Connecticut Cannabis License Solutions

Cannabis cultivation is the process of growing cannabis within a regulated environment for the consumption via a medical or adult-use cannabis program. Generally cultivation refers to the agricultural activities associated with the propagation and growing of cannabis. Cannabis processing is when you manufacture finished cannabis products, packaging of dried flowers or manufacture and package cannabis-based products (i.e. extracts, edibles, and topicals). To be able to produce cannabis and cannabis derived products commercially a specific license is required, requirements depend on the state in which you are locating this business.

Currently only medical marijuana patients can grow up to 3 mature plants for personal use within the state of Connecticut. Adults over the age of 21 that don’t hold a medical marijuana card will not be able to cultivate for personal use until July 1st, 2023. To grow cannabis commercially within the state of Connecticut you must obtain a cultivation license from the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. License applications for certain license types were made available as of February 3rd, 2022. Please reach out to the team at Cannabis License Experts to learn more about this application period and how the CLE team can assist your team in this process.

Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection began accepting applications on February 3, 2022 for the following license types: Lottery Applicant’s for adult-use cannabis retailers, cultivators located in a Disproportionately Impacted Area, Equity Joint Ventures, conversion from Medical Marijuana Producer to Expanded Producer, and conversion from Medical Marijuana Dispensary to Hybrid Retailer. Additional application opening dates can be found on the department website linked here.

The first step in obtaining a cannabis retail dispensary license in Connecticut is to apply for a license with Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection. The first application period for this license type opened on February 3rd, 2022 and closes on May 4th, 2022, this application process is a lottery based application meaning that all eligible applicants will have an equal opportunity to be drawn as the license winner. Equity Joint Venture and Social Equity Partner licensing pathways are not subject to the lottery based system and do not have an application closing date. 

A Micro Cultivator license is a specific license issued by Connecticut’s Department of Consumer Protection. This license type allows for the cultivation of cannabis for intended sale in the adult-use AND medical cannabis markets within Connecticut. The license permits between 2,000 and 10,000 square feet of canopy space with the ability to apply for an extension in increments of 5,000 square feet per year. The application period for this license type opened on February 10th,  2022 and will close 90 days from this date, the department anticipates opening a 2nd application period later in 2022.

No, the following licensing paths are not part of the lottery process. Medically licensed producers switching to an expanded producer license. Medically licensed dispensary facilities switching to a hybrid retailer license. Cultivators located in a Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA). Additionally the license application for Social Equity Partners and Equity Joint Ventures will not be subject to the lottery process. 

To receive final licensure the applicant must be able to prove the right to occupy the space it intends on locating the business. During the initial application process and the application lottery it is not required to disclose the establishment’s location.