HB 5147 Summary

• Expands the definition of "physician" in Connecticut's medical marijuana law to explicitly include physician assistants, allowing them to issue written certifications for palliative marijuana use alongside physicians and advanced practice registered nurses.

• Establishes that physician assistants can possess and supply marijuana for treating chemotherapy side effects, and physicians can do so for glaucoma or chemotherapy side effects, with authorization from the Commissioner of Consumer Protection.

• Prohibits physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses from issuing marijuana certifications when the patient's debilitating medical condition is glaucoma.

• Allows qualifying patients 18 years or older to cultivate up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants in their primary residence, with a maximum of 12 plants per household.

• Restricts marijuana product dispensing to qualifying patients under 18 to non-smokable, non-inhalable, and non-vaporizable forms only, effective January 1, 2023.