A new bill introduced in the Connecticut House of Representatives would ensure that employees at cannabis establishments receive at least the state’s minimum fair wage.
House Bill 6842, filed today by the chair of the House Labor and Public Employees Committee, and referred to that committee. The legislation would amend state law to clarify that cannabis industry employees must be paid the full minimum wage and that employers cannot count gratuities as part of that wage.
Under current law, certain industries—such as restaurants and hospitality—can apply gratuities toward meeting minimum wage requirements. However, HB 6842 explicitly prevents cannabis businesses from doing the same.
The bill states that “nothing in this section, or any regulation adopted pursuant to this section, shall be construed to require the Labor Commissioner to recognize, as part of the minimum fair wage, gratuities in an amount equal to the difference between the minimum fair wage and the employer’s share for persons who are employed at a cannabis establishment.” The legislation defines “cannabis establishment” according to the existing legal definition in Section 21a-420 of Connecticut law.
If passed, the law would take effect on October 1, 2025. It directs the Labor Commissioner to enforce these provisions, ensuring compliance among cannabis businesses. The proposal now awaits consideration by the Joint Committee on Labor and Public Employees, where it will undergo further review before advancing in the legislative process.
