(a) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may issue or renew a license for a person to be a delivery service or a transporter. No person may act as a delivery service or transporter or represent that such person is a licensed delivery service or transporter unless such person has obtained a license from the department pursuant to this section.
(b) Upon application for a delivery service or transporter license, the applicant shall indicate whether the applicant is applying to transport cannabis (1) between cannabis establishments, in which case the applicant shall apply for a transporter license, or (2) from certain cannabis establishments to consumers or qualifying patients and caregivers, or a combination thereof, in which case the applicant shall apply for a delivery service license.
(c) A delivery service may (1) deliver cannabis from a micro-cultivator, retailer, or hybrid retailer directly to a consumer, and (2) deliver cannabis and medical marijuana products from a hybrid retailer or dispensary facility directly to a qualifying patient, caregiver, or hospice or other inpatient care facility licensed by the Department of Public Health pursuant to chapter 368v that has protocols for the handling and distribution of cannabis that have been approved by the Department of Consumer Protection. A delivery service may not store or maintain control of cannabis or medical marijuana products for more than twenty-four hours between the point when a consumer, qualifying patient, caregiver or facility places an order, until the time that the cannabis or medical marijuana product is delivered to such consumer, qualifying patient, caregiver or facility.
(d) A transporter may deliver cannabis between cannabis establishments, research programs and laboratories and shall not store or maintain control of cannabis for more than twenty-four hours from the time the transporter obtains the cannabis from a cannabis establishment, research program or laboratory until the time such cannabis is delivered to the destination.
(e) The commissioner shall adopt regulations, in accordance with chapter 54, to implement the provisions of RERACA. Notwithstanding the requirements of sections 4-168 to 4-172, inclusive, in order to effectuate the purposes of RERACA 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'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. Any such policy or procedure shall no longer be effective upon the earlier of either adoption of such policy or procedure as a final regulation under section 4-172 or forty-eight months from July 1, 2021, if such final regulations have not been submitted to the legislative regulation review committee for consideration under section 4-170. The commissioner shall issue policies and procedures, and thereafter adopt final regulations, requiring that: (1) The delivery service and transporter meet certain security requirements related to the storage, handling and transport of cannabis, the vehicles employed, the conduct of employees and agents, and the documentation that shall be maintained by the delivery service, transporter and its drivers; (2) a delivery service that delivers cannabis to consumers maintain an online interface that verifies the age of consumers ordering cannabis for delivery and meets certain specifications and data security standards; and (3) a delivery service that delivers cannabis to consumers, qualifying patients or caregivers, and all employees and agents of such licensee, to verify the identity of the qualifying patient, caregiver or consumer and the age of the consumer upon delivery of cannabis to the end consumer, qualifying patient, or caregiver, in a manner acceptable to the commissioner. The individual placing the cannabis order shall be the individual accepting delivery of the cannabis except, in the case of a qualifying patient, the individual accepting the delivery may be the caregiver of such qualifying patient.
(f) A delivery service shall not gift or transfer cannabis at no cost to a consumer or qualifying patient or caregiver as part of a commercial transaction.
(g) A delivery service may only use individuals employed on a full-time basis, not less than thirty-five hours a week, to deliver cannabis pursuant to subsection (c) of this section. Any delivery service employees who deliver cannabis shall be registered with the department, and a delivery service shall not employ more than twenty-five such delivery employees at any given time.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 47.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 effective July 1, 2021.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 21a - Consumer Protection
Chapter 420h - Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis
Section 21a-420. - Definitions.
Section 21a-420a. - Purchase, possession, display, sale or transportation of cannabis legal.
Section 21a-420b. - Enforcement of violations of federal law related to cannabis.
Section 21a-420c. - License required for sale, offering or delivery of cannabis.
Section 21a-420e. - Timeline for initial applications for licensure. Fees for licenses.
Section 21a-420l. - Authorization for expanded activity of producer. Social equity partnership.
Section 21a-420m. - Creation of equity joint ventures by producer. Requirements. Fee.
Section 21a-420n. - Cultivator license.
Section 21a-420p. - Micro-cultivator license.
Section 21a-420q. - Regulations re maximum grow space. Policies and procedures.
Section 21a-420r. - Retailer license.
Section 21a-420s. - Hybrid retailer license.
Section 21a-420w. - Food and beverage manufacturer license.
Section 21a-420x. - Product manufacturer license.
Section 21a-420y. - Product packager license.
Section 21a-421b. - Criminal history records checks required for licensure. Fees.
Section 21a-421c. - Third-party background checks for backer or key employee license applications.
Section 21a-421e. - Project labor agreement required. Civil action for enforcement. Penalty.
Section 21a-421f. - Cannabis business accelerator program.
Section 21a-421g. - Workforce training program for cannabis industry.
Section 21a-421h. - Bond authorization.
Section 21a-421i. - Revolving loan program.
Section 21a-421j. - Regulations required to implement RERACA. Policies and procedures.
Section 21a-421q. - Purchase of cannabis by qualifying patients and caregivers.
Section 21a-421bbb. - Inducement of person under twenty-one to procure cannabis.
Section 21a-421eee. - Loitering on cannabis retailer or hybrid retailer premises.
Section 21a-421hhh. - Certain gifts, sales and transfers of cannabis prohibited. Penalties.
Section 21a-422b. - Positive drug test of student and enrollment in educational institution.
Section 21a-422e. - Program re collection of public health information on cannabis. Report.
Section 21a-422m. - Use of cannabis in hospitals.
Section 21a-422n. - Possession of cannabis in Department of Correction facilities or halfway houses.
Section 21a-422t. - Sign re storage and disposal of cannabis and cannabis products.