Youth Prevention & Responsible Cannabis Retail: Site Visit Summary

On October 10th, Amplify’s Cannabis Coordinator met with the Owner, Pharmacy Manager, and Retail Compliance Officer at a licensed cannabis dispensary in New Britain.

The purpose of the visit was to learn how cannabis retailers in Connecticut are working to prevent youth access, follow state policy, and support community education around safe and legal adult use. The discussion focused on prevention strategies, compliance requirements, and opportunities for collaboration with local prevention efforts.

Youth Prevention Efforts

Cannabis retailers in Connecticut are expected to play an active role in preventing youth access. During our visit, we discussed how state requirements along with internal policies are shaping prevention practices. Examples include:

  • Multiple ID checkpoints
  • Secure storage and delivery procedures
  • Staff training in responsible sales
  • Community partnerships focused on prevention and education
  • The conversation emphasized that preventing underage access isn’t just a legal obligation but a shared community responsibility.
Social Equity Plans (SEPs)

Connecticut’s legislation requires every cannabis establishment to have an approved Social Equity Plan (SEP). The Social Equity Council was created in 2021 and reviews and monitors these plans. SEPs must address one or more social determinants of health, support a community identified as a Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA) and remain active for as long as the business operates

During our visit, this dispensary shared examples of how they are meeting their SEP requirement, including support for local prevention councils, youth programming, and community education initiatives. These efforts help connect cannabis policy to broader goals of community well-being and prevention.

Physical Design & Access Controls

The store’s physical setup is intentionally built to restrict access to anyone under 21. Visitors enter a secure lobby where IDs are checked and scanned, and they must log in before anyone can move into the retail area.

Cannabis products are not visible to customers. Rather, they are stored in a locked back room and only retrieved by trained staff after ID verification and order completion. These layered safeguards are designed to ensure youth cannot see or access cannabis products.

Education & Safe Adult Use (21+)

Adults play an enormous role in cannabis use prevention for youth. Dispensaries are also required to support education for adults purchasing cannabis legally. The focus is on helping adults make safe, legal, and informed decisions. Key themes in our conversation included:

    • Informed decision-making, where staff are trained to provide accurate information about potency, dosage, and safe storage.
    • Clear role boundaries: only licensed pharmacists are allowed to discuss medical use with registered patients; retail staff do not provide medical advice.
  • Interest in community education: Nova staff expressed interest in offering more public education on topics like the endocannabinoid system, which is the body’s natural system for keeping things in balance. For developing brains in children and teens, cannabis use can affect memory, learning, mood and decision making.
Employee Training

Recent policy changes in Connecticut including new dosage limits and stricter penalties for illegal hemp-derived THC sales highlight the need for continuous training across the industry. State regulations require dispensaries to ensure ongoing employee competence. Examples discussed during the visit included online training platforms that track staff progress, weekly policy updates from management and the ability to update or add training when state regulations change.

Promoting Responsible Practices

In partnership with DMHAS, Amplify disseminates “Be In The Know” (BITK), a campaign that provides a variety of free online and printable resources for people or organizations to use to educate and inform the public on cannabis. This includes pre-made social media graphics, posters, flyers, and downloadable informational resources free for anyone to access through the BITK website.

In addition, safe storage of cannabis is an essential pillar of prevention. Amplify disseminated 172 BITK branded lock bags to the public in September and October, with the goal of keeping cannabis products secured and out of reach of children and youth. Amplify and Nova Farms spoke extensively about the benefits of promoting safe and responsible use, and how to utilize resources such as BITK to help drive future promotion efforts.

As a thank you for participating in the interview, Amplify provided Nova Farms with their own supply of BITK lock bags to continue promoting safe storage and education to customers.

Retail Compliance & Illegal Sales

Amplify and Nova also discussed Connecticut’s ongoing efforts to reduce illegal cannabis sales. Recent policy changes (as of October 1, 2025) increased penalties for selling unregulated or synthetic cannabinoids without licensure, including THC-A, Delta-8, and similar products.

Nova highlighted a concerning trend of illegal “pop-up markets” and unregulated sales which can increase youth access and blur public perception. These events often appear legitimate but do not verify age, follow product safety or testing standards or comply with state policy.

Community members are encouraged to report suspected illegal sales including smoke shops selling unregulated THC or vape products through the Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program complaint form located on the website: https://portal.ct.gov/DMHAS/Prevention-Unit/Prevention-Unit/TPEP—Home-Page

Continued Collaboration

Connecticut’s cannabis market is still evolving, and continued communication between public health partners like Amplify and licensed retailers is important. Conversations like this help build shared understanding and strengthen prevention strategies.

If you have questions about youth cannabis prevention or want to get involved, contact Zach Nailon, Program Coordinator at znailon@amplifyct.org.

Please visit our website amplifyct.org to explore resources and learn about upcoming events, including the Regional Cannabis & Vaping Workgroup.