Staying Staying Compliant with Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) in 2025
BioTrack is the designated seed-to-sale tracking system for Connecticut's cannabis industry, ensuring compliance and traceability across both medical and adult-use cannabis programs. As a crucial component of the state's regulatory framework, BioTrack supports the integrity and transparency of Connecticut's cannabis market.
Connecticut established its cannabis laws through both medical and adult-use sales, the latter beginning in January 2023. The state's framework is built on two foundational laws - Public Act No. 21-1 and the Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis (RERACA), with the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) serving as the primary regulatory authority overseeing all aspects of the industry.
To maintain strict oversight, Connecticut requires all licensed cannabis businesses to use BioTrack, the state's official track-and-trace system, or compatible platforms for inventory management and compliance reporting. This system enables real-time tracking throughout the entire supply chain, from cultivation to retail sales, ensuring businesses can efficiently operate while meeting the state's regulatory requirements and maintaining transparent records for DCP review.
BioTrack is the state's official seed-to-sale tracking solution, providing comprehensive compliance support by integrating with Connecticut's cannabis regulations.
Accurate initial setup and daily management are crucial for cannabis businesses using BioTrack in Connecticut. The process begins with proper system configuration, including setting up your license information, locations, and user permissions. Businesses must conduct regular inventory audits, typically weekly or bi-weekly, to ensure physical counts match BioTrack records. Real-time updating is essential - all product movements, from receiving new inventory to recording sales, must be logged immediately.
For ongoing compliance, staff training is vital. Employees need thorough understanding of BioTrack's features including proper tagging, batch tracking, and waste recording. The system requires detailed documentation of every step in the supply chain - from seed cultivation to final sale. This includes maintaining accurate records of plant phases, harvests, processing activities, lab testing results, and transportation manifests. Regular data backups and system updates are also crucial to prevent any compliance gaps and ensure smooth reporting to the Department of Consumer Protection.
All licensed cannabis businesses in Connecticut are required to use BioTrack for seed-to-sale tracking. This includes:
Connecticut mandates strict cannabis inventory tracking standards for all licensed cannabis businesses in the state, requiring integration with BioTrack or compatible inventory management systems. This requirement ensures a seamless flow of data from cultivation to final sale, helping businesses maintain real-time compliance with state regulations and providing authorities with accurate oversight of the cannabis supply chain.
These inventory management systems play a crucial role beyond basic tracking - they help businesses prevent diversion, maintain product quality control, and generate required regulatory reports. The platforms must capture detailed information including plant counts, harvest weights, processing yields, lab test results, and sales data. Companies can choose from several approved software solutions that integrate with BioTrack's state system, but all must meet Connecticut's stringent technical requirements for real-time reporting and data accuracy. This standardized approach helps both businesses and regulators maintain a transparent and accountable cannabis market.
Connecticut offers a comprehensive range of cannabis licenses across several key business categories:
Growing Operations:
- Cultivators require minimum 15,000 square feet of grow space, serving both medical and adult-use markets
- Micro-cultivators operate between 2,000-10,000 square feet, with potential for 5,000 square feet annual expansion
- Producer licenses (medical-only) are currently closed to new applicants, but existing producers can apply for expanded licenses to include adult-use
Processing and Manufacturing:
- Product Manufacturers handle extraction and chemical synthesis
- Food and Beverage Manufacturers create cannabis-infused consumables
- Product Packagers handle compliant labeling and packaging operations
Retail Operations:
- Adult-use Retailers serve recreational consumers
- Hybrid Retailers can serve both medical patients and adult-use consumers
- Medical Dispensaries (currently closed to new applicants) can apply for hybrid retail conversion
Supporting Services:
- Delivery Services connect establishments with consumers and patients
- Transporters move products between licensed facilities
- Testing Laboratories provide the required product analysis
A special note on THC-infused beverages: These non-alcoholic products can be produced by licensed Infused Beverage Manufacturers and sold only through licensed dispensaries, hybrid retailers, retailers, or package stores with proper endorsements.
Yes, adults aged 21 and over can legally purchase recreational cannabis from licensed dispensaries in Connecticut, with possession limits of up to 1.5 ounces in public and up to 5 ounces secured at home.
For licensing inquiries in Connecticut, contact the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP)'s Drug Control Division.
The application process includes a $250 initial fee and a $25,000 license fee upon approval, alongside operational costs for security, tracking software, insurance, and more.
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