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HB 6056

AN ACT CONCERNING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF CANNABIS CAFES AND RESTAURANTS OFFERING CANNABIS-INFUSED FOOD ITEMS, BEVERAGES AND OTHER PRODUCTS.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Aundré Bumgardner

Connecticut bill would permit licensed cannabis cafes and restaurants serving infused food and beverages for on-premises consumption, expanding the legal cannabis market beyond retail sales.

REF. TO JOINT COMM. ON General Law
#marijuana #sales
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Bill Summary · HB 6056

Legislative bill overview

HB 6056 proposes establishing legal cannabis cafes and restaurants in Connecticut where customers could consume cannabis-infused food, beverages, and other products on-premises. The bill would create a new regulatory framework allowing licensed establishments to operate similarly to alcohol-serving restaurants, but specifically for cannabis products. This represents an expansion beyond Connecticut's current legal cannabis market, which permits retail sales but not on-premises consumption venues.

Why is this important

This legislation could generate significant tax revenue and create jobs in Connecticut's cannabis industry while providing consumers with regulated, safe consumption environments. However, it also raises questions about public health, workplace safety, and how such venues would operate under federal law, which still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance. The bill's outcome may influence whether other states adopt similar models for cannabis hospitality venues.

Potential points of contention

  • Public health concerns: Questions about impaired driving, secondhand smoke exposure, and the health effects of cannabis-infused edibles, particularly regarding dosing and accidental overconsumption
  • Workplace safety and liability: How to protect employees from secondhand cannabis exposure and manage liability for intoxicated customers, including transportation safety
  • Federal legal conflict: Cannabis remains federally illegal, creating potential conflicts with banking, interstate commerce, and federal funding for local programs
  • Youth access prevention: Ensuring minors cannot access these venues while maintaining practical enforcement mechanisms
  • Zoning and community impact: Determining where these establishments can operate and addressing neighborhood concerns about clustering and public disorder

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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