Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

December 12, 2018

State regulator assigns 9 marijuana licenses

PHOTO | Theraplant LLC Medical marijuana.
By Joe Cooper

Connecticut's crop of licensed medical marijuana dispensaries will double in the coming months, according to state officials.

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP), the overseer of the state's medical marijuana program, on Tuesday named nine new facilities that will be licensed under the nearly three-year-old program.

DCP said it will award licenses to producers in Newington, Meriden, New Haven, Stamford, Mansfield, Groton, Torrington, Westport and Windham.

The new licenses will be awarded to dispensaries upon payment of their license fee and submission of final documents required in the next two weeks. Upon receipt of their licenses, facilities are expected begin construction and open as soon as possible, DCP officials said.

In total, the medical marijuana program will have 18 dispensary facilities and four producers as licensed facilities with the program.

Tuesday's approval comes months after DCP issued a request for applications (RFA) in early 2018 seeking three to 10 new dispensary facilities. The nine new dispensaries were chosen from 73 applications received by DCP.

Founded in Jan. 2016, and approved by state lawmakers in 2012, the program now has 30,448 patients registered, 32 conditions approved for adults and eight for patients under 18, and more than 1,000 certified prescribers.

DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull said her department has "thoughtfully expanded" the program since it launched with just 11 conditions that qualified adults for medication.

"This medication has improved the quality of life for tens of thousands of patients," said Seagull, adding the program will expand in coming years.

Ahead of Tuesday's announcement, DCP in October launched a new database listing marijuana brands registered with DCP and added chronic neuropathic pain from degenerative spinal disorders as a condition warranting acceptance in the program.

Meantime, legalizing recreational marijuana is one of the top priorities for progressive Democrats in the upcoming 2019 legislative session. Gov.-elect Ned Lamont campaigned this year on legalizing pot for recreational use for its tax revenue benefits.

In southern Connecticut, new licenses will be awarded to the following:

Groton: GR Vending CT LLC, 78 Plaza Court

Meriden: Willow Brook Wellness LLC, 1371 East Main St.

New Haven: Affinity Health & Wellness Inc.,1351 Whalley Ave.

Stamford: Arrow Alternative Care, 806 East Main St.

Westport: Bluepoint Wellness of Westport LLC, 1460 Post Road East

Sign up for Enews

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF