Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-425f: High-THC beverages. Endorsement. Manufacturing, testing, advertising, labeling and sales requirements. Biannual report. Policies and procedures. Regulations.

(a) On and after January 1, 2026, no person shall manufacture a high-THC beverage in this state unless such person is an infused beverage manufacturer that has received a high-THC beverage endorsement issued by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection pursuant to this section. A high-THC beverage endorsement shall authorize the infused beverage manufacturer to manufacture high-THC beverages for sale exclusively outside of this state. No infused beverage manufacturer shall advertise, offer or sell any high-THC beverage in this state or offer or sell any high-THC beverage directly to any individual. An infused beverage manufacturer shall verify that purchasers of high-THC beverages intend to engage in the commercial resale of such beverages exclusively outside of this state.

(b) Beginning on January 1, 2026, an infused beverage manufacturer seeking a high-THC beverage endorsement under this section shall submit an application to the Department of Consumer Protection in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection.

(c) Each infused beverage manufacturer with a high-THC beverage endorsement shall (1) use the electronic tracking system, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, to monitor the intake, manufacturing, disposition and distribution of all hemp oil, infused beverages and high-THC beverages in such infused beverage manufacturer's possession, and the information contained therein shall be subject to section 21a-421n, unless otherwise specified by the commissioner as set forth in regulations, policies and procedures adopted pursuant to subsection (f) of this section, and (2) include a clear and conspicuous warning, in at least twelve-point font, on each high-THC beverage that reads “Not for Sale in CT”.

(d) Each infused beverage manufacturer with a high-THC beverage endorsement shall comply with the hemp acquisition, manufacturing and laboratory testing requirements set forth in section 21a-425a, except an infused beverage manufacturer shall not be required to comply with the provisions of subparagraph (A) of subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of section 21a-425a, subdivision (4) of subsection (e) of section 21a-425a or subsection (f) of section 21a-425a for the manufacture of high-THC beverages.

(e) Beginning on July 31, 2026, and biannually thereafter on January thirty-first and July thirty-first, each infused beverage manufacturer that has received a high-THC beverage endorsement under this section shall submit a report to the Department of Consumer Protection, in a form and manner prescribed by the Commissioner of Consumer Protection, (1) for the six-month period beginning on the preceding January first or July first, as applicable, and (2) disclosing the total number of high-THC beverages such infused beverage manufacturer sold outside of this state during the six-month period that is the subject of such report.

(f) The Commissioner of Consumer Protection shall adopt regulations in accordance with chapter 54 to implement the provisions of this section. Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 4-168 to 4-172, inclusive, in order to effectuate the purposes of this section and protect public health and safety, prior to adopting such regulations the commissioner shall issue policies and procedures to implement the provisions of this section that shall have the force and effect of law. The commissioner shall post all policies and procedures on the Department of Consumer Protection's Internet web site and submit such policies and procedures to the Secretary of the State for posting on the eRegulations System, at least fifteen days prior to the effective date of any policy or procedure. The commissioner shall also provide such policies and procedures, in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, to each licensee. Any such policy or procedure shall no longer be effective upon the earlier of either the adoption of the policy or procedure as a final regulation under section 4-172 or June 30, 2029, if such regulations have not been submitted to the legislative regulation review committee for consideration under section 4-170.