Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between our Offices, please see the Office of the Cannabis Ombudsman’s monthly report for June 2026. OCO engaged with 12 patients and caregivers as well as legislators, businesses, regulators, physicians, certifiers, cannabis attorneys, advocates, educators, and the Office of the Governor this month. This summary is a small representation of current issues meant to give an overall view of the variety of work accomplished for our patients, without compromising confidentiality.
I. The number, nature and resolution of complaints received from qualifying patients and caregivers:
Twelve patients and caregivers contacted this Office in June, including:
- A case that took a great deal of time this month involves a disabled individual who felt their certifier took their fee without providing assistance, resulting in the one year time period expiring without ever being issued. We worked with DCP and the provider to have the patient re-certified, and the documents submitted, and we await confirmation. This is another example of why OCO pushed to have two-year medical cards: there are many with different abilities who have great difficulty uploading documents to the portal; longer registration periods are beneficial to patients.
- A patient called this month regarding their partner with agitation due to early onset Alzheimer’s and was referred to a neurologist who is educated regarding CBD for anxiety to see if they can get proper assistance, as this Office does not provide medical guidance. The patient received assistance last year and was hopeful to find help again. We await word from the patient’s physician.
- Two patients called regarding hemp-based beverages and the current 3mg limit. During legislative session, OCO advised worked across the sector to secure 5mg servings for drinks sold in package stores and 10mg servings for dispensary sales. The response to this news was; “It’s about time, thanks!”
- We continue to assist a patient suffering from “locked in” body syndrome with community and caretaker support.
- An elderly patient called to request information on RSO, or Rick Simpson Oil, which is used in specific cases for pain relief, such as cancer, seizures, etc., and we were able to provide background information and resources as well as a few nearby dispensaries where they could speak to a pharmacist. They reported back that “it’s doing the trick! Thank you!”
- A caregiver requested assistance for their Veteran partner, an amputee with specific medical needs. While they were satisfied with the assistance we provided, they also remain frustrated that they cannot grow enough plants to make the medicine they need on their property, which they own and which is isolated. Current statute allows only indoor grow and a maximum of 6 mature plants for a household. If one of the six plants does not get to the cultivation stage, which is common, patients do not have enough material to make their medication. Patient advocates have brought this to legislators’ attention for the past five years, without any movement toward change.
II. Interactions with cannabis growers, distributors, dispensers and other individuals and entities involved in the medical and recreational cannabis supply chain:
- Discussions this month continued with businesses around on-premises pharmacist requirements, with one Owner advising they have terminated eight pharmacists from their dispensaries. They advised they always have a pharmacist available “within ten minutes” of a request, will continue to provide separate areas for discrete interactions, and plan to offer online counseling and advising services. OCO anticipates complaints, especially since we are not seeing the separate areas DCP calls for, and this has come up in our monthly meetings, with no resolution yet.
- OCO visited three dispensaries to discuss the medical program. It’s extremely disappointing how little training employees selling medical products are provided. For example, at two hybrid locations not one “budtender” understood remediation, the difference between rosin and resin, or basic endocannabinoid education. This is a disservice to patients, who should be a priority.
III. Interactions with legislators, regulators, law enforcement and others involved in the oversight and regulation of the cannabis industry:
a. Connecticut Legislators, Regulators, and Governor’s Office:
- The Connecticut General Assembly’s last day, sine die, was May 4th, but intense and at times contentious discussions continued over a few matters which were tweaked after Session with one bill signed on June 2nd. While we consider this a successful Session with 80% of our objectives met, OCO is deeply troubled over issues related to pharmacists and to remediation of cannabis flower without transparent labeling, both of which happened between the passage of the bill and its signing by the Governor. Much went on without engaging stakeholders, resulting in some very angry responses from patients and some businesses. OCO believes the excise of the pharmacist on-sight requirements may prove truly detrimental, and will be continuously monitoring patient outcomes through emails, surveys and other communications before the next Session.
- Of equal importance and disappointment was the complete removal of the labeling requirement we worked on with advocates for months. Earlier versions of the legislation included a simple, sensible requirement for cannabis that fails laboratory tests for microbial contamination such as mold or yeast. If producers used ionizing radiation to eliminate those microbes, the draft law required that “a label is affixed to the packaging… disclosing that such cannabis flower or other cannabis plant material has undergone remediation by way of exposure to ionizing radiation.” Without any consultation from this Office, established to protect patients, somehow in the final statute that labeling requirement was removed entirely. Rather than giving consumers direct, on-package information, the law avoids the transparency we have begged for and now calls for broad “consumer disclosures” and prominent signage in dispensaries that describe the “possible health risks related to the use of mold remediation techniques.” This is not satisfactory to our patients, so we continue to encourage cultivators who run cleaner operations to label their products with a Green Check Mark and the words: “Never Remediated”. So far, both Theraplant and Jananii have picked up on our suggestion, and we will continue for broader industry use.
b. Other States, Federal Legislators & Agency Departments:
- OCO met with New York officials regarding possible interstate and export opportunities, particularly via shipping ports.
- I was introduced by the former Chairs to Christopher Harding, the new Chairman of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, who requested a meeting in July. Massachusetts is interested in creating an Ombudsman position, especially
considering its ballot initiative to cease all Adult Use sales, as well as the Trump Administration’s movement of medical cannabis to Schedule III. - Representatives from Pennsylvania have also discussed instituting an Ombudsman position should they allow Adult Use sales in the future, which seems likely.
- Members of the Maryland Cannabis Administration reached out regarding the DC Hemp store raids and the spillover effects to surrounding areas (and the nation), plus the failure of Social Equity programs, with no state getting it “right”.
- OCO spoke with several Attorneys, media outlets and organizations to try to force the DEA to livestream the cannabis rescheduling proceedings which began June 29th. As of this writing (6/30/26), that effort has failed, and our community is in an uproar due to distrust of the process and the fact that the only parties allowed to participate are seven anti-cannabis groups, thus skewing the evidence and data to one side, to the detriment of patients.
IV. Changes in law, policy or the economic environment that have had, or are anticipated:
- On June 2, 2026, Gov. Lamont signed HB-5222 into law becoming PA26-100. See Substitute House Bill No. 5222 Public Act No. 26-100.
- In a historic move, Gov. Lamont signed a Compact with the Mashantucket Tribe to enter the cannabis framework as they see fit, with verticality allowed. See Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Cannabis Compact. This Compact:
- Requires the tribe to follow Connecticut state statutes for cultivation, manufacturing, and sales for consistency. Queries regarding Laboratory Analyses on tribal lands have not been answered,
- Allows tribal-licensed businesses to sell to and buy from state licensees, and
- Sets rules for cannabis transport, taxation, enforcement, and on-site consumption in licensed venues
- Virginia stunned observers after the Governor’s sudden turnabout to allow Adult Use sales as early as this year, reaching an agreement with the very legislators she had shunned just last month. Adult Use and Medical cannabis will now be available to
patients on the majority of the East Coast. - Georgia announced that as of July 1, 2026, medical sales may begin. Only North and South Carolina remain outliers with no cannabis program.
- State after State, though, is curtailing hemp products (especially intoxicating products) due to the upcoming Federal ban, with Texas being the latest despite legal challenges.
V. Miscellaneous Interactions:
- Moderated a panel for Green Flower with over 800 attendees, “Careers in Medical Cannabis and Research” with a nurse, surgeon and Schedule I researcher. Several individuals reached out afterwards with positive feedback: “it was a focused, inspiring discussion” and “I got a lot out of the different viewpoints.” Green Flower is an educational platform available online and in over 75 universities, including University of New Haven, which has educated over 25,000 students.
- Participated in the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s East Coast Business Hack-a-thon with regulators and leaders from DC, CO, DE, MA, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA and more, to collaborate on ways of improving patient outcomes and including
social equity businesses as new frameworks are developed in PA and VA. - Discussed laboratory shopping issues with the Owner of a Massachusetts testing lab who provided much needed clarification on a few scientific matters. Nationwide, testing facilities are being more closely scrutinized to ensure safety and consistency,
as evidenced by the forced closure by state officials this month of the longest cannabis testing lab in Minnesota. OCO continues to believe Connecticut patients would greatly benefit from an in-state testing lab. - Attended a Blank Rome Law event to discuss our mission and the DEA hearing. OCO is proud to be in a national publication this month highlighting Connecticut’s unique patient advocacy role: Why Every State Needs a Cannabis Ombudsman - Cannabis & Tech Today.
In the coming months, OCO will launch an education series, with the intent of making appearances at libraries, senior centers and additional community outreach events and, hopefully, more media coverage. I’m currently coordinating scientists, growers, pharmacists and others to assist in this endeavor, hoping to generate more awareness of and interest in the work we do for some of Connecticut’s most vulnerable citizens.
Respectfully submitted,
Erin Gorman Kirk, Esquire