State Approves CT's 1st Cannabis Social Equity Joint Venture Retailer

MANCHESTER, CT, Feb 7, 2023 – Connecticut’s Social Equity Council has granted final approval for Fine Fettle to open the state’s first Cannabis Social Equity Joint Venture Cannabis Retailer in Manchester. Fine Fettle – Manchester on 91 Hale Road, Manchester will open its doors to adult-use cannabis purchasers on Feb. 17, 2023.

“We applaud the Connecticut state legislators for leading the nation in the establishment of social equity partnerships. Ours is one of the few states in the country to create this kind of social equity system for the awarding of licenses to people like me from communities that were disproportionally affected by the ‘war on drugs.’ Most importantly, it was able to happen quickly, giving us an opportunity to compete in an emerging market,” says Fine Fettle Manchester’s CEO, Kennard Ray. “Connecticut’s Social Equity Council was developed to make sure the adult-use cannabis program grows equitably and that the funds from the adult-use cannabis program are brought back to the communities hit hardest by these old prohibitions. We thank the Department of Consumer Protection, the Governor, and the SEC for working with us to reach this dream.”

Ray and his other partners have deep ties with Fine Fettle’s leadership, going back over two decades. Ray has been a community leader in Hartford and around Connecticut for years. After spending time in prison when he was younger for drug and gun-related convictions, Ray founded and became co-Director of the Full Citizens Coalition, an organization committed to civic engagement and the restoration of voting rights to ex-felons and convicts.

“Fine Fettle is honored to be able to open the state’s first Equity Joint Venture,” says Fine Fettle COO Ben Zachs. ” As Connecticut’s locally owned cannabis company, we care about the future of equity in this state and in this industry. We applaud Connecticut’s legislature for coming up with this innovative system to provide opportunity for both individuals and communities that were disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition.”

The Manchester retailer is Fine Fettle’s fourth location in the state. Their other Connecticut locations in Newington, Willimantic and Stamford opened their doors as hybrid dispensaries, serving both medical patients and adult-use customers, on January 10, 2023. All these locations were already established as medical dispensaries, first opening in 2018. Fine Fettle also recently receive unanimous approval by Bloomfield’s planning and zoning commission to build a nearly 46,000-square-foot cannabis cultivation facility, after it was approved as a Disproportionate Impact Area cultivator by the Social Equity Council and Department of Consumer Protection.

About Fine Fettle

About Fine Fettle is a medical and adult use cannabis dispensary with three locations in Connecticut and two in Massachusetts. Their upcoming Manchester location will be a social equity joint venture adult-use only cannabis retailer. The company also plans to open in Georgia. For more information go to finefettle.com.

Media Contact

Ben Zachs

bzachs@finefettle.com

(860)490-0359