Connecticut Medical & Adult-Use Marijuana Market
Governor Lamont signed adult-use legislation. Retail sales to begin by the end of 2022.
Read the details we know now about the adult-use legislation that was just signed in Connecticut.
Connecticut enacted a medical marijuana program in 2012 and started sales to patients in 2014. Canna Advisors helped one of our very first clients win one of the first cannabis business licenses in the state.
Self-education and beginning your pre-license positioning early will give you a competitive advantage
Contact our cannabis consultants today to discuss what you can do now to prepare for the adult-use licensing process in Connecticut.
Top Services for the Connecticut Medical Marijuana Market
Adult-Use Licensing Applications in Connecticut
How Will Licenses Be Awarded?
The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) will hold multiple lotteries on an ongoing basis.
DCP will hold two lotteries for each license type: a social equity lottery and a general lottery
The eight license types will have staggered application windows.
Application Period by License Type:
The first application period for each license type will open for a period of 90 days on the following dates:
- Disproportionately Impacted Area Cultivator: February 3, 2022 (non-lottery)
- Retailer: February 3, 2022
- Micro-cultivator: February 10, 2022
- Delivery Service: February 17, 2022
- Hybrid Retailer: February 24, 2022
- Food and Beverage: March 3, 2022
- Product Manufacturer: March 10, 2022
- Product Packager: March 17, 2022
- Transporter: March 24, 2022
How Many Licenses Will Be Awarded?
An equal number of licenses will be available to social equity and general applicants. The number of licenses available in each category in the first application round are listed below:
- Retailer: 6 general licenses, 6 Social Equity licenses
- Micro-cultivator: 2 general licenses, 2 Social Equity licenses
- Delivery Service: 5 general licenses, 5 Social Equity licenses
- Hybrid Retailer: 2 general licenses, 2 Social Equity licenses
- Food and Beverage: 5 general licenses, 5 Social Equity licenses
- Product Packager: 3 general licenses, 3 Social Equity licenses
- Product Manufacturer: 3 general licenses, 3 Social Equity licenses
- Transporter: 2 general licenses, 2 Social Equity licenses
Market Conditions in Connecticut
Fourteen medical dispensaries currently serve the whole state of Connecticut. Only four cultivation operations supply these stores, though all are working to expand their facilities. If adult-use is legalized in the near future, more operations will be needed to avoid supply shortages.
Connecticut’s medical marijuana program is growing rapidly -- from 8,228 patients in January 2016 to 40,597 in March 2020. The state has now more than tripled the number of patient qualifying conditions from 11 at the start of the program.
Five new patient qualifying conditions were added in early 2019. Operating dispensaries in Connecticut are able to sell medical marijuana for 36 adult medical conditions and 10 conditions for patients younger than 18. Chronic pain is still under review to be added to the list, as there has been discrepancy about the language being too broad and generic for some lawmakers.
Stay up-to-date on cannabis in Connecticut
Cannabis legalization is changing quickly, and Canna Advisors can help your cannabis business evolve and expand with the industry. For the latest news and events about cannabis, visit our Blog and News and Events pages, and have a look at some of the following top articles on cannabis in Connecticut.
“Connecticut Lawmakers Hold Hearing On Governor’s Marijuana Legalization Bill” - Marijuana Moment
“Chronic pain should be a qualifying condition for medical marijuana” - Hartford Courant
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