Connecticut General Statutes

Conn. Gen. Stat. § 54-33p (2025)

Restrictions on cannabis-related stop or search of a person or motor vehicle

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(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, the existence of any of the following circumstances shall not constitute in part or in whole probable cause or reasonable suspicion and shall not be used as a basis to support any stop or search of a person or motor vehicle:

(1) The odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis;

(2) The possession of or the suspicion of possession of cannabis without evidence that the quantity of cannabis is or suspected to be in excess of five ounces of cannabis plant material, as defined in section 21a-279a, or an equivalent amount of cannabis products or a combination of cannabis and cannabis products, as provided in subsection (i) of section 21a-279a; or

(3) The presence of cash or currency in proximity to cannabis without evidence that such cash or currency exceeds five hundred dollars.

(b) Any evidence discovered as a result of any stop or search conducted in violation of this section shall not be admissible in evidence in any trial, hearing or other proceeding in a court of this state.

(c) A law enforcement official may conduct a test for impairment based on the odor of cannabis or burnt cannabis if such official reasonably suspects the operator of violating section 14-227a, 14-227m or 14-227n.

(d) The provisions of this section shall not apply to a probation officer supervising a probationer who, as a condition of probation, is prohibited from using or possessing cannabis.

(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 18; P.A. 22-26, S. 38; 22-40, S. 12.)

History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 effective July 1, 2021; P.A. 22-26 added Subsec. (d) re section not applying to probation officer supervising probationer who is prohibited from using or possessing cannabis, effective May 10, 2022; P.A. 22-40 amended Subsec. (c) to delete “or a passenger of a motor vehicle” and delete reference to Sec. 14-227, effective July 1, 2022.

Secs. 54-34 and 54-35. Search of person. Condemnation of gambling implements, notice. Sections 54-34 and 54-35 are repealed.

(1949 Rev., S. 8757, 8758; 1961, P.A. 214; 255, S. 1; 1963, P.A. 652, S. 10.)

PART III*

SEIZED PROPERTY

*Cited. 26 CA 910.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 1 case (1 in the last 5 years), 2023–2023 · leading case: State v. Griffin, 288 A.3d 653 (Conn. App. Ct. 2023).
State v. Griffin, 288 A.3d 653 (Conn. App. Ct. 2023). · cites it 4× “9 In his reply brief, the defendant asserts that General Statutes § 54-33p undermines the probable cause determination to the extent that it is premised on the odor of marijuana coming from his vehicle. This statute, first enacted in 2021; see Public Acts, Spec.”
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