'It's High Time:' Day One Of Recreational Weed In New Haven, Branford

NEW HAVEN/BRANFORD, CT — Monday, less than 24 hours before adults could begin purchasing cannabis in one of the nine Connecticut retail pot shops, New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said the city was not "anticipating a huge, huge spike."

"We can be real that marijuana has been accessible to many people for quite a long time," he said during a news briefing on the all-you-need-to-know about retail sales of cannabis to people 21 and over. "After decades of criminalization of marijuana, the state, I think wisely," opened the marketplace for adult use of cannabis, he said.

Elicker was joined by New Haven Chief of Police Karl Jacobson, health department director Maritza Bond and Ray Pantalena, owner of the only licensed New Haven cannabis store, Affinity Health and Wellness Dispensary.

Tuesday morning, an hour before the doors would open to adult pot sales a few dozen lined up outside the Westville-based dispensary, Affinity. There were police posted, and a few dozen people already in line outside the Westville-based dispensary.

Patch spoke with two pot customers in the line, 50-something men, both who agreed to be photographed but not named.

"I've been waiting for this since I was a kid," said one silver-haired man in a Carhartt jacket.

Jacobson had said Monday that the "biggest thing is to make sure everybody is safe" related to traffic and parking. Two police officers were posted at Affinity, officers Nieves and Ortiz, the latter whose badge number is 420: "I had no idea what that meant," he said, when he was first assigned, but soon found out on the streets of New Haven. Two supervisors were also at and near the site.

Day one at Affinity

Pantalena had said Monday that he "expected people to line up in the morning." And they did.

But first-day customers could not just walk in and buy. Affinity posted to its website late Monday that it would not accept "walk-in orders at this time." The dispensary has been a longtime medical marijuana facility, and it began doing on-line orders-only a year ago. Monday, on its website, Affinity announced people needed to pre-order on-line, a staff member confirmed for Patch.

One man on the early morning line told Patch that he anticipated there'd be limited supply as it was "day one" for sales. But noted he was "surprised to hear" that there'd be no walk-in sales. "There will be a lot of people here who'll be shocked to hear that." He declined to be named or photographed —"I'm incognito." — because, he said, despite adult cannabis use and purchase being legal, he wasn't sure how his employer would react, "If I end up in the paper."

As Pantalena promised Monday, there were two new dispensary security staff posted and two security checkpoints; one outside the Westville dispensary and one inside, with both checkpoints requiring state or federally issued photo ID.

A few cannabis consumers said they expected an even longer line, though one man noted, as Elicker did, "There's enough weed on the streets already."

Branford dispensary celebrates with green ribbon cutting

Bluepoint Wellness in Branford rebranded Tuesday to RISE, which is the retail cannabis business under operator Green Thumb Industries. RISE operates in 14 states with more than 75 locations. The dispensary celebrated with a green ribbon cutting.

“It’s a culmination really in our country of the failed war on drugs,” Green Thumb Industries CEO Ben Kovler said at the Branford location. “We’re out here to show people that cannabis is positive.”

All of Tuesday’s profits will be donated to the Black Business Alliance.

“It's not lost on us that we're able to build this business on the back of the failed war on drugs and it’s often victimized Black and brown communities,” he said.

Legislators aimed to craft the most equitable and community-centric recreational cannabis law in the country, State Rep. Robin Comey (D-Branford) said.

“It really directly supports the needs and wants of our residents in the state, and it furthers our initiative at the state level to promote Connecticut-grown businesses that pay back into our community," she said.

What's on recreational menu?

Pantalena said Monday "prices were still being determined" as at this point, he was "not quite sure what products being delivered." And noted that there would be a "limited menu and limited purchases." The cannabis products come from four state-license producers.

The adult use online menu was updated Monday night. It includes:

• A choice of 14 cannabis flower varieties sold in eighth ounce servings with THC content of 18 to 30 percent that run from $40 to $60.
• Four varieties of pre-rolled cannabis joints run from $20 to $31.
• Vapes, from .5 to 1 gram, range from $50 to $115.
• Edibles include two varieties of 20-pack "Gummies," with each containing 4.94 mg of THC.

The prices do not include state-mandated potency tax. According to state regulations, the taxes are:

• Plant Material: $0.625 cents per milligram total THC
• Edible Products: $2.75 cents per milligram total THC
• Other Cannabis Products: $0.09 cents per milligram total THC

Cops, cannabis, and the law

Mayor Elicker said that following the law, and being "very responsible with possession and usage" is critical. And added that keeping weed away from kids was paramount.

"It's particularly important that it cannot be accessed by kids," Elicker said. "We've seen several incidents in New Haven Public Schools where (students) were getting access to cannabis, bringing it to school and sharing with multiple friends, with some getting really sick and being transported to the hospital." Elicker called access by kids "dangerous" and urged adults to use cannabis "safely and appropriately."

Chief Jacobson echoed Elicker.

"Our biggest concern is minors," Jacobson said. A risk of injury to a minor charges is a felony, he noted. "It's real important that we keep our children safe."

Adults can purchase a quarter ounce of "flower" in other words, plant material, "per transaction." Adults can possess and use up to one and a half ounces of pot and can store up to five ounces in a locked container, and when in a vehicle, in a locked trunk or locked glove box.

Jacobson added to the list. After purchasing, a consumer "cannot go into (their) car and open it and obviously driving under the influence is illegal." He added that driving across state lines with cannabis violates federal law, and it cannot be smoked in non-smoking areas as posted and including parks, buildings, restaurants, and in some housing. The chief also said that after conversations with the Drug Enforcement Administration, police will "be on the lookout in the areas of Affinity for people who'll sell illegally."

Though, when that was mentioned to the middle-aged man Patch spoke to, he noted that the recreational prices are prohibitive.

"Who'd sell? You can get weed on the street for a lot less," he said.

Affinity Heath & Wellness Dispensary is located at 1351 Whalley Ave., in the Westville section of New Haven.

RISE Medical & Recreational Cannabis Dispensary is located at 471 E Main St, Branford.