Connecticut is graduating to adult use!! Have questions about the program? We got you covered!
Limitations on the right to possess and use cannabis
Possession & Use Limits: Possession limits do not include live plants or plant material from those plants cultivated in a residence.
Consumers:
i. Purchase Limit
Connecticut currently limits purchases to ¼ oz per transaction unless otherwise noted by the state.
ii. Possession Limit
Up to 1.5oz of plant material on their person (equal to 7.5 grams of concentrate or cannabis products with up to 750mg of THC). Up to 5oz of plant material in a locked container at home or in a locked glovebox / trunk (equal to 25 grams of concentrate or cannabis products with up to 2500mg THC).
Patients:
iii. Purchase Limit
5oz monthly allotment (unless otherwise noted by your physician) which can be purchased in one transaction if patients wish to do so.
Forms of consumption
Inhalation: When you inhale cannabis, all the active compounds, including THC, are absorbed into the bloodstream through the lungs. The time between inhalation and the compounds hitting your brain is almost immediate. There are two main ways to inhale cannabis: smoking and vaping. Smoking: Smoking is one of the most well-known consumption methods. When you smoke cannabis, you're lighting cannabis flower and inhaling the smoke. There are a variety of ways to smoke cannabis flower.
Pipes: Pipes are small, compact, and easy-to-use, making them one of the most popular devices for smoking cannabis. To use a pipe, add the cannabis to the bowl-shaped area at one end (known as “packing a bowl”) and light. Smoke travels through the pipe's chamber and exits through the mouthpiece, where you inhale.
Water pipes: Water pipes, including bongs and bubblers, work similarly, but the smoke is filtered through water held in a chamber. The water cools down the smoke, creating a smoother inhalation experience.
Joints: If pipes aren't your style, consider joints as an alternative. Joints are created by rolling cannabis into rolling papers, lighting one end and inhaling through the other.
Vaping: Vaping is another inhalation method that involves using a device to heat either cannabis flower or concentrate to right below the point of combustion, which ranges between 356 and 374 degrees Fahrenheit. This transforms the active compounds, like cannabinoids and terpenes, into vapor, which is then inhaled. Vapor doesn't release the same tar or carcinogens that are created when you burn flower, which many believe makes vaping a healthier alternative to smoking. There are a few different ways to vape cannabis.
Vaporizers: Vaporizers can be used with both concentrate and flower. Add the cannabis to a heating chamber, adjust the temperature, and inhale the vapor through the mouthpiece. Vaporizers come in both tabletop versions, which need a solid surface to stand on, and portable versions.
Vape pens: Vape pens are specifically designed for oils or distillates. As the name implies, they typically look like pens. These devices are made up of a cartridge, which contains the cannabis oil or distillate, and a battery, which provides the heat.
Dabbing: Dabbing is a method of vaporizing cannabis concentrate using a dab rig, which entails heating a glass, ceramic, or titanium “nail” and applying the concentrate directly to the hot surface, which turns it into vapor for consumption.
Oral: There are two ways to consume cannabis orally
Edibles: When you ingest a cannabis-infused beverage, baked good, or gummy the cannabinoids are absorbed through the digestive tract. Because of this, edibles have a delayed onset, between 20 minutes and three hours. Edibles are one of the most straightforward consumption methods out there. Just eat or drink, swallow, and wait for the effects to kick in
Tinctures: Tinctures are absorbed through the blood vessels under the tongue (sublingually). To get the full effect, put a few drops of the tincture under your tongue and hold it there, allowing the cannabis to absorb. Then swallow the remaining liquid. Any cannabinoids not absorbed sublingually will be absorbed through the digestive tract. The dual absorption locations mean tinctures taken sublingually can have rapid onset of effects as well as another onset later, like an edible.
Topical: Topical products allow you to absorb cannabinoids through the skin, where they may provide localized effects for things like pain or muscle soreness. Unlike other consumption methods, you won't experience any psychoactive effects when using topicals.
How to safely store cannabis in your home:
Store cannabis products in their original containers and keep the label. Labels on cannabis products from licensed cannabis establishments will have important information including how much THC is in the product. Keep cannabis in a secure and locked place. Cannabis products should be out of sight and out of reach of children and pets. Consider using a safe or lockbox with a combination lock or keypad.
Substance Use Disorder – United Way of Connecticut – 211 and eLibrary (211ct.org) 1-800-563-4086
Find Recovery Supports | DrugFreeCT.org 1-800-563-4086
Marijuana Dependence Treatment & Support | DrugFreeCT.org 1-800-563-4086
Find Treatment Locators and Helplines | SAMHSA 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Safer Cannabis Consumption
MAKE SURE YOUR MEDS AND HEALTH CONDITIONS MIX WITH CANNABIS Some medical conditions or medications don’t play well with THC or CBD. (Pregnancy, anxiety meds and blood thinners are just a few examples.) And just like alcohol or tobacco, it’s never OK to use any cannabis products when pregnant or nursing. Consider asking your doctor for advice before sampling any THC products.
READ DOSING LABELS AND START OFF SMALL Dosages are harder to gauge when smoking, as THC potency can vary between products and strains, so it’s key to listen to your body. Try just a little to start and remember that the amount you need might be different than what someone else can handle. Age, weight, higher elevations and many other factors can all play a role in how the cannabis affects you. While smokables typically take effect sooner than edibles, you still want to give yourself some time to see how you feel before upping the amount. It’s also key to read labels before using THC topicals.
KNOW WHEN YOU’VE HAD TOO MUCH There is no known case of a fatal overdose from marijuana; however, using too much can be disturbing and could even lead to a hospital visit. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says the severe effects that are warning signs you’ve had too much include:
Extreme confusion
Anxiety
Paranoia
Panic
Fast heart rate
Delusions or hallucinations
Increased blood pressure
Severe nausea and vomiting
If you think you’ve accidentally overdone it, call the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222. They’re open 24/7 and are trained to help you. (There aren’t any legal repercussions for calling.)
DON’T MIX CANNABIS WITH OTHER SUBSTANCES
DON’T USE CANNABIS AND DRIVE Wait at least six hours if you’ve smoked or vaped and upwards of eight hours, if you’ve consumed edibles, before getting behind the wheel.
Read the instructions and ingredients Follow the instructions to the letter and remember to start low and slow.
Tolerance, Dependence & Withdrawal
Physical dependence on marijuana is not substantiated by research. However, psychological dependence is possible with the overuse of any substance. A personal inventory should be taken if marijuana becomes a focal point in your life and consultation with your physician is recommended. Frequent or heavy use of medical marijuana can lead to increased tolerance of the drug, resulting in the need for higher doses or different strains. For more information about drug tolerance, as well as the possibility of dependence and withdrawal, please visit: http://www.healthline.com/health/drug-dependence#Overview1Substance
ABUSE SIGNS & SYMPTOMS
HELPGUIDE.ORG, a non-profit resource promoting mental and emotional health, provides the following information to help recognize substance abuse. More information can be found at: https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/drug-abuse-and-addiction.htm
COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ABUSE & DRUG ADDICTION
Although different drugs have different physical effects, the symptoms of addiction are similar. If you recognize yourself in the following signs and symptoms of substance abuse and addiction, consider talking to someone about your drug use.
COMMON SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF DRUG ABUSE
You’re neglecting your responsibilities at school, work, or home (e.g. flunking classes, skipping work, neglecting your children) because of your drug use.
You’re using drugs under dangerous conditions or taking risks while high, such as driving while on drugs, using dirty needles, or having unprotected sex.
Your drug use is getting you into legal trouble, such as arrests for disorderly conduct, driving under the influence, or stealing to support a drug habit.
Your drug use is causing problems in your relationships, such as fights with your partner or family members, an unhappy boss, or the loss of friends.
You’ve built up a drug tolerance. You need to use more of the drug to experience the same experience you used to attain with smaller amounts.
You take drugs to avoid or relieve withdrawal symptoms. If you go too long without drugs, you experience symptoms such as nausea, restlessness, insomnia, depression, sweating, shaking, and anxiety.
You’ve lost control over your drug use. You often do drugs or use more than you planned, even though you told yourself you wouldn’t. You may want to stop using, but you feel powerless.
Your life revolved around drug use. You spend a lot of time using and thinking about drugs, figuring out how to get them, and recovering from the drug’s effects.
You’ve abandoned activities you used to enjoy, such as hobbies, sports, and socializing, because of your drug use. You continue to use drugs, despite knowing it’s hurting you. It’s causing major problems in your life—blackouts, infections, mood swings, depression, paranoia—but you use anyway.