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6 stories and 10 public records mention Federal court. Mentions are matched automatically from headlines and summaries.
A federal judge dismissed the original complaint in Smith v. Lamont without prejudice. An amended complaint is on file, a Massachusetts grower is asking to join, and no court has ruled on whether Connecticut’s social equity licensing restrictions are constitutional.
A federal lawsuit challenging Connecticut’s cannabis social equity licensing system is moving into another round of litigation, with a new court conference scheduled for October 22.
A federal judge dismissed a constitutional challenge to Connecticut’s cannabis licensing system this week, but not because the court found the state’s social equity rules constitutional. The ruling instead identifies shortcomings in the plaintiff’s case and leaves the door open for an amended complaint. It also raises an important question: Are there cannabis entrepreneurs who
Connecticut’s cannabis framework is being tested in federal court — not over policy disagreements, but over whether the law itself works as written.
Another lawsuit has landed in federal court this week — this time from a Connecticut resident arguing that the state’s cannabis licensing system is unconstitutional and discriminates against ordinary applicants.
HARTFORD, CT — A legal battle is unfolding in Connecticut’s federal court as local hemp business owners challenge new state regulations that they claim violate federal law and threaten their livelihoods. The lawsuit, filed by a coalition of smoke shop owners operating under the “Puff City” brand, pits them against Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong, Chief State’
Letter from plaintiff's counsel Genevieve Park Taylor to Judge Oliver objecting to the defendant's October 6, 2026 request for a prefiling conference to seek leave for another motion to dismiss, arguing the amended complaint adds no new causes of action. Three pages. Docket entry 48. Public court record obtained from the federal docket; published as filed.
Motion by Twisted Growers LLC, a Lakeville, Massachusetts marijuana grower, for leave to intervene as a plaintiff under Fed. R. Civ. P. 24(a)(2) and 24(b)(1)(B), saying it seeks to enter Connecticut's market as a micro-cultivator and is disadvantaged by the challenged provisions. Eleven pages. Docket entry 47. Public court record obtained from the federal docket; published as filed.
Memorandum of law filed with Twisted Growers LLC's motion to intervene in the dormant-commerce-clause challenge to Connecticut's cannabis licensing system. Twelve pages. Docket entry 47-1. Public court record obtained from the federal docket; published as filed.
Amended complaint filed after the September 22, 2026 dismissal order, naming only DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli in his official capacity and adding factual allegations on Smith's injury and the interstate-commerce effects of the licensing program. Ten pages. Docket entry 39. Public court record obtained from the federal docket; published as filed.
Notice of removal to federal district court, filed 09/24/2026 in Moore v. VZL Staffing Services, Connecticut Superior Court docket HHD-CV26-6231255-S (entry 101.00). Public court record downloaded from the Judicial Branch civil case look-up and published as filed.
Ruling by U.S. District Judge Vernon D. Oliver granting the state defendants' motion to dismiss Brant Smith's dormant-commerce-clause challenge to Connecticut's cannabis licensing scheme, with leave to amend. Fifteen pages. Docket entry 38 in No. 3:25-cv-01728 (D. Conn.). Public court record obtained from the federal docket; published as filed.
Complaint filed October 14, 2025 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Connecticut (No. 3:25-cv-01728) by Brant Smith against Governor Ned Lamont, Attorney General William Tong and DCP Commissioner Bryan Cafferelli, challenging the constitutionality of Connecticut's cannabis licensing program under the dormant commerce clause. Copy held in DCP files. Part of the DCP production released in response to a Connecticut CannaTimes FOIA request; published as received, without CannaTimes redactions. The Bates-style number in the file name is DCP's.
Seventeen-page court packet held by DCP: the Smith v. Lamont complaint (No. 3:25-cv-01728) together with the accompanying filings. A second copy of the complaint alone is also in this production. Part of the DCP production released in response to a Connecticut CannaTimes FOIA request; published as received, without CannaTimes redactions. The Bates-style number in the file name is DCP's.
Notice of removal to federal district court, filed 02/16/2024 in Bacon v. GTI Rock Island, Connecticut Superior Court docket AAN-CV24-6054431-S (entry 101.00). Public court record downloaded from the Judicial Branch civil case look-up and published as filed.
Notice of removal to federal district court, filed 08/30/2022 in Theraplant v. National Fire & Marine Insurance Company, Connecticut Superior Court docket UWY-CV22-6066745-S (entry 102.00). Public court record downloaded from the Judicial Branch civil case look-up and published as filed.
