West Hartford's First Legal Recreational Cannabis Store To Open Monday

WEST HARTFORD, CT — The town's retail scene will enter a new phase Monday, July 31, when the first legal recreational cannabis sales operation in West Hartford will officially open.

BUDR Cannabis, a new company, is opening a store at 1037 Boulevard in a busy section of West Hartford, where the site last was a Subway sandwich shop and a Dunkin' Donuts.

A grand opening celeberation, complete with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and local dignitaries, is slated for 8 a.m. Monday, with the store opening for business at 9 a.m.

In 2021, the Connecticut state legislature voted to legalize recreational marijuana and cannabis-based sales operations.

For much of 2022 into this year, communities in the state have been grappling with how to handle this new type of operation.

Some communities have adopted strict zoning regulations against legal cannabis sales, citing concerns with the effects of such an operation on the community.

Others, such as West Hartford, have legalized such facilities in town, citing added tax revenue and business development as a reason to welcome them.

And still other towns are debating the pros and cons of such facilities in their communities.

BUDR (pronounced "budder") was founded by Carl Tirella Jr. and Derrick Gibbs and both had their start in the cannabis industry within medical marijuana uses.

When Connecticut legalized recreational, adult-use marijuana, the duo opted to partner up and use their knowledge of cannabis to open BUDR.

West Hartford will be BUDR's first location to open, with plans ongoing to open shops in Danbury and Westbrook as well.

For more information on BUDR Cannabis, click on this link.

For site information on 1037 Boulevard, West Hartford, click on this link.