New London's First Cannabis Retail Store Charts Opening

NEW LONDON, CT — New London's first recreational cannabis retail store is planning to open soon, according to The Day. Higher Collective could open as early as next week at its 595 Bank St. location.

The store's general manager said it will employ no more than 20 people and expects an average of 250 customers daily, The Day reported.

Higher Collective, which describes itself in a news release as "an industry-shaping cannabis retail brand," opened its first two locations in Killingly and Willington earlier this month.

Both locations are open 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. The New London store plans to have the same hours.

The Willington location features the state's first drive-through cannabis service.

"Higher Collective extends beyond retail; we aim to be a transformative force set to challenge the existing cannabis industry landscape," Patrik Jonsson, founder and CEO of Higher Collective, said in a statement. "We're not just opening stores, we're opening doors of opportunity for an underrepresented group of entrepreneurs."

Higher Collective said its brand "amplifies its commitment to equity by forming strategic partnerships with groups like women, veterans, and minorities, where each partner shares equal ownership (50%) of a retail store."

The cannabis retailer also plans to open another store in Hartford this fall plus three more locations across the state this year.