Connecticut Receives More Than 37k Cannabis Industry Applications for 56 Licenses

Connecticut has received more than 37,000 applications for 56 cannabis industry licenses with the deadline for applications passing last week, the Hartford Courant reports. Most of the applications are for licenses in underrepresented communities. 

The Department of Consumer Protection received 13,806 applications for the general lottery and 23,487 applications for the social equity licenses. In all, 15,606 applications across both license types were for retail businesses. The 56 licenses will be split evenly between general and social-equity businesses. Regulators will approve 12 retail licenses, four each for micro-cultivators and co-located adult-use and medical use retailers; 10 each for delivery and food and beverage businesses; six each for packaging and manufacturers; and four for transporters. 

Michelle Bodian, a lawyer at the cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg, told the Courant that the state made nearly $1 million in application fees in the first lottery round. Fees in the state range from $128 to $750, the report says.  

The state’s social equity council is set to meet on July 12 and will select applications that meet the state’s social equity criteria; those not selected will be moved to the general lottery.   

Connecticut legalized cannabis for adult use last year and has since banned retail gifting as the state moves forward with the application process. Future lottery rounds are expected later in the summer or early fall.