In general, the Cannabis Compact allows for the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe to regulate its own cannabis industry on tribal lands and participate in the Connecticut market by selling to and buying from state licensees.
The Responsible and Equitable Regulation of Adult Use Cannabis Act, passed in June 2021, allows the Governor of Connecticut to enter into an agreement (called a compact) with the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, the Mohegan Tribe of Indians of Connecticut, or both. This agreement coordinates state and tribal rules about possessing, producing, delivering, processing, and using cannabis.
The law allows a tribal-state cannabis compact to cover:
- How criminal and civil laws are enforced
- Rules for possessing, producing, delivering, processing, or using cannabis
- Tax laws and regulations related to cannabis
The compact also includes how the tribe will:
- Protect public health and safety
- Ensure security at cannabis facilities on tribal land (such as production, processing, testing, or retail sites)
- Regulate cannabis-related business that moves between tribal land and other areas of the state