Municipal facilities were also not included. Please be aware that there are also very specificadvertising guidelinesfor businesses who intend to participate in the retail sale of cannabis. That means while state officials hope to launch retail sales by the end of 2022, they have not yet set an exact date. 2022 / 04:59 PM EST. Promoting safe, healthy use of cannabis by those of legal age. Michel said the money collected from the tax should go toward healthcare and education, education for sure. Even then, not all towns in Connecticut have approved dispensaries opening within their borders. . Still, to this point, the Connecticut recreational cannabis market already provides for diverse business ownership, decriminalizes possession, and has been marked by little of the drama that plagued other states. I think that even most proponents of allowing sale of marijuana here think it shouldnt be allowed in public spaces," Mayor Joe Kilduff said to the Bristol Press. 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. Long lines formed early in the morning outside of dispensaries: Today marks a turning point in the injustices caused by the war on drugs, most notably now that there is a legal alternative to the dangerous, unregulated, underground market for cannabis sales, Lamont said in a statement. Old Saybrook's moratorium was scheduled to expire at the end of May 2022. They still have a lot to do, with lots of applications for small licenses. 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. The town moratorium has been extended until April 30, 2023. In a unanimous vote, the Town Council imposed a temporary moratorium on recreational cannabis sales at the councils Monday meeting on Jan. 9. Individuals may possess up to 1.5 oz, with an additional 5 oz locked in a home or car. Give today at any amount and join the 50,000 members who are 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. Retail dispensaries are expected to open mid-2022, but are not currently open at this time. to learn more about the petition process. Previously, medical patients were required to designate a single dispensary for purchasing, however that requirement was removed October 1, 2021. Thepolicies and proceduresrelated to Public Act 21-1,An Act Concerning Responsible And Equitable Regulation Of Adult-Use Cannabis,are available ateRegulations.ct.gov. A standard-sized brownie or cookie can be the equivalent of .08 grams of cannabis flower. Connecticut is the 20th state to allow dispensaries to sell the drug for recreational use. So, were thrilled," Nelson said. Some municipalities outright banned legal cannabis businesses in their town, while others passed a moratorium to give local leaders more time to study and create regulations.With recreational cannabis establishments starting to open around the state, some towns are beginning to revisit their moratoriums. Growth operations will be allowed in Industrial Districts with some specific standards. It is illegal to consume medical marijuana in any public place in Connecticut. 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. Ned Lamont signed the bill it into law. Sign up for news alerts to be informed when the next lottery application period is announced. In CT its pick between these 4 eighths. As many as 40 more retailers, along with dozens of other marijuana-related businesses, could open . Last meeting about cannabis on May 10 - no decision was reached yet. It states that possession of cannabis among adults age 21 and over will be legal in Connecticut beginning July 1, 2021. How will cannabis be taxed? Cookie Notice Here is what consumers need to know about the process: Seven retail cannabis shops are expected to open Tuesday morning. Trumbull's moratorium has been extended into 2023. Starting in 2026, they expect we'll see $125 million per year in cannabis tax revenue. HUSKY Health is helping immigrants. Westport's ban excludes medical dispensaries. Connecticuts largest municipality has reversed course and is now putting up the welcome sign for legalized cannabis businesses. Chief Operating Officer Cory Ravelson said recreational sales will provide multiple benefits to the state. Medical marijuana patients may grow up to 3 mature and 3 immature plants at home starting October 1, 2021, with a cap of 12 total plants per household. Glastonbury's moratorium, which became effective in September 2021, is set to expire on March 1, 2023. No updates have been provided since. CT proposal causes confusion, concern, RISE, formerly known as Bluepoint Wellness of Connecticut, Branford, Zen Leaf, formerly known as Willow Brook Wellness, Meriden. We will be putting together a draft ordinance that, if adopted, will ban smoking cannabis in public spaces. Taxes Retail Sales. This includes licensing on in-state retail locations, testing labs, and growers. Waterford Planning and Zoning Commission voted in favor of banning the sale of recreational cannabis in town. Patients in the Medical Marijuana Program may purchase up to five ounces per month. Beginning July 2023, recreational users may grow with the same limits. 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. CT med selection is bare bones, and you're super limited to like four or five suppliers. Hamden's moratorium was extended by three months in November 2022. In fact, we've gone the other way, and we're actively recruiting cannabis businesses in the town," Eric Anderson, the Town Administrator, said. Ten to 15 percent of the tax is based on the THC content of the product. As of June 14, 2021, the town had not placed a moratorium or ban on adult-use cannabis businesses. Stores accept cash and debit cards. Connecticut Public. All Rights Reserved. Moratorium extended indefinitely on July 12, 2022. Many of those medical marijuana dispensaries will open for business as retail-medical hybrids on Tuesday the first day retail sales can legally happen. Connecticut's first retail recreational cannabis sales will begin as soon as Jan. 10 Recreational marijuana is already legal in Connecticut, but it was still on several ballots across the state. While the SEC efforts are moving forward, state officials still say they need to complete work on the entire cannabis supply chain. Its a far cry from what many were led to believe, Ward said, stressing that the results of Connecticuts cannabis market remain to be seen later this year.. But on the positive side, Connecticut is no longer spending money to prosecute people for cannabis, Ward said in a phone interview from Hawaii, where he is working on lobbying that states legislature. Residents over the age of 21 can legally possess and consume marijuana. The state also is requiring 250,000 square feet of grow and manufacture space devoted exclusively to the adult-use market. Dispensaries for medical cannabis have been open since of 2014. "As far as I am aware this topic has not been brought up to the Board of Selectmen," Gary Silver, the Media Coordinator for the Town of Bolton, said. At home it can be used, although landlords have the right to prohibit smoking and vaping. Of the 20 percent, 3 percent is also a local tax that goes to the city or town where the sale occurs. (203) 488-1388. for an in-depth breakdown on accepted qualifying conditions. Cannabis establishmets are permitted by Special Exception Application. 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.. Connecticut has one of the best equity programs, with half of the licenses going to those applicants. That decision could be changed once more is known about the industry in town. Recreational marijuana is already sold in Massachusetts. The state also is standing out for a focus on social equity before the Connecticut recreational cannabis market even opens. See something we missed? Waterbury's moratorium was set to expire on Aug. 9, 2022. . As of July 1, 2021, adult-use ("recreational") cannabis is legal in Connecticut. Lawmakers approved the Connecticut recreational cannabis market in June 2021. building a betterand more civilConnecticut to live, work, and play. Cannabis Jobs & Marijuana Career Services, New Study Looks Into Cannabis Treatment for Parkinsons Disease, Neil Youngs Honesty About Cannabis Use Could Keep Him From Becoming An American Citizen, Marijuana on the Ballot: These States May Legalize Recreational Marijuana, Thailand Legal Medical Marijuana A First For Southeast Asia, Cannabis Workouts: More People Choosing to Exercise While High, Cannabis Not a Gateway Drug, New Study Finds, Another Study Finds Connection Between Legal Cannabis and Reduced Opioid Use, How High Can You Get? by: Tim Harfmann. The Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-1 to allow retail cannabis establishments in most of the towns commercial zones with certain restrictions, the Journal Inquirer reported. He reported on suburban communities and Bridgeport City Hall, then in 1994 began covering the State Capitol and state government. listeners, viewers, and readers like you who value fact-based journalism and trustworthy information. Nine dispensaries in Connecticut opened their doors Tuesday to make the first sales of recreational marijuana to adults aged 21 or older. Wilton's moratorium has been extended until Oct. 29, 2023. CORRECTS IDENTIFICATION TO LYNN GOLDSTEIN FROM LAURA BASS WRIGHT - Lynn Goldstein of Norwich, Conn, left, is . After months of back-and-forth debate, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted 4-2 to prohibit recreational cannabis retailers from opening in town. Watch Live at 7:00 PM: The U.S. and the Holocaust, a film by Ken Burns | Screening & Panel Discussion . Yes. Jeff Smith, legal and regulatory reporter for the Denver-based MJBizDaily, which tracks the cannabis industry, said Thursday that while Connecticut has been thorough in its planning, Rhode Island will start its retail sales industry by letting existing growers and dispensaries go right into recreation production and sales. There are 54,000 medical marijuana patients in Connecticut, according to government data. Bristol has adopted a similar policy. I think that we should have broadened the criteria for expungement by far.. Aug 31, 2022 at 6:00 am. SB1201 was signed by Gov. Patients who can make purchases ahead of time, or have their medicine delivered, are advised to do so. The recreational cannabis market in Connecticut is anticipated to open in the spring of 2022, according to MJBizDaily. Dispensary facilities that have been approved by the Department and that have converted to hybrid retailers may open to the general public and commence adult use cannabis sales at a date to be published on the Department's website. Nine of Connecticut's existing medical marijuana retailers will be able to sell to recreational marijuana beginning Jan. 10, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection said on Friday. . Ned Lamont on June 22, 2021 making Connecticut is the nineteenth state to legalize adult-use cannabis. If you do want to logout, please click "Logout". The six month moratorium, which began Aug. 19, will only apply to adult-use retail establishments, and wont pertain to other cannabis facilities, such as medical dispensaries or cultivators. I look at it as the beginning of the end of the war on drugs, Michel said. Beyond that, it is up to individual stores to decide what they want to offer. Connecticut's first retail recreational cannabis sales are scheduled for Tuesday, Jan. 10. New information regarding the moratorium is not immediately available. We hope their support inspires you to donate so that we can continue telling stories that inform, educate, and inspire you and your neighbors. Putnam's moratorium was set to expire Sept. 18, 2022. The vote came the day before recreational cannabis sales began in the state. 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 Jan. 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. The state also has a medical marijuana program for qualifying patients, which was passed into law under House Bill No. Please visit PotGuides Connecticut. Recreational marijuana is legal in Connecticut effective July 1, 2021, after the passing of. Farmington instituted regulations for recreational cannabis into the existing medical regulations. 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. However, due to high demand, the state Department of Consumer Protection warned that it may be a challenge, especially shortly after initial openings. These will vary by store, but Connecticut officials have created rules around them. Recreational Marijuana. Possession of 1.5 oz of cannabis is now legal, and sales have started at licensed retailers. Edibles vary by size, but they cannot exceed 5 milligrams of THC, according to state regulation. 2012: Connecticut becomes the 17th state to allow medical use of marijuana. CT recreational pot sales will start within months, regulators say Sale of recreational marijuana in CT depends on all four existing medical marijuana producers or additional cultivation to. The first day of recreational sales came just over a week after Lamont erased more than 40,000 cannabis convictions. Patients are allowed to have one caregiver at any time. 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. . 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, DCP Commissioner Michelle Seagull said in a statement. The Curaleaf Hartford site opened . Bristol adopted rules and regulations on adult-use cannabis in the city on August 10, 2022. A moratorium expired June 15, 2022. ", "We're in a state where education is very linked to property tax," he said. Are you sure you want to log out of your account? Recreational marijuana became legal in Connecticut on July 1, 2021, and retail sales are slated to begin soon. 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. Bethany's Planning and Zoning Commission announced in October 2022 that it has drafted regulations to allow for a cannabis establishment in town. He previously worked at the Hartford Courant as the sports editor and the deputy managing editor. Since October 1, 2021, medical marijuana patients have been able to cultivate a maximum of 12 plants per household, including 3 mature plants and 3 immature plants. Curaleaf Hartford, located at 92 Weston St, is the Company's second dispensary to serve adult-use consumers in Connecticut and the first dispensary in the capital city to offer adult-use products . By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. No, there is no medical marijuana reciprocity in Connecticut. Copyright 2015-2023 dispensaries.com. With legislative approval, officials have spent two years crafting rules and regulations for the industry and for consumption. Visit this page for news updates from across State agencies about Adult-Use Cannabis in Connecticut. View menu. And, especially early on, expect longer lines and perhaps traffic in the area.