CT-Based Cannabis Company Seeks To Open Dispensary In Stamford

STAMFORD, CT — Nautilus Botanicals, a Bridgeport-based cannabis company, is seeking a special permit to open up a hybrid dispensary on Stamford's East Side, according to documents submitted to the city's planning board.

Currently, there are two hybrid dispensaries in Stamford — Curaleaf at 814 E. Main St., and Fine Fettle, which is at 12 Research Drive in Glenbrook.

The Planning Board is scheduled to discuss the application during its regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday at 6:30 p.m.

The proposed medical/recreational cannabis dispensary would be located at 1110 E. Main St. at the former site of the drive-through grocery store The Barn. The building is two stories and 2,140 square feet, and was built in 1965, submitted documents state.

Renovations would take place mostly within the interior of the building, the documents said. Nautilus plans to enclose the existing drive-through window and remove the overhead canopy to create room for additional parking. Less than 10 spaces are needed at the site.

The retail floor is proposed to encompass 728 square feet on the first floor, and it would be used for customer check-in, medical patient consultations and the sales floor, where retail discussions ans transactions between customers and customer counselors will occur, the documents state.

The second floor is proposed to be used for secure storage and an employee break area.

Nautilus Botanicals is proposing to be open seven days a week, with maximum hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. On lighter traffic days, hours could be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Customers would enter the dispensary from the front entrance closest to East Main Street, where there would be bollards or planters for security purposes.

Earlier this summer, the Zoning Board denied an application from Sweetspot LLC for the city's third hybrid dispensary on High Ridge Road in Bull's Head.

In July, the Zoning Board made modifications to the regulations for dispensaries and smoke shops.

Notably, the new regulations include minimum distance requirements for dispensaries from schools and signage limitations.

Luis Vega is the CEO of Nautilus Botanicals, which partnered with private equity firm Merida Capital, submitted documents noted.

Vega, described in documents as "a passionate advocate of cannabis," studied finance at the University of New Haven and began working in corporate contract facility management.

But he remained passionate about cannabis and began in CBD sales.

In 2019 when Connecticut legalized hemp, Vega established Vega Holdings and used his own savings to obtain a USDA hemp license to purchase land to grow hemp, documents state.

As part of the CT Department of Agriculture's hemp pilot program, Vega was awarded a license to cultivate hemp and was the only Latino farmer to receive such a license.