’re caught with over that amount, you could serve up to one year in prison and pay a fine of up to $1000. Growing marijuana on your property at home in Connecticut is a felony that could send you to prison for anywhere from 5-15 years. Marijuana, however, is not legal in the eyes of the federal government. But, as we mentioned earlier, each state has its own laws on record regarding both recreational and medicinal marijuana. To that end, in 2012, Connecticut became the 17th state to allow medical marijuana use. In this program, patients can use CBD oils that contain over 0.3% THC with a medicinal marijuana card. 

In order to receive a medical marijuana card in Connecticut, you have to meet the following qualifications:

• Be of at least 18 years of age or older
• Permanently reside in Connecticut
• Are in the process of being treated for a debilitating condition by a licensed Connecticut physician. 

The long list of medical conditions that will enable Connecticut residents to be eligible for a medicinal marijuana card are: 

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• AIDS/HIV
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Nervous System or Spinal Cord Damage with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• Epilepsy
• Cachexia
• Wasting Syndrome
• Crohn’s Disease
• PTSD
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Severe Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis
• Post Laminectomy Syndrome with Chronic Radiculopathy
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome
• Cerebral Palsy
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Terminal Illness
• Uncontrollable Seizure Disorder
• Fibromyalgia
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Post Herpetic Neuralgia
• Hydrocephalus
• Intractable Headache Syndrome
• Neuropathic Facial Pain
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta

Interestingly, patients under the age of 18 can apply for a medical marijuana card if they have been diagnosed with one or more of the following conditions: 

• Cerebral Palsy
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Severe Epilepsy
• Terminal Illness
• Uncontrolled Seizures 
• Irreversible Spinal Cord Injury with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Muscular Dystrophy

When applying for a medical marijuana card in the state of Connecticut, the patient’s primary care doctor or medical specialist needs to guide them through the medical marijuana registration process. Once you’ve been granted your medical marijuana card, you can purchase marijuana-derived CBD oil from any state-licensed medical dispensaries. 

Buying CBD Oil Online in Connecticut

Even though there are a wealth of physical brick and mortar locations to buy CBD oil from in the Constitution State, the best way to avoid fake CBD oils and ensure that you’re buying high-quality CBD from a reputable brand is to purchase it online. When you buy CBD oil online, you’re affording yourself the time you need to deeply research products and brands. Moreover, you won’t be confined to store hours or subjected to limited varieties. When shopping for CBD oil online, the possibilities are almost endless. When you buy CBD products from the comfort of your home, you can have them shipped directly to your doorstep. Additionally, when you research, you’ll be able to thoroughly answer all of your own questions instead of relying on store employees who may or may not have all of the answers. 

Buying CBD Oil Locally in Connecticut

Below are some of the CBD shops in and around major cities in Connecticut:

Hartford Area

Artisan Vapor & CBD
27 LaSalle Rd, West Hartford, CT 06107

Higher Healing CBD Store
733 Park Ave, Bloomfield, CT 06002

Your CBD Store
2239 Main St, Glastonbury, CT 06033

New Haven Area

Health CBD Store 
1345 Barnum Ave STE 4, Stratford, CT 06614 

The Giving Hemp
Cindy Ln, Weston, CT 06883

Bridgeport Smoke Shop
599 Washington Ave, Bridgeport, CT 06604

CBD Oil in Connecticut: Online Shops vs. Local Stores

 Reputable brands post all of their independent lab reports online and make them easy for customers to find. Shopping for CBD oil online allows you to obtain valuable information about brands and products that may be hard to learn while you’re in a store. Moreover, online brands have a larger selection of products as well as various discount programs, coupon codes, or subscription services that you can take advantage of. This may not be the case at physical locations. Lastly, when shopping for CBD oil online, you’ll be able to buy products from all across the United States, which may not be the case if you’re choosing from the limited stock within a brick and mortar location. 

What to Look for When Buying CBD Oil in Connecticut

• Look for brands that use CO2 extraction to obtain all of their extracts. This process doesn’t use any heat or solvents, which allows brands to make clean, high-quality, potent CBD oils. 
• Only buy products from brands that use an independent third-party lab to regularly test their products for potency and purity. When brands use an independent lab, they are conveying a strong message to customers that they care about being transparent and about what goes into the making of their products. Moreover, you as the consumer should know exactly what you’ll potentially be putting inside of your body. 
• Steer clear of brands that make wild and outlandish claims. While CBD oil is an excellent supplement, it is not a miracle drug or cure-all for everything that ails you. Reputable brands, like FAB CBD, are honest and give customers factual information about their products. 
• Know where the brand sources its hemp. Hemp that comes from overseas is held to different standards than hemp that’s grown in the United States. Moreover, brands that source their hemp from organic, licensed farms have cleaner products in the long-run. The cannabis plant, by nature, absorbs a lot. Therefore, if herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or heavy metals were near or were used on the plant, then you can be sure that the plant absorbed it. Clean, organic hemp sources translate to clean, potent, and pure products. 
• Read verified customer reviews. Be wary of brands who don’t post any customer reviews. Any reputable brand will have all sorts of verified customer reviews posted on their website — both good and bad. This also goes along with being transparent with customers. 

Summary on Legality and Buying CBD Oil in Connecticut

As the CBD industry continues to skyrocket in popularity, we’ll see an increase in the number of retailers to pop up all throughout the United States. So, if you reside in Connecticut, you shouldn’t have any issues finding CBD products near you. But, if you want a fast and simple way to buy top-quality products from reputable brands, then your best bet is to shop for CBD oil online. Not only will you be able to spend as much time as you need researching brands and products, but once you find a brand you’re interested in, you’ll be able to take advantage of any coupon codes, discount programs, or subscription clubs that they offer. 

Additionally, online brands offer more of a product selection than brick and mortar stores. Online retailers can also afford to have larger discounts on their products because they don’t have to deal with all of the operational expenses of running a physical location. Moreover, when you shop online, you’ll have all of the information that you need right at your fingertips. Therefore, you’ll have access to third-party lab reports, verified customer reviews, product ingredients and descriptions, brand information and background, and much more. When compared to other states, Connecticut appears to be a state with more liberal laws regarding CBD. Therefore, you’ll have more success buying either hemp-based or marijuana-based CBD products in Connecticut than in some other states. Even though medicinal marijuana products are reserved for patients who have a special medicinal marijuana card, you can still find many excellent hemp-based CBD products both online and in physical locations within the state.