CT Retail Marijuana Sales Begin This Week: Here's Everything You Need To Know

CONNECTICUT — Nine marijuana dispensaries have been busy preparing for the Jan. 10 start date for recreational adult sales.

“There has been a lot of building up to this moment, and there is a lot of excitement,” said Attorney Michelle Bodian, who heads Connecticut’s marijuana compliance division for law firm Vicente Sederberg.

There are 18 total medical marijuana dispensaries in Connecticut, and nine were ready to begin retail sales Jan. 10. There is typically intense interest and demand in the first days and weeks that retail sales start in a state, Bodian said. Several other medical dispensaries will likely convert to hybrid licenses in the near future as they work with towns and find suitable locations.

Medical dispensaries that wanted to convert had to submit an application to the state and check with local towns to make sure they could sell recreational product, Bodian said. Other states such as New Jersey and Massachusetts have more complexity at the local level.

“Comparatively, Connecticut is less burdensome than other states in terms of the local aspect of it,” she said.

Dispensaries that were approved under Connecticut’s lottery and social equity program will come online in the future as well.

Connecticut legalized recreational marijuana adult use in July 2021. Since then, state regulators and the local cannabis industry have been busy preparing for the eventual start of retail sales.

Retail sales will begin at 10 a.m. Consumers can purchase a total of ¼ ounce of cannabis flower or its equivalent per transaction.

The state Department of Consumer Protection advised medical marijuana patients to purchase their medicine before Tuesday in order to avoid long lines and traffic that will likely develop.

“While we hope there will be no disruption or inconvenience to patients, it is always best to be prepared,” DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull said in a statement. “Patients who can make purchases ahead of time, or have their medicine delivered, are advised to do so.”

The following medical marijuana dispensaries received approval for hybrid licenses:

• Affinity, New Haven
• Bluepoint Wellness of Connecticut, Branford
• Still River Wellness, Torrington
• Fine Fettle Dispensary, Newington
• Fine Fettle Dispensary, Stamford
• Fine Fettle Dispensary, Willimantic
• The Botanist, Danbury
• The Botanist, Montville
• Willow Brook Wellness, Meriden

Many hybrid dispensaries will have separate checkout counters for medical patients.

About 50,000 patients with qualifying conditions participate in the medical program. Medical patients are eligible for up to 5 ounces of product per month. Patients are eligible for products with higher THC potency and medical forms such as pills or tablets.

Rhode Island and New York State recently opened their own recreational marijuana markets, and New Jersey started sales earlier in 2022. Marijuana is still illegal under federal law.

“I do anticipate some of the cannabis tourism will decrease once there is an option in your own backyard,” Bodian said.