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September 22, 2023

Cannabis entrepreneur secures permit for new Elm City retail location

PHOTO | Google Maps 169 East St., New Haven

A long-time registered nurse and entrepreneur secured a special permit this week to open a new cannabis retailer in New Haven.

The City Plan Commission granted the permit to Acreage Connecticut Retail JV LLC for an adult-use cannabis retailer at 169 East St. at its meeting Wednesday, according to Planner Esther Rose-Wilen.

Kebra Smith-Bolden, a nurse who launched her business CannaHealth LLC in 2017, is a principal with Acreage.

“I am very excited about the impact I will have in New Haven,” Smith-Bolden said, on Friday.

PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED
Kebra Smith-Bolden

Plans are to open the new business at the East Street facility in the first quarter of 2024, she said.

Foundry Square LLC owns the property, which is in a light industrial zone, where cannabis retail facilities are allowed by special permit.

Acreage plans to rent the 3,000-square-foot first floor of the commercial building, which will be renovated for the new use.

The business anticipates its hours of operation will be Mondays through Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Fridays through Sundays from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to documents on file with the city.

Through CannaHealth LLC, Smith-Bolden helps people secure medical cannabis certification. CannaHealth also provides cannabis-related education and workshops. The business started in New Haven and now has locations around Connecticut, and in Baltimore, Philadelphia and Washington D.C. Smith-Bolden said she is the first Black woman to open and operate a cannabis business in Connecticut. 

Also Wednesday, the City Plan Commission approved the site plan and coastal site plan for a cannabis retail facility at 1041 State St. The applicant for that facility is David Salinas of Let’s Grow Hartford LLC, which got special permit approval earlier this year.

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