Medicinal Marijuana in Connecticut
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which provides a scientific and medical evaluation of
drugs, maintains that marijuana is a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance. Schedule 1 Controlled
Substances are those that have the following findings: (A) The drug or other substance has a high
potential for abuse; (B) The drug or other substance has no currently accepted medical use in treatment
in the United States, and (C) There is a lack of accepted safety for use of the drug or other substance
under medical supervision. When evaluating a particular drug, the FDA must consider the following
factors: 1) Its actual or relative potential for abuse. (2) Scientific evidence of its pharmacological effect,
if known. (3) The state of current scientific knowledge regarding the drug or other substance. (4) Its
history or current pattern of abuse. (5) The scope, duration, and significance of abuse. (6) What, if any,
risk there is to the public health. (7) Its psychic or physiological dependence liability. (8) Whether the
substance is an immediate precursor of a substance already controlled under this title.
In 2012, despite lack of federal FDA approval, Connecticut’s state legislature legalized “medicinal”
marijuana for qualified patients (CT Public Act 12-55, An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of
Marijuana.). Since by law a Schedule 1 Controlled Substance cannot be prescribed, as of April, 2013,
the CT Department of Consumer Protection has put forward the proposal to reclassify marijuana as a
Schedule 2 drug (which can be prescribed) to the Regulations Review Committee of the CT General
Assembly, which must approve reclassification in order to proceed with the implementation of CT
Public Act 12-55, An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana in Connecticut.
Physicians’ Concerns
The medical establishment testified against medicinal marijuana legislation in Connecticut in the spring
of 2012. Both state and national medical associations have expressed concerns with medicinal
marijuana, including:
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Physicians are concerned with the harmful effects that smoking marijuana has on the lungs and
other organs. “Do no harm” is part of the Hippocratic Oath doctors take.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved smoked marijuana as a safe and
effective drug, and the Institute of Medicine does not recommend it for medical use. However,
synthetic formulas of marijuana’s main ingredient, THC, are available as a prescription
medication (i.e., Marinol).
A safe, effective dose or administration of marijuana has not been identified by the medical
community. Research is underway to identify the specific ingredients from the marijuana plant
that might prove beneficial and how they might be used.
Just as the diversion and abuse of prescription medications has grown dramatically, states with
medical marijuana programs have seen that substance diverted and abused. In Colorado, 74% of
young people in drug treatment programs reported using marijuana that had been diverted from
medicinal marijuana.
For more information on the stance of the medical community, see: Just the Facts: Marijuana and
Medicine and Medical Marijuana and Teens: Does an Adjective Make a Difference?
Implementing CT Public Act 12-55, An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana
The CT Department of Consumer Protection is charged with implementing procedures for the use of
medicinal marijuana in Connecticut, including the following:
 Who is a qualified patient?
A qualified patient is an adult 18 or older who has been diagnosed with one of 10 medical
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conditions: Cancer, Glaucoma, Positive Status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus or Acquired
Immune Deficiency Syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Damage to the Nervous
Tissue of the Spinal Cord with Objective Neurological Indication of Intractable Spasticity,
Epilepsy, Cachexia, Wasting Syndrome, Crohn's Disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.
Who can prescribe medicinal marijuana?
Medicinal marijuana must be prescribed by a doctor who has a standing relationship with the
adult patient.
How much marijuana is a qualified patient allowed?
A qualified patient may be eligible for up to a one month supply of medicinal marijuana. This
precise amount has yet to be determined as of May, 2013.
How is the certification process handled?
The CT Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) created an online certification process
beginning October 1, 2012 for qualified patients and their doctors.
 The doctor must start the process by registering the qualified patient with the CT DCP for
a certification application.
 The patient also registers with the CT DCP by completing the patient portion of the
application.
How is medical marijuana acquired?
As of May, 2013, qualified patient cannot purchase medicinal marijuana as the CT DCP is still
developing regulations for the legal production and dispensation of marijuana.
For more information on the implementation of CT Public Act 12-55, An Act Concerning the Palliative
Use of Marijuana, see the CT Department of Consumer Protection Medical Marijuana website
www.ct.gov/dcp/mmp. or email dcp.mmp@ct.gov.