Cannabis
In Connecticut, cannabis is legal for adults 21+*, but there are limits regarding possession and the growing of marijuana plants. Just like with tobacco and alcohol, it is illegal for anyone under 21 to purchase, use, or possess cannabis. If you choose to use cannabis, purchase it from a licensed dispensary. All products from licensed sellers are tracked in a statewide seed-to-sale system and are tested so consumers can know exactly what they are buying. Illegally purchased marijuana may contain harmful contaminants and toxins.
Be in the know! Understand what’s permitted in Connecticut when it comes to buying, carrying, and using cannabis; the way it impacts your mental and physical health; and signs of problem use.
Get the Facts
CANNABIS AFFECTS YOUR BRAIN. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical responsible for most of Cannabis’s psychological effects, affects brain cells throughout the brain, including cells in circuits related to learning and memory, coordination, and addiction
CANNABIS AFFECTS YOUR SELF-CONTROL. Cannabis can seriously affect your sense of time and your coordination, impacting things like driving.
CANNABIS AFFECTS YOUR LUNGS. Cannabis smoke deposits four times more tar in the lungs and contains 50 percent to 70 percent more cancer-causing substances than tobacco smoke does.
CANNABIS USE IS NEGATIVELY LINKED WITH OTHER ASPECTS OF YOUR HEALTH. Chronic Cannabis use has been linked with depression, anxiety, and an increased risk of schizophrenia in some cases.
CANNABIS IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT IT SEEMS. Cannabis can be laced with substances without your knowledge. “Blunts”—hollowed-out cigars filled with Cannabis.
CANNABIS CAN BE ADDICTIVE. Not everyone who uses marijuana becomes addicted, but some users develop signs of dependence.
FOR MORE INFORMATION OR FOR RESOURCES USED IN THIS
“TIPS for TEENS,”
visit store.samhsa.gov or call
1–877–SAMHSA–7 (1–877–726–4727)
(English and Español).
Store it Locked!
Like many other substances, cannabis is harmful to children and pets. Make your home a safe environment where children cannot access cannabis products in any form. Safe storage can help lower the risk of accidental ingestion.
Be safe. Remember to:
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Keep cannabis in a secure and locked place. Cannabis products should be out of sight, and out of reach of children and pets to avoid accidental ingestion.
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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.
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Consider using a safe or lockbox with a combination lock or keypad.
Make a list of cannabis products in your home. Knowing exactly what cannabis products you have in your home can help with medical treatment in case of accidental ingestion. -
Clean up after using marijuana, including ground flower, crumbs, stems, lighters, and matches.
Get Your FREE Lockbox!
Safe storage of adult use cannabis is essential. Locking containers are available to all legal-age Connecticut residents. Want more information about lockboxes? Contact your Regional Behavioral Health Action Organization (RBHAO) to access a free lockbox.
Resources
Fact Sheets:
Cannabinoid Hyperemesis- a newly recognized diagnosis characterized by chronic cannabis use
In Spanish
From Stanford Medicine
Theory-based and evidence-informed resources created by educators, parents, and researchers aimed at preventing middle and high school students’ use of cannabis/marijuana.
CADCA, along with the National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is excited to announce the release of Practical Theorist Cannabis, The Current State of Affairs.
