Conn. Gen. Stat. » Title 21a — CONSUMER PROTECTION · Chapter 420b — Dependency-Producing Drugs
Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279a (2025)

Limits for legal possession of cannabis. Penalty for illegal possession. Calculation of amount and equivalencies. Immunity

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(a) Any person twenty-one years of age or older may possess, use and otherwise consume cannabis, provided the amount of all such cannabis does not exceed such person's possession limit of (1) one and one-half ounces of cannabis plant material and five ounces of cannabis plant material in a locked container at such person's residence or a locked glove box or trunk of such person's motor vehicle, (2) an equivalent amount of cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, or (3) an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section. On and after July 1, 2023, a person's personal possession limit does not include any live plant or cannabis plant material derived from any live plant cultivated by such person in accordance with the provisions of section 21a-278c.

(b) (1) Any person under eighteen years of age who possesses or has under such person's control less than (A) five ounces of cannabis plant material, (B) an equivalent amount of cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, or (C) an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, except as authorized in this chapter or chapter 420f, shall for a (i) first offense, be issued a written warning, and such person may be referred to a youth services bureau established under section 10-19m or to any other appropriate services, (ii) second offense, be referred to a youth services bureau established under section 10-19m or to any other appropriate services, and (iii) any subsequent offense, be adjudicated delinquent pursuant to the provisions of section 46b-120.

(2) Any person under eighteen years of age who possesses or has under such person's control (A) five ounces or more of cannabis plant material, (B) an equivalent amount of cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, or (C) an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, except as authorized in this chapter or chapter 420f, shall be adjudicated delinquent pursuant to the provisions of section 46b-120.

(3) No person may be arrested for a violation of this subsection.

(c) (1) Any person eighteen years of age or older but under twenty-one years of age, who possesses or has under such person's control less than (A) five ounces of cannabis plant material, (B) an equivalent amount of cannabis products, as provided in subsection (h) of this section, or (C) an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, except as authorized in this chapter or chapter 420f, shall be required to view and sign a statement acknowledging the health effects of cannabis on young people and shall (i) for a first offense, be fined fifty dollars, and (ii) for any subsequent offense, be fined one hundred fifty dollars.

(2) Any person eighteen years of age or older but under twenty-one years of age, who possesses or has under such person's control (A) five ounces or more of cannabis plant material, (B) an equivalent amount of cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, or (C) an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, except as authorized in this chapter or chapter 420f, shall be required to view and sign a statement acknowledging the health effects of cannabis on young people and shall (i) for a first offense, be fined five hundred dollars, and (ii) for any subsequent offense, be guilty of a class D misdemeanor.

(d) Any person twenty-one years of age or older, except as authorized in this chapter, chapter 420f or RERACA, who possesses or has under such person's control more than the possession limit pursuant to subsection (a) of this section, but less than (1) five ounces of cannabis plant material and eight ounces of cannabis plant material in a locked container at such person's residence or a locked glove box or trunk of such person's motor vehicle, (2) an equivalent amount of cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, or (3) an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, shall for a (A) first offense, be fined one hundred dollars, and (B) subsequent offense, be fined two hundred fifty dollars.

(e) (1) Any person twenty-one years of age or older, except as authorized in this chapter, chapter 420f or RERACA, who possesses or has under such person's control (A) five ounces or more of cannabis plant material or eight ounces or more of cannabis plant material in a locked container at such person's residence or a locked glove box or trunk of such person's motor vehicle, (B) an equivalent amount of cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, or (C) an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of this section, shall for a (i) first offense, be fined five hundred dollars, and (ii) subsequent offense, be guilty of a class C misdemeanor.

(2) For an offense under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the court shall evaluate such person and, if the court determines such person is a drug-dependent person, the court may suspend prosecution of such person and order such person to undergo a substance abuse treatment program.

(f) The law enforcement officer issuing a complaint for a violation of subsection (b), (c), (d) or (e) of this section shall seize all cannabis and cause such substance to be destroyed as contraband in accordance with law.

(g) Any person who, at separate times, has twice entered a plea of nolo contendere to, or been found guilty after trial of, a violation of subsection (e) of this section shall, upon a subsequent plea of nolo contendere to, or finding of guilty of, a violation of said subsection, be referred for participation in a drug education program at such person's own expense.

(h) Any person subject to a fine under the provisions of this section may attest to his or her indigency, and, in lieu of paying such fine, complete community service with a private nonprofit charity or other nonprofit organization. The number of hours of community service required shall be equivalent to one hour of such service for each twenty-five dollars of the fine that would otherwise apply. Upon completion of the community service, such person shall attest, and present documentation from such private nonprofit charity or other nonprofit organization confirming that such community service was performed.

(i) (1) For purposes of determining any amount or limit specified in this section and RERACA, one ounce of cannabis plant material shall be considered equivalent to (A) five grams of cannabis concentrate, or (B) any other cannabis products with up to five hundred milligrams of THC.

(2) For purposes of subsection (a) of this section, one and one-half ounces of cannabis plant material shall be considered equivalent to (A) seven and one-half grams of cannabis concentrate, or (B) any other cannabis products with up to seven hundred fifty milligrams of THC.

(3) For purposes of subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section, five ounces of cannabis plant material shall be considered equivalent to (i) twenty-five grams of cannabis concentrate, or (ii) any other cannabis products with up to two thousand five hundred milligrams of THC.

(4) For purposes of determining any amount or limit specified in this section and RERACA, the amount possessed shall be calculated by converting any quantity of cannabis products to its equivalent quantity of cannabis plant material, and then taking the sum of any such quantities.

(j) (1) As used in this section, “cannabis”, “cannabis flower”, “cannabis trim”, “cannabis concentrate” and “cannabis product” have the same meanings as provided in section 21a-420.

(2) As used in this section, “cannabis plant material” means cannabis flower, cannabis trim and all parts of any plant or species of the genus cannabis, or any infra specific taxon thereof, excluding a growing plant, and the seeds thereof. “Cannabis plant material” does not include hemp, as defined in section 22-61l.

(3) As used in this section, “motor vehicle” has the same meaning as provided in section 14-1.

(4) As used in this section, “trunk” means (A) the fully enclosed and locked main storage or luggage compartment of a motor vehicle that is not accessible from the passenger compartment, or (B) a locked toolbox or utility box attached to the bed of a pickup truck, as defined in section 14-1. “Trunk” does not include the rear of a pickup truck, except as otherwise provided, or of a hatchback, station-wagon-type automobile or sport utility vehicle or any compartment that has a window.

(k) The provisions of subsections (b) to (e), inclusive, of this section shall not apply to any person (1) who, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for another person who such person reasonably believes is experiencing an overdose from the ingestion, inhalation or injection of intoxicating liquor or any drug or substance, (2) for whom another person, in good faith, seeks medical assistance, reasonably believing such person is experiencing an overdose from the ingestion, inhalation or injection of intoxicating liquor or any drug or substance, or (3) who reasonably believes he or she is experiencing an overdose from the ingestion, inhalation or injection of intoxicating liquor or any drug or substance and, in good faith, seeks medical assistance for himself or herself, if evidence of the possession of cannabis plant material or cannabis product in violation of said subsections was obtained as a result of the seeking of such medical assistance. For the purposes of this subsection, “good faith” does not include seeking medical assistance during the course of the execution of an arrest warrant or search warrant or a lawful search.

(P.A. 11-71, S. 1, 11; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 3; P.A. 23-47, S. 4.)

History: P.A. 11-71 effective July 1, 2011; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 amended Subsec. (a) by replacing language re possession by any person of less than one-half ounce of a cannabis-type substance and associated penalties in Subsecs. (a)(1) and (a)(2) with a new limit for any person 21 years of age or older in new Subsecs. (a)(1) to (a)(3), added new Subsec. (b) re any person under 18 years of age, added new Subsec. (c) re any person 18 years of age or older but under 21 years of age, added new Subsec. (d) re any person 21 years of age or older possessing more than the possession limit but less than 5 ounces of cannabis plant material and 8 ounces of cannabis plant material in a locked container or glove box or trunk, an equivalent amount of cannabis products or an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis plant material and cannabis products, added new Subsec. (e) re any person 21 years of age or older who possesses 5 ounces or more of cannabis plant material or 8 ounces or more of cannabis plant material in a locked container or glove box or trunk, an equivalent amount of cannabis products or an equivalent amount of a combination of cannabis plant material and cannabis products, redesignated existing Subsec. (b) as Subsec. (f) and replaced reference to Subsec. (a) with references to Subsecs. (b) to (e) and “cannabis-type substance” with “cannabis” in same, redesignated existing Subsec. (c) as Subsec. (g) and replaced reference to Subsec. (a) with reference to Subsec. (e) in same, added Subsec. (h) re indigent person completing community service instead of paying a fine, added Subsec. (i) re calculation of amount or limit and equivalencies and added Subsec. (j) re definitions, effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 23-47 added Subsec. (k) re inapplicability of section when medical assistance is sought in good faith for person reasonably believed to be experiencing an overdose.

Section changed penalty for possessing less than one-half ounce of marijuana from potential term of imprisonment and large fine to merely a fine for first and subsequent offenses and decriminalized said possession for purposes of the erasure provisions in Sec. 54-142d. 315 C. 861.

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Notes of Decisions
Cited in 24 cases (4 in the last 5 years), 1989–2026 · leading case: State v. Dudley, 212 A.3d 1268 (Conn. 2019).
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State v. Dudley, 212 A.3d 1268 (Conn. 2019). · cites it 10× “11-71), codified at General Statutes § 21a-279a. 1 Subsequently, in State v.”
State v. Brito, 154 A.3d 535 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). · cites it 5× “11-71 of the 2011 Public Acts, codified as General Statutes § 21a-279a, 21 decriminalized the possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana for purposes of General Statutes § 54-142d ; see State v.”
State v. Connecticut Employees Union Indep., 142 A.3d 1122 (Conn. 2016). · cites it 4× “See General Statutes § 21a-279a. 10 Possession of larger amounts of marijuana by an unauthorized person exposes that person to more significant fines, potential imprisonment and, for more than four ounces or a second offense, a felony conviction.”
Robinson, Williams & Spriggs v. State, 152 A.3d 661 (Md. 2017). “Under the following fifteen jurisdictions’ laws, first-time possession of a small amount of marijuana is punishable only by a fine and/or participation in an examination, drug education, or drug treatment: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi,…”
State v. Smith, 181 A.3d 118 (Conn. App. Ct. 2018). · cites it 2× “14-S and MV-14-0372091-S, the state charged the defendant with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug in violation of General Statutes § 14-227a(a)(1), operating a motor vehicle while having an elevated blood alcohol content in…”
State v. Menditto, 80 A.3d 923 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 5× “to 2011) § 21a-279 (c) a violation under newly enacted General Statutes § 21a-279a (a). See Public Acts 2011, No.”
In re Anaishaly C., 213 A.3d 12 (Conn. App. Ct. 2019). · cites it 2× “See General Statutes § 21a-279a. The mother argues that the court cited to a department social study written before she completed the IPV-FAIR program in November, 2017, to support the following findings: "The court finds that the mother lacks understanding about the dynamic of…”
State v. Davis, 203 A.3d 1233 (Conn. 2019). · cites it 2× “4 The defendant was also charged with possession of less than one-half ounce of cannabis in violation of General Statutes § 21a-279a, breach of the peace in the second degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-181, and interfering with an officer in violation of General…”
State v. Harper, 143 A.3d 1147 (Conn. App. Ct. 2016). · cites it 4× “*332 The defendant, William Conway Harper, appeals from the judgment of conviction rendered against him after a court trial on charges of criminal trespass in the third degree in violation of General Statutes § 53a-109 (a) and possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana…”
Peterson v. Comm'r of Corr., 67 A.3d 293 (Conn. App. Ct. 2013). · cites it 2× ““About one month later, while out on bond on the weapons and narcotics charges, the petitioner was again arrested and in docket number CR-06-0125803 was charged with two counts of possession of narcotics in violation of General Statutes § 21a-279a, sale of illegal drugs in…”
State v. Gainey, 977 A.2d 257 (Conn. App. Ct. 2009). “We construe the elements of § 21a-279a and apply them to the facts as reasonably could be found by the jury.”
State v. Combs, 725 A.2d 349 (Conn. App. Ct. 1999). · cites it 2× “The defendant appeals from the judgment of conviction rendered after he entered a conditional plea of nolo contendere, pursuant to General Statutes § 54-94a, to charges of possession of narcotics and sale of narcotics in violation of General Statutes §§ 21a-279a and 21a-277 (a).”
Show all 24 citing cases →
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279a(a): 1 case
State v. Smith, 181 A.3d 118 (Conn. App. Ct. 2018). “14-S and MV-14-0372091-S, the state charged the defendant with operating a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor or any drug in violation of General Statutes § 14-227a(a)(1), operating a motor vehicle while having an elevated blood alcohol content in…”
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279a(a)(1): 1 case
Robinson, Williams & Spriggs v. State, No. 37/16 (Md. Jan. 20, 2017).
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279a(a)(l): 1 case
Robinson, Williams & Spriggs v. State, 152 A.3d 661 (Md. 2017). “Under the following fifteen jurisdictions’ laws, first-time possession of a small amount of marijuana is punishable only by a fine and/or participation in an examination, drug education, or drug treatment: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi,…”
Conn. Gen. Stat. § 21a-279a(b): 1 case
State v. Brito, 154 A.3d 535 (Conn. App. Ct. 2017). “11-71 of the 2011 Public Acts, codified as General Statutes § 21a-279a, 21 decriminalized the possession of less than one-half ounce of marijuana for purposes of General Statutes § 54-142d ; see State v.”
Annotations are extracted automatically from the opinions in the Syfert caselaw corpus and ranked by authority, recency, and treatment. Dots show Syfertize treatment of the citing case itself.