Description
A person that is licensed may incorporate cannabis into foods or beverages as an ingredient.
Requirements
Eligible applicants must meet all licensing requirements as outlined in Section 21a-420w of the general statutes, the Department’s policies and procedures, and all other relevant state and local laws and regulations.
Businesses that manufacture and sell food products, including bakeries, frozen desserts, and non-alcoholic beverages/cider in the state are licensed by the Department of Consumer Protection Food and Standards Program.
Please contact the Food and Standards Program for guidance on what may be required by the state to manufacture food and beverages.
IMPORTANT: All individuals that are identified as backers associated with the cannabis establishment application must also complete a backer application before the close of the application window to ensure they are considered as part of the application.
Documentation Requirements
- Initial Application Checklist - General Lottery
- Initial Application Checklist - Social Equity Lottery
- Initial Application Checklist - Equity Joint Venture or Social Equity Partner
- Backer Application Checklist - Social Equity Applicant
- Backer Application Checklist - non-Social Equity Applicant
Application Fees
| General | Social Equity | |
| Lottery | $250 | $125 |
| Provisional | $1,000 | $500 |
| Final License | $5,000 | $2,500 |
Most Common Licensing Pathway: Lottery
Lottery Application Period
Multiple lotteries for food and beverage manufacturer licenses will be held. DCP will announce the number of available licenses and the duration of the application period before each application period.
Lottery Round 1 - CLOSED
Application Open Date: 12:01 a.m. EST, March 3, 2022
Application Close Date: 11:59 p.m. EST, June 1, 2022
Only complete applications submitted and paid for by 11:59 p.m. on the closing date will be considered.
Number of Applications for this License Type Allocated through the Lottery
Lottery Round 1: 5 general licenses, 5 Social Equity licenses
Future lottery rounds will be announced. Please check back at a later date.
Licensing Pathways Not Subject to the Lottery
These licensing pathways are not subject to the lottery and do not have a closing date for applications:
Application
Apply online at https://elicense.ct.gov/
Applicant and Backer License Limits (Section 21a-420i of the general statutes)
The Department cannot award a license to any applicant selected through the lottery that has two or more licensees of the same type, or in the same license category, or any applicant that includes a backer that has managerial control of or is a backer of two or more licensees of the same type, or in the same license category. Dispensary facility, retailer and hybrid retailer licenses shall be considered to be within the same license category and producer, cultivator and micro-cultivator licenses shall be considered to be within the same license category.
Food and Beverage Manufacturer Expansion to Product Manufacturing
A food and beverage manufacturer may seek authorization to expand the food and beverage manufacturer's authorized activities to include the authorized activities of a product manufacturer. (Section 23(c)(6)(B) and Section 34(g) of Public Act 23-79)
- Expansion Application Fee: $25,000
- Annual Expansion Renewal Fee: $25,000
Product Manufacturer Expansion to Food and Beverage Manufacturing
A product manufacturer may seek authorization to expand the product manufacturer's authorized activities to include the authorized activities of a food and beverage manufacturer. (Section 23(c)(5)(B) and Section 35(g) of Public Act 23-79)
- Expansion Application Fee: $5,000
- Annual Expansion Renewal Fee: $5,000
Reference Pages
- Product Manufacturer Definition
- Chapter 420h
- Public Act 23-79
- Public Act 21-1 (June Spec. Sess.)
- Policies and Procedures
Related Links
Contact Information
- Social Equity Council Questions: sec@ct.gov
- Other Licensing and Application Questions: dcp.cannabis@ct.gov