Don’t Get High on Your Own Supply

While it is true that the sale of alcoholic liquor (wine, beer, alcohol, and distilled spirits) is the primary function of Connecticut's package stores, by law, they are also allowed to sell other commodities. Such products include cheese, cigarettes and cigars, newspapers, and nonalcoholic beverages.

Recently, the Department of Consumer Protection' s Liquor Control Division (the "department") noted an increase in the sale of THC and hemp infused non-alcoholic beverages in grocery stores and package stores. In a recent news release, the department stated that "the products are usually marketed as waters, seltzers, sodas, or teas, and are advertised as containing cannabis, hemp, CBD or THC and other THC variants including delta-8 THC."

Retailers with a Connecticut-issued liquor permit should monitor its inventory and purchases to make sure that they are not selling products in violation of Connecticut law. To be clear, the sale of beverages made using hemp, hemp-derived, or hemp-infused products which exceed a total 0.3% concentration of THC on dry weight is prohibited by Connecticut. The sale of an illegal product by a permittee may result in unlawful conduct charges before the department.

Lesson number one- Retailers should closely examine what they are buying from their suppliers. Be curious. Ask questions.

As Elvira Hancock (played by Michelle Pfeiffer in Scarface) says "Lesson number two- Don 't get high on your own supply."

Any questions about THC and hemp products sold by liquor permittees can be directed to DCP.Cannabis@ct.gov and DCP.LiquorControl@ct.gov .

Feel free contacting the JJS Consulting Group, LLC with any concerns or if you would like additional information on this topic or any liquor issue.