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General Law Committee forwards major cannabis reform package; members voice deep concerns over potency and hemp impacts
Summary
The committee voted to send the cannabis reform (HB5350) and Social Equity Council (HB5351) measures to the floor after robust debate. Members praised equity work but expressed bipartisan concerns about raising potency caps, competitive pressure on small hemp farmers and public-health effects on youth.
The General Law Committee voted to send a large package of cannabis-related bills to the floor after extended debate over potency limits, social-equity protections and how cannabis market changes could affect the hemp industry.
Chairs described the JFS language as the largest reform to the program since legalization: it removes proposals for on-premise consumption licenses and hospitality endorsements, adds commercial extractor and food-and-beverage manufacturing authorizations, and implements several Social Equity Council recommendations (including rules governing changes of ownership for social-equity joint ventures and expanded investigatory authority for the council).
Major points of debate included whether to raise or remove THC caps for concentrates and flower; multiple members urged greater restraint. Senator Kell warned that rising potency and commercialization "is very, very potent and very powerful" and said the committee should consider aligning taxation and competitiveness with neighboring states rather than simply lifting limits. Representative Anoscovich spoke personally about family loss and opposed lifting potency limits, saying higher potency products exacerbate risks for young users. Several members also raised concerns that expanding infused beverages, sublingual products and topicals could displace Connecticut hemp growers and small retailers who rely on topical hemp products.
Supporters said the package includes pathways to protect social-equity participants and create new market opportunities (commercial extraction and food/beverage manufacturing) for in-state producers. Sponsors also removed some of the more controversial licensing ideas (on-site consumption and alcohol-licensed infused-beverage endorsements) in the JFS draft to address public testimony.
The committee approved motions to send both HB5350 and HB5351 to the floor. Chairs signaled continued negotiations on potency caps, equity ownership protections and technical regulatory language before floor votes.
