If it passes, Oklahoma will become the 22nd state to legalize recreational marijuana. A customer from Connecticut buys marijuana supplies at the Weed World store on March 31, 2021, in New York. Its Fine Fettles fourth retail cannabis store. You also cannot mail cannabis from Massachusetts to Connecticut. Can marijuana bring about social equity? Get CT Mirror briefings with enterprise reporting, investigations and more in your inbox daily. I actually waited six months to tell them that I was opening a dispensary. THC is often regarded as the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, according to a study published with theNational Library of Medicine. Dec. 9, 2022 update: The state has announced that recreational weed sales will begin Jan. 10, 2023. Recreational sales were allowed to begin at 10 a.m. on Tuesday. This is a carousel. Its really archaic language, Cantrell said. About: Affinity in New Haven is a licensed and professionally staffed medical marijuana dispensary that will soon be open for recreational sales. Sales will continue to expand in the coming months. We're going to be constantly evaluating, talking to the businesses and monitoring the situation. Connecticut legalized recreational cannabis in 2021, but you won't be able to find dispensaries in the state yet, and probably won't until early next year when recreational cannabis sales are officially launched. 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. Curaleaf, located on Weston Street in Hartford . 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. Andrew DaRosa is a web producer and reporter with Hearst Connecticut Media Group. Tom Macre, founder of Still River Wellness, a medical marijuana dispensary in Torrington. Customers can see available inventory on the website, choose a preferred time frame for pickup and head to the dispensary once they receive a "ready" text message. View Map. CT recreational pot sales will start within months, regulators say Connecticut offers 14 different types of applications under five umbrella categories growing, manufacturing, sales, delivery and transportation and individual licenses and registrations. Adam Kemp. First recreational dispensary opens in Capitol City. The application period is open for 90 days, according to an announcement from the state Department of . 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. Adult-use marijuana sales in Connecticut will begin on Jan. 10, 2023. Call Now: (855) 394-1420 How to Open a Dispensary in Connecticut February 15, 2023 Connecticut recently became the 19th US state to legalize recreational cannabis, a market that MJBizDaily estimates will be worth more than $700 million in just a few years. Bryant Reed 1/5/2023. Applications had to include various social equity considerations, including the businesss plans for recruiting, retaining and promoting people from disproportionately-impacted areas. The 9 cannabis dispensaries ready for retail sales in Connecticut, according to the state. Hopeful new entrants to the market, from growers to product manufacturers, transporters, retailers and delivery services, are currently in the midst of a lottery process for licenses. STAMFORD, Conn. -- Demand was strong on Tuesday, the first day of recreational cannabis sales in Connecticut. Connecticut Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facilities Social equity has been an afterthought, social equity in our situation in Connecticut was baked in from the very beginning, said Kennard Ray, CEO of Fine Fettle. Cannabis in Connecticut (CT) Alex Premoli makes the first sale to a customer on the opening day of recreational marijuana sales at Theory Wellness in Great Barrington, Mass., Friday, January 11, 2019. In all, nearly 100 businesses are somewhere in the licensing pipeline, Seagull said. 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. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. * Zen Leaf Dispensary 1371 E Main St, Meriden, CT 06450 See on map While it has been known to treat those diseases, CBD are products are not regulated and not guaranteed to treat ailments. When will you be able to buy recreational marijuana in CT? It's unclear Editors Note: This article is part of CT Mirrors Spanish-language news coverage developed in partnership with Identidad Latina Multimedia. Recreational dispensaries are preparing for a green rush on the first day of adult-use cannabis sales . 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. Dispensaries are required to list the THC percentage on all products containing THC. But Curaleaf says all of their customers will have access to a diverse selection of services. Although recreational use of cannabis has been legal in Connecticut since 2021, retail sellers are only now being allowed to open their doors to the public, starting Jan. 10. Packaged medical marijuana at Advanced Grow Labs in West Haven. Blake Cantrell, 37, said he remembers plotting out his business strategy for a chain of medical marijuana dispensaries in 2018 despite his apprehension about telling his family his plans. Nine Connecticut Retailers to Begin Recreational Sales of Marijuana on What they say: The Botanist was born from a desire to serve the needs of people who seek potential relief and balance, and we are proud to offer a variety of cannabis-derived products and services for our Medical Card Holders. There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. 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. Fine Fettle said there is a shortage of some products, and it takes time for plants to grow. Where does CT's pot industry stand for its first fully legal 420? The number of licenses for adult-use retail dispensaries was initially planned for 150; it will now grow to 300 licenses By NBC New York Staff and The Associated Press Published March 2, 2023 . I think the kids are more apt to get a hold of them and they do look like the actual candies, said Tammy Castonguay of Manchester. HUSKY Health is helping immigrants. Connecticut Governor Says Marijuana Shops Will Open In 'About Six NY's 1st batch of weed shop licenses is doubling to 300 | PIX11 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. Whats also unique is its the first store to open under the states social equity program. Since then, the Department of Consumer Protection has worked aggressively to move toward the opening of a regulated cannabis marketplace. There are two main cannabinoids (group of substances found in the plant) THC and CBD. 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. 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. Where can you buy recreational cannabis in Connecticut? Another potential hitch: retail sales cant commence until theres an aggregate of 250,000 square feet of grow and manufacture space in Connecticut thats devoted to the adult-use market. The supply chain must be entirely licensed and there must be enough growing capacity to supply the retail market, 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). Photo by Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network. Connecticuts law caps THC percentages in flower at 30 percent a limit routinely exceeded by medical-grade cannabis. Existing medical-use cultivators and retailers could be the first to offer recreational products in the market, but only a handful have applied so far to convert their operations to a hybrid model producing or selling both medical and recreational pot. Cannabis Dispensaries Near You in Danbury, CT | Leafly State-approved shops in Branford, Meriden, Montville, New Haven, Newington, Stamford and Willimantic were expected to open their doors to the general public on the first day. It helps people mend with their problems, said Christopher Yarmolovich, Hartford. A CTPharma staff checks on the marijuana flowers. What legalizing recreational pot could mean for Oklahoma From left are proponents Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven; Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport; House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, D-East Hartford; Lamont; Lt. Gov. Hours: Monday - Wednesday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m., Thursday - Saturday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday: Closed, About: Fine Fettle Stamford is one of three of the company's locations that will be selling recreationally as of Jan. 10. Before moving to Connecticut to join the staff she worked in Los Angeles for public radios Marketplace and, before that, for the Wall Street Journal's L.A. bureau. Newtown says 'no' to pot shop as concerns outweigh benefits Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily briefings. 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. The governor of Connecticut said on Tuesday that the state is about six months away from launching adult-use marijuana sales, and a state panel also took action on Tuesday to start approving the first cannabis cultivator licenses by designating more than a dozen applicants as having met social equity requirements. Some of the benefits of going to a medical dispensary include access to products with high THC levels, no taxes, product protection from shortages and access to regulated cannabis before the opening of recreational dispensaries. Two more retail cannabis stores opened on Friday. 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. Dec. 9, 2022 update: The state has announced that recreational weed sales will begin Jan. 10, 2023. Regulators said last week that approved Connecticut marijuana businesses are on track to launch retail sales within the next few months delayed from their original timeline, but in keeping withmore recent estimates. I believe it would be a grave mistake to give these criminals a larger market to serve.. 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. At every Fine Fettle location, both in-store and online, we work hard to provide a wholesome, informational, and down-to-earth resource for the medical and adult-use marijuana needs of our customers. Fine Fettle is one of the first companies in Connecticut on the path to selling cannabis recreationally. About: The Botanist Montville will be open for recreational sales on Jan. 10. HUSKY Health is helping immigrants. Medical marijuana patients can now purchase up to 3.5 ounces a month from any dispensary; they no longer have to select a designated facility. Opening day for recreational cannabis sales in Connecticut appeared to go smoothly Tuesday, with lines both short and long at the seven dispensaries spread across the state.. A spokesperson for . Within 90 days of the laws implementation, the state would create regulations for product preparation and labeling. Whoops! NEWINGTON, CT (WFSB) - Connecticut on Tuesday joined 20 states in allowing the use of recreational cannabis. We need an expansion of the customer base; otherwise current operators are going to have a difficult time.. A combination of different product types that collectively amount to no more than of an ounce. He once nearly sent himself to the hospital after eating the world's spiciest ice cream - for journalism. A CT bill would expand it. Customers can see available inventory on the website, choose a preferred time frame for pickup and head to the dispensary once they receive a "ready" text message. Those interested in buying recreational cannabis from Affinity can pre-order on its website. Cannabis advocates protest Connecticut's recreational-use rollout MAP: These CT pot dispensaries will sell recreational weed starting Jan. 10 Fine Fettle: Good Health. Good Condition. Customers can see available inventory on the website, choose a preferred time frame for pickup and head to the dispensary once they receive a "ready" text message. 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. 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. 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. ", A post shared by Willow Brook Dispensary (@willowbrookdispensary), What they say: "Willow Brook Wellness is a medical marijuana dispensary offering support and education patients can count on. In addition, CBD-based products can be purchased outside of dispensaries, and can found in a number of stores and online shops. 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. Becky Goetsch, owner of Killingworth's Running Brook Hemp, is applying to become a micro-cultivator of recreational marijuana. Cannabis advocates protest Connecticut's recreational-use rollout Fewer than 50 are available across nine categories, with half going to social equity applicants and half to general applicants. Seagull said Tuesday that threshold had been met. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/will-conservative-oklahoma-vote-to-legalize-recreational-weed, We used to joke that there was a church on every corner. The year-long delay in recreational sales comes from the state's rollout of licenses and marijuana preservation plans. But regulators said this week that approved marijuana businesses are on track to launch retail sales within the next few months delayed from their original timeline, but in keeping with more recent estimates. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, A Costumer from Connecticut buys marihuana supplies at the Weed World store on March 31, 2021, in New York. Adults age 21 and over can legally purchase up to a fourth of an ounce, or seven total grams, of marijuana (per transaction) for recreational consumption beginning on January 10, 2023.Medical patients can each grow up to three mature and three immature plants at home, with a maximum . Thank you. Learn More Learn about addiction prevention, and risks of cannabis. The use of medical marijuana, and medical marijuana dispensaries, has been legal in the state since 2012, so the state does have some existing legal, physical, and personnel infrastructure around the industry. Opening day for recreational cannabis is 'a great day for the state 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. Alex Premoli makes the first sale to a customer on the opening day of recreational marijuana sales at Theory Wellness in Great Barrington, Mass., Friday, January 11, 2019. Trulieve in Bristol opened Friday. Sales of recreational marijuana started a little more than a month ago. Hartford's first adult-use cannabis dispensary opened for business this morning, bringing the state's number of stores selling recreational marijuana to 12. Copyright 2023 WFSB. 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. Now the city has nearly a dozen dispensaries, including a 24-hour self-automated dispensary that opened late last year. Affinity Dispensary Medical Marijuana New Haven CT film tax credit: Some want to cut it, some want more, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic, Bluepoint Wellness of Connecticut in Branford, C3 Torrington (Still River Wellness) in Torrington. (203) 488-1388. And half were designated for social equity applicants, who are being selected via lottery. Sales will be limited to 1/4 ounce of cannabis flower, or its equivalent, per transaction when the market opens. Connecticut Prepares To Launch Recreational Cannabis Market in 2022 (860) 713-6019(office) Get CT Mirror emails in your inbox daily. The state, however, doesn't expect legal businesses to start until the end of the year, given the process for granting licenses. Connecticut legalized adult-use cannabis last year, but it's still unclear when recreational marijuana will be available to buy without a prescription. 2023 The Conneticut News Project. Formerly Bluepoint, RISE dispensary Branford, CT is a 8-minute drive from Stony Creek Beach and 15-minutes from Yale University. 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. FILE - A customer, right, purchases cannabis products at the Housing Works Cannabis Co., New York's first legal cannabis dispensary, Thursday, Dec. Please reload the page and try again. When Will Recreational Cannabis Sales Begin in the Tri-State Area? The Department of Consumer Protection details that "adult-use cannabis retail sales are anticipated to begin in the state by the end of 2022.". Left: A Guide to Legal Cannabis Dispensaries in CT - CT Post The group says existing medical patients will have priority access through a dedicated medical entrance. Many think Connecticut is doing the right thing, but there is some concern regarding children. SQ 820 also allows for the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana, six mature plants and six seedlings. The lottery operator provides the DCP with numerical rankings for each applicant, by which time the Social Equity Council will go through each chosen application to ensure that they are indeed a social equity applicant. Legal recreational marijuana sales start in Connecticut Order online for in-dispensary pickup. Tax revenues from marijuana retail sales significantly decreased in January 2023, falling nearly 33 percent compared to their peak levels. They sell both medical and recreational marijuana. To complete a Change of Dispensary, . Now theres weed on every corner., New York opens its 1st legal recreational marijuana dispensary. How to Open a Dispensary in Connecticut in 2023 - Cure8 What we dont want to do is have people set up to fail by saying, OK, you want a license? Cannabis establishment applications opened on Feb. 3, however, some Connecticut towns have implemented moratoriums on accepting and approving applications. 2023 The Conneticut News Project. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Haverford College and earned a masters in journalism from the University of Southern California. The passed bill, Public Act 21-1, aims to encourage the participation of the cannabis industry in these areas. 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 Affinity Health & Wellness pharmacist-led Care Team will continue to support and educate our patients every step of the way and treat them with respect and empathy to foster a relationship they can trust. Learn more about Friends of the NewsHour. First recreational dispensary opens in Capitol City Were knowledgeable and compassionate professionals who focus on the individuality of each patients need. Adult-use sales will begin in January, following a 30-day notice required by law. The Botanist encourages online ordering as it will speed up the purchasing process ahead of what the website said will be thousands of people coming to buy recreationally. The state saw a green rush as more than 7,000 grow operations and nearly 2,600 dispensaries for medicinal marijuana were opened more dispensaries than Colorado and California combined. Existing medical-use cultivators and retailers had to pay steep fees to convert their operations. Right now, only a handful of states that have legalized the recreational use . Prospective growers, product manufacturers, transporters and shops vied for a limited number of licenses; half were designated for social equity applicants who have to meet certain income and residency requirements. Connecticut-native Ulysses Youngblood, president of Major Bloom in Massachusetts, shows marijuana stored in his office. 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Stitt, who was elected to a second term in November, also spoke about the flux of foreign nationals buying up Oklahoma farm land to operate marijuana growing operations. All rights reserved. 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. CBD usually comes from hemp, a form of cannabis that has very minimal levels of THC. Ivelisse Correa of East Hartford protests outside Hartford's Curaleaf location Friday in hopes of raising awareness about barriers for people of color looking to open dispensaries. Two more marijuana dispensaries open up in Connecticut Nearly 18 months since Gov. Since sales of recreational cannabis started on January 10, the Department of Consumer Protection has given the green light to 12 stores, but not all are up and running yet. This is what creates the "high" feeling when consuming THC products, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. A dispensary is a store that legally sells adult-use cannabis products. Maryland legalizes marijuana, Arkansas and North Dakota reject, Oklahoma conservatives views on medical marijuana evolving, How states have reshaped marijuana laws and whats next, could generate $821 million in tax revenue, opposed to legalizing recreational marijuana, develop temporary psychosis and long-lasting mental disorders. Ned Lamont signed the state's law legalizing recreational pot, officials on Friday gave a. Greatest Hits Recreational Weed Dispensary Dudley - Yelp As of this week, three of those four existing medical marijuana producers Advanced Grow Labs, Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions and Curaleaf have fulfilled the requirements to obtain hybrid licenses, enabling them to serve both the medical and recreational markets. But were seeing them move in through straw buyers, so thats what were trying to attack now.. (WFSB) - Connecticut's recreational marijuana program is growing. Connecticut is the 20th state to allow dispensaries to sell the drug for recreational use. Area residents will have to go elsewhere in CT when legal cannabis sales begin, but a local shop may be allowed to open soon. A portion of the proceeds from these license fees are going to go into a fund that is then reinvested in communities, specifically the communities that have been designated as disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, Comer said. That stigma has just continued to melt away.. 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. He's originally from the Bronx, but spent the last decade in Florida writing about everything from politics to Disney and tracing the steps of cultural icons like Jack Kerouac. A standard-sized brownie or cookie can be the equivalent of .08 grams of cannabis flower. Calls To Open Up Cannabis Dispensaries Sooner - CT News Junkie