Connecticut ‘Loophole’ Allows THC Beverage Sales In Liquor Stores

Some Connecticut liquor stores and other markets have started selling THC-infused seltzers under a “loophole” relating to product serving sizes, according to a CT Insider report.

Under state law in Connecticut — where cannabis was made legal in 2021 and later became available for purchase by adults in January 2023 — cannabis consumables including flower products, concentrates, and infused edibles and beverages are only available for purchase via state-licensed dispensaries. But lately, some THC-infused seltzer products are also being retailed in other markets including convenience stores and state-licensed liquor stores following adjustments to the products’ listed serving sizes in what insiders are calling a “loophole” in state law, the report said.

Per a Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection spokesperson, “a package containing less than 1 milligram of THC per serving and less than 5 milligrams per package is not considered cannabis, and may be produced and sold without a license.”

Some manufacturers, according to the report, are taking advantage by creating products that contain fewer than five milligrams of THC overall and labeling them as being more than five servings, regardless of the product’s volume (typically 7.5 or 12 ounces).

State Rep. Michael D’Agostino (D) said that lawmakers are planning to address the loophole by reducing the THC limit for retail products sold in the state without a cannabis license to .5 milligrams per container.

“This is constantly evolving, and we realized as a committee that we’ve got to get further ahead of this so that’s why this session we’re going to be changing that definition to make it even just a more bright line rule.” — D’Agostino, via CT Insider

Connecticut regulators recently doubled the cannabis purchasing limits from 7 to 14 grams per transaction.