Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. Residents over the age of 21 can legally possess and consume marijuana. However, revenue is predicted to stabilize beyond 2027 as the market adapts to a larger customer base and reduced prices. HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - The Capital City now has its first location open for recreational marijuana use. Recreational sales were allowed to begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. Beginning Jan. 10, nine existing medical marijuana dispensaries that received approval to convert to a hybrid retail model offering both medical and adult-use products will be able to start selling recreational pot. . One of the biggest current threats to public safety is the presence of Chinese nationals and other elements of organized crime in our medical marijuana industry, Drummond said. Were a resident in a "Disproportionately Impacted Area" for at least nine years before turning 18. But lottery winners will still have to undertake the task of getting a cannabis business up and running. The industry broke records that year, generating nearly $149 million in tax revenue from state and local sales taxes, as well as the states marijuana excise tax. Connecticut legalized adult-use, recreational marijuana last summer, and businesses wanting to enter the new market are raring to go. We are dedicated to serving the local community and providing our customers with a better quality of life through access to cannabis. font size, I am proud of the hard work our team has done to meet the goal of opening adult-use sales in a safe, well-regulated market, said. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. DCP also stated that customers will only be allowed to buy a quarter ounce of cannabis at a time. Stitt said during his first news briefing of the 2023 legislative session that he is opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana because it remains illegal federally. We are hanging in there but across the industry in Oklahoma its rough going for the operators who are doing things the right way. Fine Fettle said there is a shortage of some products, and it takes time for plants to grow. Unlike medical marijuana businesses that are building on existing operations and infrastructure, new entrants will be trickling into the market more slowly over the coming year or so. Our goal is to offer quality medicines and innovative services while maintaining the highest level of patient satisfaction. Please reload the page and try again. Private landowners and businesses would be allowed to prohibit or regulate the use of marijuana on their property or during the course of employment. Fewer than 50 are available across nine categories, with half going to social equity applicants and half to general applicants. kaitlyn.krasselt@ct.gov Can businesses keep up? All Rights Reserved. It is processed and packaged for recreational sales at the store under heightened security. Connecticut legalized adult-use cannabis last year, but it's still unclear when recreational marijuana will be available to buy without a prescription. CT proposal causes confusion, concern, Had an income of three times less that the state median household income over the last three tax years, Were a resident in a "Disproportionately Impacted Area" for five of the last 10 years. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Haverford College and earned a masters in journalism from the University of Southern California. Sales of medical marijuana reached their highest point in April 2021, according to data from the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority. If it passes, Oklahoma will become the 22nd state to legalize recreational marijuana. Kevin Stitt, say the marijuana industry has increased drug addiction rates and brought bad actors into the state. Formerly Bluepoint, RISE dispensary Branford, CT is a 8-minute drive from Stony Creek Beach and 15-minutes from Yale University. Curaleafs opening adds to the number of growing dispensaries in the state. Nearly 10 percent of Oklahomans already hold medical marijuana cards. Some point out that the lotteries favor those who entered multiple times and paid multiple fees $500 for general applicants and $250 for social equity enterprises to gain an advantage. There are even CBD cafes in Connecticut. After the social equity applications have been chosen, a second lottery will be conducted for the general lottery, which includes non-social equity applications, social equity applications that were not chosen in the first round and applicants chosen during the first round that were not classified as social equity applicants. Where can you buy recreational cannabis in Connecticut? Editors Note: This article is part of CT Mirrors Spanish-language news coverage developed in partnership with Identidad Latina Multimedia. She already grows marijuana plants heavy with CBD. Recreational marijuana sales will begin in Connecticut on Jan. 10, 2023 - but with limits. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Haverford College and earned a masters in journalism from the University of Southern California. We simply must protect our children, Keating said, adding that the measure includes a clause that prohibits the courts from considering marijuana use in child custody and visitation cases. How do I transfer dispensaries in Connecticut? All Rights Reserved. Now, volunteer . There will be two different lottery processes: a social equity lottery and a general lottery. While menus will differ between different dispensaries, it is safe to assume that most dispensaries will have THC and CBD products in a variety of forms including pre-rolls, ediblesand vape cartridges. In fact, we serve patients from all over the state. Eventually as more growers come on board, more retailers come on board, we expect to hit an equilibrium, she said. (WFSB) - Connecticuts recreational marijuana program is growing. Thats no small feat in a highly regulated industry, especially for start-up entrepreneurs. Ned Lamont signed a bill just after noon on Tuesday making recreational marijuana legal for adults in Connecticut starting July 1. Sale of recreational marijuana in CT depends on all four existing medical marijuana producers or additional cultivation to come online by Erica E. Phillips November 25, 2022 @ 5:00 am Updated . Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily briefings. Order online for in-dispensary pickup. While medical dispensaries are sprinkled throughout the state, Connecticut residents will have to wait a little longer for recreational facilities to open in the state. Michelle Tilley, the director for the Yes on SQ 820 campaign, said another component of the proposal is that it will require resentencing, reversing, modifying and expunging certain prior marijuana-related convictions. Kaitlyn Krasselt Can businesses keep up? The first recreational-use, hybrid marijuana dispensaries are set to open in Connecticut in January. A cannibis plant that is close to harvest grows in a grow room at the Greenleaf Medical Cannabis facility in Richmond, Va., Thursday, June 17, 2021. We know we are the new kids on the block, however if you think we don't have years of marijuana dispensary experience . Hours: Monday - Thursday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Friday: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Saturday: 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday: Closed *Hours listed are only serving medical marijuana customers at this moment. There is no current information on when the dispensary will open to those over 21. Up to 7 pre-rolled cigarettes that weigh 1 gram each, or 14 pre-rolled cigarettes that weigh 0.5 grams each. This is a carousel. The fee is $3 million for producers and $1 million for dispensaries. Sale of recreational marijuana in CT depends on all four existing medical marijuana producers or additional cultivation to come online, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). She grew up in Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Haverford College and earned a masters in journalism from the University of Southern California. Seagull said 42 provisional licenses have been granted to various types of marijuana businesses, from cultivators to manufacturers, distributors, retailers and delivery services. In 2018, Oklahoma voters approved SQ 788, which legalized the sale and use of medical marijuana in the state. - It's been one month since people could begin buying recreational marijuana and dispensaries say business is not slowing down. (860) 713-6019 (office) In an announcement Tuesday, the Department of Consumer Protection said the supply chain was close to reaching the 250,000 square feet of licensed growing and manufacturing space required by law in order for sales of recreational marijuana to commence. Daniel Figueroa IV is the Associate Editor for Hearst Connecticut Media Group's Trending and Features team. Erica covers economic development for CT Mirror. Earlier this month, the council put out a request for proposals from qualified independent organizations and individuals to set up a comprehensive cannabis accelerator program., Interested applicants have raised questions of fairness in the licensing process. To date, DCP has issued provisional licenses to more than 40 growers and retailers. In CT its pick between these 4 eighths. 2023 The Conneticut News Project. Zen Leaf Dispensary Meriden, formerly Willow Brook Wellness, is a medical cannabis dispensary located in Meriden, Connecticut. 1 of 5. The Department of Consumer Protection issues medical marijuana cards that are distributed based on a list of "qualifying conditions," which includes cancer, multiple sclerosis and muscular dystrophy among a number of other conditions. As expected, the states existing medicinal marijuana infrastructure provided the groundwork for establishing the adult-use supply chain, but the fees to convert those licenses were significant: $1 million for retailers and $3 million for producers. The opposing group has teamed up with a coalition of law enforcement officials from around the state to share why they believe an increase in marijuana availability would lead to more crime, worse mental health and put children at risk. Those selected via lottery then have to apply for a license before they can get to work launching their business, an expensive and time-consuming process in the highly-regulated marijuana market. Things are pretty tight right now, Cantrell said. (860) 713-6019(office) /. However, it is not often associated with getting people "high," rather, has been claimed to treat seizure disorder, Parkinson disease, Crohn disease, anxiety and other ailments, according to the National Library of Medicine. Theory is the first dispensary in the Berkshires to open its doors for recreational marijuana sales and the opening makes Theory the 6th dispensary of its kind in the state. A customer from Connecticut buys marijuana supplies at the Weed World store on March 31, 2021, in New York. NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) - Today, Connecticut joins 20 states that allow adults to use cannabis recreationally. Officials with the Department of Consumer Protection, which administers licensing, are working with producers to track the industrys footprint as many medical-use cultivators expand their operations. Existing medical-use cultivators and retailers had to pay steep fees to convert their operations. Please reload the page and try again. If you choose to consume cannabis in Massachusetts, there are a number of laws as to where you are legally allowed to do so. We are here to help guide our guests as they discover cannabis and the potential power of herbal wellness through cannabis expertise and education. Our mental health professionals confirm that the use of todays high THC product leads to psychoses and schizophrenia, two diagnoses that are directly tied to homelessness.. This means that a single mom cannot be supported by the courts when asking a noncustodial parent to abstain from pot during a visitation weekend, Keating wrote in a column for Tulsa World. Find reviews and menus from the best recreational & medical marijuana dispensaries in Norwich, CT. Get CT Mirror briefings with enterprise reporting, investigations and more in your inbox daily. Under the law, the fee to convert is $1 million for retailers and $3 million for producers, which could be prohibitive for many businesses. Within 90 days of the laws implementation, the state would create regulations for product preparation and labeling. Standing up the new industry, while meeting legislative intentions to make it accessible and equitable for interested entrepreneurs, took months of complex deliberation on the part of the social equity council. In order to get a medical marijuana card, you must first speak to your doctor to see if you qualify. Hartford's first adult-use cannabis dispensary opened for business this morning, bringing the state's number of stores selling recreational marijuana to 12. Even then, not all towns in Connecticut have approved dispensaries opening within their borders. They are reaching in their arguments and reasoning and I think thats telling that they really dont have a leg to stand on in opposition to it.. The Department of Consumer Protection will notify a third-party lottery operator of the social equity applicants and after that, the first lottery commences. We need an expansion of the customer base; otherwise current operators are going to have a difficult time.. Given this threshold, the start of adult-use cannabis sales relies on the successful conversion of all four existing medical marijuana producers or additional cultivation to come online, the announcement read. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. Newly elected Oklahoma Attorney General Getner Drummond told The Oklahoman that he would be personally voting no on SQ 820 due to the threat of organized crime. Two more retail cannabis stores opened on Friday. Hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday - Friday: 9 a.m. - 7 p,m. But were seeing them move in through straw buyers, so thats what were trying to attack now.. A post shared by Affinity Health & Wellness (@affinityhealthct), What they say: At Affinity Health & Wellness our goal is to create a relationship with each patient built on compassion, trust and optimal outcomes. The state anticipates stores will open in early 2023 and last month announced dozens of businesses including packagers, producers and retail stores are completing the first round of cannabis licensing. Governor Ned Lamont passed a bill that legalized cannabis in 2021. The state anticipates stores will open in early 2023 and last month announced dozens of businesses including packagers, producers and retail stores are completing the first round of cannabis licensing. Tech is changing Connecticut manufacturing. It could be because it is not supported, or that JavaScript is intentionally disabled. Many more have submitted applications to convert their licenses, DCP said. One edible serving cannot have more than 5 milligrams of THC. Tilley said she believes the drug has always been popular in Oklahoma and that people are just being more open about it now. With medical cannabis dispensaries in Newington, Stamford and Willimantic, and adult use coming on January 10th to all three plus our new store opening soon in Manchester, you're never too far from a Fine Fettle Connecticut location. * Zen Leaf Dispensary 1371 E Main St, Meriden, CT 06450 See on map With the legalization of recreational cannabis last July, there is one thing on many Connecticut residents' minds: when will the state see the opening of its first recreational dispensaries? On Tuesday, yes. Nearly 18 months since Gov. Kaitlyn Krasselt (Thousands of applications have been submitted across the eight lotteries.). Whoops! Hours: Starting Jan. 10, the hours will be Monday - Saturday: 9 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. About: A spokesperson for The Botanist Danbury said the location will not be opening Jan. 10 for recreational cannabis sales, but does plan to open in the coming months. As of last July, adults in Connecticut may possess and use up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana legally, and they may store up to 5 ounces in a locked container at home. Copyright 2023 WFSB. Twelve are up and running or will be soon. That rate is discounted for operators who form 50/50 equity joint venture partnerships with a person or business that meets certain income or residency criteria. Tom Macre, founder of Still River Wellness, a medical marijuana dispensary in Torrington. HARTFORD The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has notified licensed hybrid retailers that they may begin selling cannabis products to all adults 21 and over beginning no earlier than 10 a.m., or as local zoning permits, on Tuesday, January 10, 2023. Whoops! Cannabis establishment applications opened on Feb. 3, however, some Connecticut towns have implemented moratoriums on accepting and approving applications. For more information about Adult-Use Cannabis, visitct.gov/cannabis. Located in Northern Torrington directly off Route 8, the dispensary provides access to the thousands of Litchfield County registered patients who currently need to travel to other counties for their medicine. According to the Zen Leaf website, the dispensary will have "cannabis flower, in an array of strains, pre-rolls, in single and 5-pack options," as well as inhalants. Packaged medical marijuana at Advanced Grow Labs in West Haven. They argue that children will be at the most risk if any further expansion of marijuana is passed, citing mental health risks among their concerns. The "Adult Use Only Menu" will be available after 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9. Adult-use marijuana sales in Connecticut will begin on Jan. 10, 2023. Adult-use marijuana sales in Connecticut will begin on Jan. 10, 2023. Facility Name: Address: Website: Email: Phone: Affinity Health & Wellness: 1351 Whalley Avenue, New Haven, CT 06515: www.affinityct.com: info@affinityct.com He is calling for state legislators to move up the planned opening of state licensed cannabis dispensaries throughout the state from the end of 2022 to six months earlier to prevent future overdoses. Now theres weed on every corner., New York opens its 1st legal recreational marijuana dispensary. Closed until 09:00 AM Fri Pre-order online. Its pharmacist-centered team is on site or available by phone to answer any questions. We listen to our patients, empathize with our patients, and educate our patients. Please reload the page and try again. Media Contact: By: John Craven. Can marijuana bring about social equity? CBD usually comes from hemp, a form of cannabis that has very minimal levels of THC. Once sales begin, DCP plans to track how things play out in the market in case any shortages arise, Seagull said. The state plans to expand the number of stores . Retails sales of pot started Tuesday morning at seven dispensaries across the. In response to a question [] Some argue the conversion fees for medical producers and retailers restrict access to large companies that have millions of dollars to spare. Medical dispensaries are used by patients who require cannabisproducts for a medicinal use. Weve heard from people who 20 years later are still carrying around these records and they have trouble getting jobs or taking out loans or renting a place to live.. Read more: CT recreational pot sales will start within months, regulators say. The Social Equity Council was developed by the state in order to ensure that products from the adult-use cannabis program are "grown equitably" and that funds from the program are brought back to the areas hit the hardest by the "war on drugs," according to the state's website. Its the potential increase in customer base and a two-year moratorium on new marijuana distribution licenses that has Cantrell pushing for the passage of SQ 820. Typically, these products are age-restricted and proper ID is needed to purchase cannabis products from a dispensary. Some haulers caught, Arming guidance counselors? The law requires at least 250,000 square feet of growing and manufacturing space in the aggregate be approved for adult-use production before retail sales can begin at licensed retailers, including hybrid retailers. Specialties: Welcome to Greatest Hits Recreational Cannabis Dispensary, located in Dudley, Massachusetts. 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But proponents for SQ 820 say this talk is just reefer madness. . But it's likely that many more will open in 2023 and beyond. 5. In Massachusetts, a case study, Legislators approve mold regulation changes for medical marijuana, Marijuana gifting bill passes CT House, with some changes, operators who form 50/50 equity joint venture partnerships. Though medical dispensaries have been operating in Connecticut since 2014, recreational dispensaries are not yet open. A $100 fee is required to be paid to the DCP upon initially receiving your card as well as $100 annually to renew your card. Trulieve in Bristol opened Friday.. Since then, the Department of Consumer Protection has worked aggressively to move toward the opening of a regulated cannabis marketplace. Following the Social Equity Councils vote Tuesday, all existing medical marijuana producers have met the requirements for an expanded license that allows them to supply both the adult-use cannabis and medical marijuana markets. Come check out our mural! With all four producers successfully converted, the 250,000 square-foot threshold has been met. Get CT Mirror emails in your inbox daily. Weve made it illegal to purchase land if youre a Chinese foreign national; a foreign national is not allowed to own agricultural or farmland, Stitt said in an interview on the Sara Carter Show podcast in September. The ballot measure also creates a pathway for courts to expunge or dismiss certain prior marijuana-related convictions. Its Windy Too Woman arrested for prostitution near school in Watertown, Bomb threat called into North Haven Cinemark deemed hoax, suspect arrested, Norwalk math coach arrested after putting 5th grade student in chokehold, Overturned tractor trailer shuts down Route 9 in Middletown. Nearly 18 months since Gov. From dispensary offerings and cannabinoid breakdowns to the application process and the state's Social Equity Council, here is what you need to know about dispensaries in Connecticut. (WFSB) - Connecticut's recreational marijuana program is growing. Here at Greatest Hits we are excited to offer you a top-notch cannabis shopping experience in Massachusetts. Each adult-use cannabis transaction will be limited to a quarter-ounce or less in part to protect the supply for medical patients, who can purchase up to 5 ounces a month for health purposes, Seagull said. Tech is changing Connecticut manufacturing. The council plans to work with the beneficiary communities to evaluate the best ways for those funds to be reinvested, but theres no timeline yet on when that process will commence. 0.00 mi. The group says existing medical patients will have priority access through a dedicated medical entrance. ", A post shared by Fine Fettle Connecticut (@finefettlect). The rate was discounted for operators who formed 50/50 equity joint venture partnerships with a person or business who met certain low-income requirements and was based in a community that had been historically harmed by marijuanas prohibition. For those hopeful new entrants to the market who were not converting from medical-use operations, the council held lotteries for licenses in several categories. Cannabis sales to adults in Connecticut can begin next month . There are also Social Equity Partners, which are business entities that must be at least 65 percent owned by individuals who fall under the same social equity prerequisitesas the Equity Joint Ventures. I do think theres a problem with the edibles. View Map. Dispensaries will have special hours for medical-use cannabis customers only ahead and many are encouraging online ordering to try and ensure everyone a smooth purchasing process.