Read about the process and what people are anticipating from this new market! Were a resident in a "Disproportionately Impacted Area" for at least nine years before turning 18. 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. Nearly 10 percent of Oklahomans already hold medical marijuana cards. A handful of medical marijuana dispensaries are now allowed to sell pot products. 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. This is a heavy cash-investment business, said Andrea Comer, deputy commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection. All Rights Reserved. Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily briefings. Danbury's first recreational cannabis store awaits final approval A dispensary is a store that legally sells adult-use cannabis products. The first nine recreational-use, hybrid marijuana dispensaries are set to open in Connecticut in January. Cantrell, who operates three dispensaries and a wholesale warehouse in the Oklahoma City area, said while medicinal marijuana sales skyrocketed shortly after legalization in 2018, the market quickly became oversaturated due to the low cost of licenses and the initial excitement of a new industry. NEW HAVEN, CT (WFSB) - Today, Connecticut joins 20 states that allow adults to use cannabis recreationally. Sales are expected to hit $375 million within the first year. We used to joke that there was a church on every corner, Williams said. Dec. 9, 2022 update: The state has announced that recreational weed sales will begin Jan. 10, 2023. Please reload the page and try again. Our experienced and knowledgeable pharmacists will meet privately with each patient to discuss his or her conditions and recommend the appropriate medical marijuana treatment options to help each patient feel their best. It seems that JavaScript is not working in your browser. Come check out our mural! 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. Legal recreational marijuana sales start in Connecticut We appreciate the fact that youre a customer and well treat you like an individual. 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 . Copyright 2023 WFSB. HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) - The Capital City now has its first location open for recreational marijuana use. MONTVILLE, Conn. -- Connecticut's first round of recreational cannabis sales for adults 21 and older . Connecticut Governor Says Marijuana Shops Will Open In 'About Six I anticipate that certainly by the end of the first half of the year, we should be seeing some of those businesses ready to go, Comer said. When he's not searching for stories to tell, Daniel can be found in a book, on a motorcycle, playing drums or dreaming of galaxies far, far away. In CT its pick between these 4 eighths. Connecticut offers 14 different types of applications under five umbrella categories growing, manufacturing, sales, delivery and transportation and individual licenses and registrations. Recreational dispensaries are preparing for a green rush on the first day of adult-use cannabis sales . All Rights Reserved. He said the price of 1-gram cartridges of . Sign up for CT Mirror's free daily briefings. The year-long delay in recreational sales comes from the state's rollout of licenses and marijuana preservation plans. The "Adult Use Only Menu" will be available after 6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 9. A recertification appointment is also needed with your doctor in order to qualify annually for you card. 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. 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. 2021, with a large chunk of tax revenues from sales set to go to minority communities. Recreational marijuana is legal in Missouri. 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). OKLAHOMA CITY As Oklahomans prepare to vote on legalizing recreational marijuana, supporters say its a clear decision to support local businesses and promote social justice reform, while detractors say its a weedier situation. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Haverford College and earned a masters in journalism from the University of Southern California. 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, volunteer . Left: 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.*. 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. 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. Photo by Nathan J. Fish/The Oklahoman/USA Today Network. We need to let the feds tell us if its legal or illegal, we shouldnt let the states tell us that.. Seven medical retailers have been approved for hybrid licenses and could be ready to sell products as soon as production reaches the 250,000-square-foot threshold. Since Connecticut approved recreational pot over a year ago, the process of licensing and building out the states market has been a slow burn. About: Affinity in New Haven is a licensed and professionally staffed medical marijuana dispensary that will soon be open for recreational sales. 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. 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. Published: Mar. 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. All Rights Reserved. Connecticut legalized adult-use, recreational marijuana last summer, and businesses wanting to enter the new market are raring to go. Connecticut set to launch recreational marijuana market - MJBizDaily Comer said Friday theres currently roughly $50 million in that fund, and thats expected to grow. Where to look for recreational cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut The Curaleaf Hartford site opened . There was an error and we couldn't process your subscription. All orders for recreational cannabis must be placed online prior to pickup, per the dispensary's website. STAMFORD, Conn. -- Demand was strong on Tuesday, the first day of recreational cannabis sales in Connecticut. Is CT recycling going into the trash? The state said both adult and medical use have brought in over $13 million. Local dispensary 'excited' about marijuana being legalized in Connecticut 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. Robinson told 22News that business has been going strong so far, and why Massachusetts dispensaries will remain more. Order online for in-dispensary pickup. The passed bill, Public Act 21-1, aims to encourage the participation of the cannabis industry in these areas. We listen to our patients, empathize with our patients, and educate our patients. Our goal is to provide support within the CT medical marijuana program by offering experience, knowledge, and compassion that patients can count on. The state has also started taking applications for Equity Joint Ventures, which are business entities that partner with a producer or dispensary, and are at least 50 percent owned by individuals who: According to the state, Equity Joint Ventures are not subject to the lottery and must be approved by the Social Equity Council before being granted a provisional license. Montville, CT. 887 Norwich-New London Turnpike Uncasville, CT 06382. Nearly 18 months since Gov. She grew up in Minneapolis, MN, graduated from Haverford College and earned a masters in journalism from the University of Southern California. Its pharmacist-centered team is on site or available by phone to answer any questions. 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 DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. Twelve are up and running or will be soon. 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. 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. 1 of 5. There are 17 registered medical dispensaries located in Connecticut. 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. CT's First Adult-Use Recreational Marijuana Sales To Begin In January 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. They will also receive quick check-ins as well as a separate check-out line. The state Department of Consumer Protection said on Friday, Dec. 9, that eight licensed hybrid retailers will be allowed to open their doors at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2023, depending on local zoning hours. Similar to our neighbors to north, Massachusetts, dispensaries will most likely boast a number of cannabis-related accoutrements such as rolling paper, pipes and grinders. In order to get a medical marijuana card, you must first speak to your doctor to see if you qualify. 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 . But Curaleaf says all of their customers will have access to a diverse selection of services. 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. The state also plans to offer technical assistance to cannabis entrepreneurs. There are even CBD cafes in Connecticut. The vision is striving to be a leader in the dispensing of medical cannabis by focusing on patient experience, education and outcomes. ", A post shared by Still River Wellness (@stillriverwellness), What they say: "Still River Wellness is the first and only Medical Cannabis Dispensary Facility to open in Litchfield County since the States Program was launched in 2013. 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. Becky Goetsch, owner of Killingworth's Running Brook Hemp, is applying to become a micro-cultivator of recreational marijuana. 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. Curaleaf, located on Weston Street in Hartford . 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. 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. 2023 The Conneticut News Project. 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. (860) 713-6019(office) We are a licensed and professionally staffed adult-use and medical marijuana dispensary conveniently located at 1351 Whalleyin At least half of the applications will be awarded to the social equity lottery. However, it should be noted that because cannabis has not been legalized on a national level, it is illegal to bring it over the state line, according to the Cannabis Control Commission of Massachusetts. 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. The ballot measure also creates a pathway for courts to expunge or dismiss certain prior marijuana-related convictions. Please reload the page and try again. Under the law, the fee to convert is $1 million for retailers and $3 million for producers, which could be prohibitive for many businesses. The surplus revenue would be directed toward student services, drug addiction treatment programs, courts, local government and the states general revenue fund. Explore online ordering and pick-up options. Many think Connecticut is doing the right thing, but there is some concern regarding children. Medical Dispensary Prepares for Recreational Marijuana Sales Packaged medical marijuana at Advanced Grow Labs in West Haven. Cannabis in Connecticut (CT) 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. The state identified a number of areas throughout Connecticut that qualify as "Disproportionately Impacted Areas" in 2021, which are areas that have a "historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses greater than one-tenth, or an unemployment rate greater than ten percent." 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. They can be located here. Were knowledgeable and compassionate professionals who focus on the individuality of each patients need. 2023 The Conneticut News Project. 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. kaitlyn.krasselt@ct.gov She added that people shouldnt overlook other important components of the law, including the decriminalization of marijuana and reinvestment in the communities most impacted by discriminatory federal drug policy the long game, as she called it. Here you go. And then theyre ill-equipped to build or sustain that business., The states 15-member Social Equity Council, responsible for promoting diverse participation in the developing new industry, has been holding a series of workshops for people interested in obtaining licenses and starting a cannabis business. I actually waited six months to tell them that I was opening a dispensary. I believe it would be a grave mistake to give these criminals a larger market to serve.. /. Adam Kemp. (860) 377-0246 (cell), Whoops! Examples of what 1/4 of an ounce of cannabis flower or its equivalent might look like include: Patients in the Medical Marijuana Program are advised to purchase any necessary medication prior to January 10, or at one of the nine medical-only dispensaries in the state, as long lines and traffic are expected around the hybrid retailers during the opening weeks of adult-use sales. Marijuana buds on display inside the Apoothecary Farms in Oklahoma City. We know we are the new kids on the block, however if you think we don't have years of marijuana dispensary experience . Governor Ned Lamont passed a bill that legalized cannabis in 2021. This is really just the start of a marketplace, Seagull said. All Rights Reserved. It also prohibits prosecutors from revoking bail, parole or probation because of marijuana use. 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.