Bristol adopted rules and regulations on adult-use cannabis in the city on August 10, 2022. Cannabis establishmets are permitted by Special Exception Application. According to the Hartford Courant, because this new legal pot law is unchartered territory for all of Connecticut's towns and cities, officials will be conducting extensive discussions about zoning regulations to limit where these dispensaries can be. Social equity applicants are being reviewed for licenses as a cultivator, producer, manufacturer, food and beverage manufacturer, sales, dispensary facilities, delivery service and transporters. The department said it has notified licensed hybrid retailers that they will be allowed to begin selling cannabis products to all adults 21 and over beginning no earlier than 10 a.m., or as local zoning permits, on Tuesday, Jan. 10. If you do want to logout, please click "Logout". Waterbury's moratorium was set to expire on Aug. 9, 2022. Now Zachs is preparing to use Fine Fettle to tap into the state's 2.4 million population who is 21 and . Waterford Planning and Zoning Commission voted in favor of banning the sale of recreational cannabis in town. Consumption is banned everywhere smoking cigarettes is banned, in addition to health care facilities including psychiatric hospitals, and areas in or around an establishment with a liquor license (such as outdoor seating at bars and restaurants). Recreational marijuana became legal in Connecticut on July 1, 2021, and retail sales are slated to begin soon. "This industry is going to create more than 10,000 jobs over the next couple of years, and hundreds of millions in new revenue that will be reinvested in the communities most hard hit by the war on drugs," Adam Wood, president of the Connecticut Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, said in a statement. Patients must become qualified by a Connecticut-licensed physician who recommends medical cannabis to treat one or more state-approved qualifying conditions. While transporting, the cannabis needs to be stored in a locked glovebox or the trunk. The state also is standing out for a focus on social equity before the Connecticut recreational cannabis market even opens. Medical & Recreational. New York, New Jersey and Connecticut with a . She also produces Long Story Short, a podcast exploring public policy issues across Connecticut. All rights reserved, licensed hybrid retailers that they will be allowed to begin selling cannabis products, Together We Grow': Businesses Prepare for Legal Recreational Cannabis Sales, Low-Level Cannabis Possession Convictions Are Set to Be Cleared for Thousands in CT. NFL Combine 40-Yard Dash: Who Had the Fastest Time in 2023? The first day of recreational sales came just over a week after Lamont erased more than 40,000 cannabis convictions. The only stores opening now were previously operating as medical marijuana dispensaries and are able to convert their facilities. 2022. "Today is historic, but the real story is about the benefits to come that will transform lives and communities.". On Tuesday, yes. The 4,000-square-foot dispensary, to be known as Mystic Greenz, is being built along Harristown Boulevard near U.S. 36 with its owners hoping to be open for business by June 2023. These are the Medical Marijuana Dispensaries that have been notified that they successfully completed the necessary steps for conversion to a hybrid license and may begin selling cannabis products to all adults 21 and over, beginning no earlier than 10 a.m. on Jan. 10, 2023: Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It will be interesting to see the kind of partnering up that will be going on, Smith said. A Special Meeting on "adult recreational marijuana" was held Aug. 11, 2022. Connecticut The first recreational, adult-use cannabis sales in Connecticut will begin at nine hybrid retailers in January, according to the Department of Consumer . Edibles vary by type and size. Moratorium extended indefinitely on July 12, 2022. Connecticuts largest municipality has reversed course and is now putting up the welcome sign for legalized cannabis businesses. Granby's moratorium is set to expire Aug. 31, 2023. Visit the DCP websiteto learn more about the petition process. I think that we should have broadened the criteria for expungement by far.. In November of 2021, the East Hartford Planning & Zoning Commission approved zoning regulations pertaining to retail sales and production of cannabis. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate. In July 2021, the state decriminalized cannabis, allowing adults to possess 1.5 ounces legally and up to five ounces in a locked container at home. For those considering starting a business, the licensing and review process is currently underway. All adults over age 21 will be able to grow under the same rules starting July 1, 2023. Up to 40 additional cannabis retailers are expected to. Stores accept cash and debit cards. Only a handful of dispensaries will launch initially, and there are limits on how much cannabis customers can buy at one time. Of the 20 percent, 3 percent is also a local tax that goes to the city or town where the sale occurs. Directions. The department said different types and sizes of products could be purchased together up to a total of 1/4 ounce of cannabis flower or its equivalent per transaction. Despite opposition from some residents, the town planning and zoning commission voted to amend zoning rules to allow recreational marijuana stores and cultivation facilities in certain parts of town. The rule is designed to ensure that adequate cannabis product is available for Connecticut medical marijuana patients. He still enjoys playing soccer, and is a member of a rock 'n' roll band. The initiative is expected to generate $250 million in sales in the first year and $750 million by the fourth year. (203) 488-1388. Various taxes include the 6.35 percent state sales tax, plus 3 percent taxes for locations that host cannabis businesses and a sliding scale of addition levies based on potency of THC levels of 10 to 15 percent. The vote came the day before recreational cannabis sales began in the state. New Jersey began retail sales on April 21 after the state's medical marijuana dispensaries converted to hybrid licenses. Learn more about adult-use cannabis in Connecticut here. Recreational marijuana is legal in Connecticut effective July 1, 2021, after the passing of. 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Carjacking Suspect Seriously Injured in Crash Involving 5 Other Vehicles in Waterbury, Passenger on Plane Diverted to Bradley Airport Dies, Hartford Hospital's Transplant Team Saves Lives Every Day, NBC & Telemundo Connecticut Job Opportunities. Get all the facts on the new law. Updated: Nov 11, 2022 / 07:34 AM EST. Recreational marijuana is already sold in Massachusetts. Stores are expected in 2023. Learn more about the program and what it offers. Until then, though, Connecticut residents will slip over the border into southern Massachusetts for their cannabis supplies, bringing their revenue to the northern neighbor and nearby towns including Springfield, Boston, Easthampton, Northampton, Great Barrington and Pittsfield. Ben & Jerrys has released a statement promising to take decisive action when it learns of child labor on dairy farms supplying milk for its products.That's in response to a story from the New York Times about migrant children working in conditions in violation of labor laws across the U.S. Corporate Support: Advertising & Sponsorship, UMass Amherst unions question university plan to privatize more than 100 jobs, Ben & Jerry's condemns child labor in Vermont's dairy industry after New York Times investigation, Karen Hobert Flynn, Common Cause leader and CT reformer, dies, The state's best spellers gather in West Hartford for Connecticut Spelling Bee, Meet Snowflake, an old cat at a CT vet clinic that comforts pets and humans, Connecticut COVID data: Your town's infection rate, hospitalizations & vaccinations, As new research suggests COVID-19 is now endemic, physicians push back, Long COVID rates fall by half nationwide, New England rates among lowest, Turkish restaurant in the Upper Valley aims to help those affected by recent earthquakes, Affinity Health and Wellness in New Haven, Bluepoint Wellness of Connecticut in Branford, Fine Fettle Dispensary in Newington, Stamford and Willimantic. Ray Pantalena, a dispensary manager, said medical marijuana customers wont pay sales tax. The planning and zoning commission will likely take the issue up formally in 2022, Jeremy Ginsberg, director of land use said. Ned Lamont proposed a legislation that would permit the sale and possession of recreational marijuana in Connecticut, starting in 2022 and relying on the existing infrastructure of medical cannabis producers and dispensaries for a fast start while also offering opportunity to newcomers.. Gov. Connecticut's first retail recreational cannabis sales will begin as soon as Jan. 10 and our Patients can change their caregiver through the DCP once a year if needed. In-store purchases only. After briefly considering a six-month moratorium, the Zoning Commission voted unanimously in late March to allow recreational marijuana sales and cannabis production facilities within the town limits. Legal Cannabis Dispensaries . No updates have been provided since. CORRECTS IDENTIFICATION TO LYNN GOLDSTEIN FROM LAURA BASS WRIGHT - Lynn Goldstein of Norwich, Conn, left, is . Delivery service companies are also being established in the state, but not yet open. A Connecticut native and Stamford High School graduate, Ken graduated with a journalism degree from Ohio University, where he was also most-valuable player on its soccer team. listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information. Lawsuits Challenge Connecticut's Social Equity Process Business Aug 10, 2022 These 2 College Friends Pawned Watches and Cars to Fund Their Cannabis StartupIt Could Bring in $400 Million This. By Ginny Monk, Julia Bergman, Andrew DaRosa and Derek Turner | Feb. 11, 2022 | Updated: Jan. 11, 2023 9:16 AM Since the Connecticut legislature passed legal recreational cannabis in Connecticut in 2021, cities and towns across the state have been making decisions on how they will handle the new law. That means while state officials hope to launch retail sales by the end of 2022, they have not yet set an exact date. Study Shows Theres a Limit, Train police officers in the latest techniques of detecting and preventing impaired driving, Expunging criminal records of people convicted of certain cannabis crimes, Directing new funding to prevention and recovery services that help prevent cannabis use by minors. Previously, medical patients were required to designate a single dispensary for purchasing, however that requirement was removed October 1, 2021. Are you sure you want to log out of your account? Check locally before consuming in public. Dec. 9, 2022 update: The state has announced that recreational weed sales will begin Jan. 10, 2023. But while the rollout has been slightly bumpy, with the General Assembly passing a law this year to halt informal, untaxed sales of cannabis that had emerged from the underground, the state is on-track to begin retails sales by the end of the calendar year with dozens of new businesses owned by people from neighborhoods that for generations had been targets in the failed war on drugs. Cannabis dispensaries and production facilities are banned. Recreational marijuana is legal in Connecticut effective July 1, 2021, after the passing ofSB 1201. There are 18 dispensaries in Connecticut and while nine of them are converting to offer retail cannabis, they are not scrapping the medical program. Neighbors packed . Voters overwhelmingly approved an ordinance prohibiting marijuana businesses in town. The 1/4 ounce measurement means consumers can buy up to seven pre-rolled cigarettes that weigh a gram each, or two to four vape cartridges. Connecticut Marijuana Laws. They are Still River Wellness in Torrington, which is working on the expansion ofits store, and The Botanist in Danbury, which is still working through local regulatory approval. You can get a 50$ oz of some fine mids or a 100$ oz of good good tree, and the option is there. The town council passed it as a land-use ban for any type of cannabis sales or production facilities. Recreational marijuana is already legal in Connecticut, but it was still on several ballots across the state. Danbury has approved recreational pot establishments. Storefront. On June 22, 2021, Governor Lamont signed Senate Bill 1201 that legalized recreational cannabis. "Redding has not banned or instituted a moratorium on cannabis businesses," First Selectman Julia Pemberton said on Jan. 27. MONTVILLE, Conn. -- Connecticut's first round of recreational cannabis sales for adults 21 and older kicked off Tuesday at seven existing medical marijuana establishments across the state, less than two years after Gov. As of June 14, 2021, the town had not placed a moratorium or ban on adult-use cannabis businesses. This includes licensing on in-state retail locations, testing labs, and growers. Sales will be limited to 1/4 ounce of cannabis flower, or its equivalent, per transaction when the market opens. community-supported public media service, Connecticut Public has relied on donor support for more than 50 years. This is a carousel. The town has delayed discussion pertaining to cannabis establishments. Recreational cannabis for adults was legalized in Connecticut over a year ago and the state is getting closer to allowing retail locations to open. Two to four vape cartridges, which come in .5 mL and 1 mL sizes. The council forwarded the names to the states consumer protection officials for a background check. To qualify as a caregiver, you must be: If the qualifying patient lacks legal capacity, you must be the patients parent, guardian or other person having legal custody of the patient. Suffield's PZC is in the process of drafting regulations for retailers and cultivators, the Journal Inquirer reported. Trulieve can become a hybrid dispensary and also . As of October 2022, recreational marijuana use is legal in 19 states, Washington, D.C., and Guam, and medical use is legal is 38 states, but, on a federal level, it remains illegal and is. The town set a moratorium, which expires on June 8, 2023. Chief Operating Officer Cory Ravelson said recreational sales will provide multiple benefits to the state. Aug 31, 2022 at 6:00 am. Nine medical marijuana operators have successfully completed the steps needed to expand their businesses to include the new market for adults 21 and over. Governor Ned Lamont passed a bill that legalized cannabis in 2021. However, a public hearing has been called for January 12, 2023, to discuss modifications to the moratorium. Weve carefully crafted a securely regulated market that prioritizes public health, public safety, social justice and equity.. At the same time, the Social Equity Council will be reviewing applications submitted by social equity applicants and work force development plans submitted by medical marijuana producers and dispensaries applying to convert to the recreational program. This news story is funded in large part by Connecticut Publics Members They cannot be in the shape of an animal or in a shape that children may find appealing. by Erica E. Phillips December 9,. The town's zoning laws have never allowed marijuana dispensaries. The town will allow cannabis retail, but not growing or manufacturing. "We have bits and pieces of the area in everything that we cook here," says Tuckerbox owner Jackie Oktay. Medical marijuana patients 18 years old and older will be able to grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature plants at home starting October 1, 2021, with a cap of 12 total plants per household. /. building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. As of July 1 it is legal for adults 21 years and . A six month moratorium began on Jan. 8, 2022. Recreational marijuana sales will begin in Connecticut on Jan. 10, 2023 - but with limits. Retail sales of recreational cannabis are expected to begin some time in 2022. At Southern Connecticut Wellness & Healing (SCWH) our sole aim is to assist qualified Connecticut patients with the use of medical marijuana. The state plans to award half of all initial cannabis retail licenses to social equity applicants. However, due to high demand, the state Department of Consumer Protection warned that it may be a challenge, especially shortly after initial openings. One edible serving cannot have more than 5 milligrams of THC. HUSKY Health is helping immigrants. The town adopted a moratorium on May 1, 2022 and it lasts until April 30, 2023. No, patients under the age of 18 are allowed to qualify through one of the approved medical conditions listed above. Starting January 10th, recreational marijuana will be sold at nine different dispensaries in Connecticut. North Branford's moratorium is set to last for one year and became effective in October 2021. But it's likely that many more will open in 2023 and beyond. Visit this page for news updates from across State agencies about Adult-Use Cannabis in Connecticut. Connecticut's first retail recreational cannabis sales are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10. Or any combination up to 7 total grams, which equals 1/4 ounce. New information regarding the moratorium is not immediately available. They believe with the new law they will probably see their daily customer numbers grow to around 1,500. And starting Friday, folks who have criminal records for possessing four ounces or less can petition the court for the erasure of criminal records, which is a huge step.. Open now Order online. The town's moratorium was extended by three months before its expiration on Dec. 31, 2022. Sign up for news alerts to be informed when the next lottery application period is announced. The Planning and Zoning Commission adopted a one-year moratorium April 1, 2022 on the acceptance of applications and the use of land or buildings for adult-use cannabis businesses. The city of Milford adopted an ordinance that. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Joe Amon. Connecticut has one of the best equity programs, with half of the licenses going to those applicants. . Are you sure you want to log out of your account? A worker displayed fresh cannabis flower buds, in a 2019 file photo. For instance, all edibles have to be spherical or in the shape of a cuboid. Date: December 10, 2021 Cannabis in Connecticut Dec 6, 2022 Low-Level Cannabis Possession Convictions Are Set to Be Cleared for Thousands in CT Sales will be limited to 1/4 ounce of cannabis flower, or its. Over the next six months, the department will continue to review and approve medical marijuana preservation plans and provisional license applications, as well as conduct additional lottery rounds, said Michelle Seagull, commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protection. Madison's moratorium has been extended until July 1, 2023. . The ordinance would not allow a recreational cannabis retailer within 500 feet of any school, municipal park, municipal recreational facility or library. Old Saybrook's moratorium was scheduled to expire at the end of May 2022. For more information on how to obtain a license under 18 years old,visit here. Residents over the age of 21 can legally possess and consume marijuana. Adults cannot have more than 112 ounces (43 g) of cannabis on their person, and no more than 5 ounces (140 g) in their homes or . Growth operations will be allowed in Industrial Districts with some specific standards. Were excited for the community to now have access on a larger scale and get to see the products that the state of Connecticuts producers are making, that were able to sell. The medical marijuana program isn't going anywhere at this time. Nine dispensaries in Connecticut opened their doors Tuesday to make the first sales of recreational marijuana to adults aged 21 or older. The Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at UConn found in a 2020 study that even measured conservatively, adult-use retail sales will mean increased business growth and significant creation of new jobs, especially if the state can beat New York and Rhode Island to open its marketplace. Please be aware that there are also very specificadvertising guidelinesfor businesses who intend to participate in the retail sale of cannabis. Woodstock's moratorium has been extended until April 2023. passed legal recreational cannabis in Connecticut. Privacy Policy. . Sales are limited to 1/4 ounce of cannabis flower, or the equivalent, for each transaction. The moratorium will buy time for the town to better understand the state's legislation and also learn what other states are doing. Updated: Dec 28, 2022 / 03:41 AM EST. Qualified patients can possess up to 3 ounces per month. For years, state officials wrestled with the idea of creating a retail cannabis industry, first starting with a medical marijuana program. As soon as it became a multi-billion dollar industry, all these congressmen switched over and started to push things forward, people like Boehner now all of a sudden it's big business. No, there is no medical marijuana reciprocity in Connecticut. Ned Lamont signed Senate Bill 1201 into law. For more information on how to obtain a license under 18 years old, An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana, Agree to undertake the responsibility of managing a patient, Have no prior controlled substance convictions, Not be the qualifying patients physician. New York is still developing its adult-sales regulations, while Rhode Islands new law was signed in May, with sales scheduled to begin as soon as December 1. Registered medical marijuana patients are allowed to consume cannabis in their own homes or on private property. The Northeast is poised to transform the U.S. cannabis industry and make New York City the nation's weed capital. The department said that 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. Other stores are expected to open later this year, although it's unclear where and which stories will be among the first to come on line. Although many of the hybrid retailers will provide separate checkout counters or cash registers for Medical Marijuana Program patients, they may still experience increased traffic, as well as crowds in and around the hybrid retailers in the opening days of the market.. And, especially early on, expect longer lines and perhaps traffic in the area. The towns Planning Commission unanimously voted to recommend the ban last only six months. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to adopt zoning regulations that would permit cannabis retailers and cultivators to operate in certain zones. When Gov. Ginny Monk ginny.monk@hearstmediact.com @GinnyMonk, Julia Bergman julia.bergman@hearstmediact.com @JuliaSBergman, Lindsay Boyle lindsay.boyle@hearstmediact.com @LindsayABoyle, Mike Pignataro mpignataro@stamfordadvocate.com, Andrew DaRosa andrew.darosa@hearstmediact.com @AndyDaRosa17, Derek Turner derek.turner@hearstmediact.com @DTurnerMedia. He previously worked at the Hartford Courant as the sports editor and the deputy managing editor. A moratorium expired June 15, 2022. Tom Sparkman, First Selectman of Lisbon, said he hasnt yet heard any interest in a dispensary or a growing site yet, according to the Norwich Bulletin. Normally, The Botanist would serve around 350 medical marijuana patients on a daily basis. Connecticut's first round of retail cannabis sales for adults 21 and older began Tuesday at seven existing medical marijuana establishments across the state, less than two years after Gov. Regulations around retail cannabis establishments were last decided by the town on July 19, 2022. Open until 7:00pm. The Marijuana Policy Project estimates that cannabis will generate $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue in the first seven years of legalization. It's bringing this from the black market to a legal market that can be regulated, monitored, and that's creating tax generation.. MAP: Medical retailers approved to sell recreational marijuana in Connecticut by CT Mirror Data December 9, 2022 @ 9:54 am Regulators said last week that approved Connecticut marijuana. DeVaughn Ward, senior legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project, said Thursday that overall, hes disappointed with Connecticuts program, including secret lotteries while allowing existing medical marijuana operators to get a leg up in the adult-retail realm. State Commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection Michelle Seagull in a 2020 file photo. An award-winning freelance reporter/host for WSHU, Brian lives in southeastern Connecticut and covers stories for WSHU across the Eastern side of the state. Coventry officials are continuing to debate regulations regarding cannabis establishments. As a That is going to be a great economic windfall for the state because of the tax. The revised ordinance removed child care centers from the restricted list. Some people say that cannabis workouts led to better results because they can increase their focus and their ability to isolate the muscles that get the most work. Promoting safe, healthy use of cannabis by those of legal age. Yes. There are 54,000 medical marijuana patients in Connecticut, according to government data. A public hearing is scheduled in March to solicit feedback on a proposal to impose a six-month moratorium. If you are 21 and older and choose to use cannabis, do so responsibly. They still have a lot to do, with lots of applications for small licenses. Connecticut legalized cannabis in June 2021, when Gov. In Stamford, Fine Fettle has been open for medical sales for over a year. And while the state Department of Economic and Community Development has a seat on the Social Equity Council, the agency is making investments in large corporate cannabis operations, Ward said. These provisions are meant to help counteract decades of disproportionate arrests and prosecutions of Black people and others from communities of color. "We know that many people are excited to participate in this marketplace . Connecticut Recreational Marijuana Dispensary Customers. Insa currently operates three recreational . Beverages are allowed, but can only come in single servings. State regulators currently anticipate retail sales of adult-use marijuana will begin by the end of 2022. Please read the articles below for more details, and check back regularly for updates. . Dec 09, 2022 at 9:02 am. An early version of Norwalks cannabis ordinance will require recreational marijuana businesses to be at least 1,000 feet from schools, youth services facilities and rehab centers. Licensing Requirements, Timelines, and Selection Processes The first Connecticut cannabis license application period for each license type will open for a period of 90 days beginning in March 2022. However, due to high demand, the state Department of Consumer Protection warned that it may be a challenge, especially shortly after initial openings. An Act Concerning Responsible And Equitable Regulation Of Adult-Use Cannabis, The policies and procedures related to the home grow provisions of the medical marijuana program are also, What cannabis means for hemp farmers and hemp production, licensing and review process is currently underway, Buying or selling products with delta-8-THC or delta-10-THC in Connecticut. Fairfield's moratorium, which becomes effective in February, is set to last for one year. Affinity in New Haven, Bluepoint Wellness in Branford, Still River Wellness in Torrington, Fine Fettle stores in Newington, Stamford and WIllimantic, The Botanist stores in Danbury and Montville, [] When he signed the law, Lamont said, For decades, the war on cannabis caused injustices and created disparities while doing little to protect public health and safety. The new law aims to correct those issues.