Three Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), recently advised three producers of medical cannabis that they would be granted an extended producer license. This will enable them to produce both adult-use and medical cannabis. 

Michelle H. Seagull (DCP Commissioner) stated that this was one final step towards the establishment of a market for DCP products sometime in next year. “The Department’s priority is to have a safe, well-regulated marketplace for consumers,” said Seagull. “I am grateful to the Drug Control and Legal teams at DCP who have worked—and continue to work—tirelessly, since the passage of the law, toward a safe and successful market opening.”

Connecticut law states that sales can’t begin until 250,000 square feet of growing and manufacturing space is approved for adult-use. In a press release from the DCP, the department said that cannabis sales can’t proceed until the state’s four medical cannabis producers and cultivators have been approved. The department currently includes Connecticut Pharmaceutical Solutions LLC, Advanced Grow Labs LLC, Curaleaf LLC. Theraplant received a further application in November 10. The DCP has begun reviewing the application to convert its license.

Additionally, seven medical cannabis dispensaries also received confirmation that they’ve met the criteria for conversion to a hybrid cannabis license, however these do not contribute to the minimum 250,000 square footage requirement that will allow sales to begin.

Connecticut’s governor, Ned Lamont signed a bill to legalize recreational cannabis in June 2021. The Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont signed the June 2021 bill legalizing recreational marijuana. Since then, the DCP continues to grow its department in order to keep up with the growing demand of the industry. There are now 38 Drug Control and Legal Divisions officers, and many business licenses were approved. This includes nine provisional cultivator and micro-cultivation licenses as well as 27 retail licenses.

One month after Lamont had signed the bill, Connecticut officials created a website offering information and education about cannabis to answer any questions residents might have. Already in September there was a expectation that the sales would be delayed. “We’ve been suggesting that there will likely be sales by the end of 2022, and we’re still aspiring for that. Obviously, we have to see how things play out in the next few months,” Seagull said in September 2021. “It’s really important to us that we preserve the medical marketplace that currently does exist. It’s important to us that that market, which is working well and helping a lot of people, doesn’t get swallowed up.”

More than 15,000 dispensary application were filed in May with the hope that Connecticut will soon be selling marijuana. Also, Gov. Lamont, a governor of New Jersey signed earlier this year legislation to deal with the continuing practice of cannabis gifting in gray areas.

Most recently in September, the state launched a new educational campaign “to promote responsible cannabis use by adults.” “Protecting public health and safety includes providing people with the tools and knowledge to make informed decisions to keep their families safe,” said Lamont about the campaign. “We’re working to educate the public about the steps they can take to protect themselves and their families from accidental ingestion and over-consumption. We encourage adults who choose to use these products to do so responsibly.”

According to 2022 MJBiz Factbook Connecticut could make up to $250m in sales the first year, and $750m the second year.

Connecticut is one of New York’s eastern neighbors, and news of Connecticut’s progress arrived just one day after the New York Office of Cannabis Management announced its first round of license approvals. This included 28 “justice-involved individuals” and eight non-profit organizations. New York Governor. Kathy Hochul says that New York Gov.