Consumer Protection Provides Update on Medical Marijuana License Conversion Process

Several medical marijuana businesses have successfully completed license conversion process for adult-use cannabis market

HARTFORD — The Department of Consumer Protection has notified three existing medical marijuana producers that they have completed the necessary steps to receive an expanded producer license to serve both the medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis markets.

“The Department’s priority is to have a safe, well-regulated marketplace for consumers,” said DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull. “I am grateful to the Drug Control and Legal teams at DCP who have worked — and continue to work — tirelessly, since the passage of the law, toward a safe and successful market opening.”

While adult-use sales are still anticipated to begin around the end of the year or early next year, the law requires at least 250,000 square feet of growing and manufacturing space in the aggregate be approved for adult-use production before retail sales can begin at converted hybrid retailers.

Given this threshold, the start of adult-use cannabis sales relies on the successful conversion of all four existing medical marijuana producers or additional cultivation to come online.

DCP received the fourth producer conversion application on Nov. 10, 2022, and the Department is working with the applicant to review the necessary components for a successful conversion.

The following Medical Marijuana Producers have been notified that they successfully completed the necessary steps for conversion to serve the adult-use market in addition to the medical market:

Several medical marijuana dispensary facilities have also completed the necessary steps for conversion to hybrid retailers and many others have submitted applications for conversion. Although the start of adult-use sales does not rely on a minimum threshold for converted hybrid retailers, they cannot begin selling to the adult-use market until there is sufficient production available.

The following Medical Marijuana Dispensaries have been notified that they successfully completed the necessary steps for conversion to a hybrid license:

Cannabis was approved for adult-use in June 2021. Since then, the Department of Consumer Protection has worked aggressively to move toward the opening of a regulated cannabis marketplace.

Key Facts and Statistics

• DCP has hired 38 people across its Drug Control and Legal divisions to stand up the program, and 24 additional positions are being added within the next year.
• DCP has issued 9 provisional licenses to Cultivators Located in a Disproportionately Impacted Area.
• DCP has issued 17 provisional licenses for Equity Joint Venture retailers.
• DCP has issued 10 provisional licenses for retailers selected through the Social Equity and General lotteries.
• DCP has issued 2 provisional licenses for Equity Joint Venture micro-cultivators.
• DCP has issued 4 provisional licenses to micro-cultivators selected through the Social Equity and General lotteries.
• The license status for selected applicants is available in the state’s public eLicense database.
• Additional statistics and documents related to the application process are available at ct.gov/cannabis. Additional documents, such as application materials, will continue to be posted as they become available.
• The lottery and review process is outlined at ct.gov/cannabis.

Timeline

• July 1, 2021 — The law legalizing adult-use cannabis becomes effective, creating an independent Social Equity Council, and empowering the Department of Consumer Protection to move forward with setting up and regulating the adult-use cannabis marketplace.
• August 2021 — The Social Equity Council members are appointed, and the Council holds its first meeting. While the Council is an independent office, DCP has continued to work closely with the newly formed council as the council approves social equity status for applicants.
• Oct. 1, 2021 — DCP published the first Policies and Procedures for the Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis. Those policies and procedures have since been updated to include additional regulations as development of the industry continues.
• November 2021 — DCP selected a vendor for the Cannabis Seed-to-Sale Tracking System.
• January 4, 2022 — DCP announced the application periods for lottery applications and for Cultivators located in a Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA), which was a non-lottery application period, as well as the opening application date for Equity Joint Venture and Medical Marijuana conversion applications.
• Feb. 3, 2022 — The application periods for lottery applications begins to open on a rolling basis through March 24. The application periods were open for 90 days each and closed on a rolling basis according to when the period opened for each license type.
• Feb. 3, 2022 — The three-month non-lottery application period for DIA Cultivators opens. The conversion application for medical marijuana businesses also became available on this date and was not subject to a limited time.
• May 4, 2022 – June 22, 2022 — Application periods close on a rolling basis based on the date on which the applications became available. The Department received tens of thousands of applications. The total number of lottery applications received by the department for each license type is available at ct.gov/cannabis.
• July 12, 2022 — The Social Equity Council approved 16 DIA Cultivator applications. DCP received notice of those approvals and announced the names of the applicants on July 19, 2022.
• July 2022 – Present — The Social Equity Council continues to review and approve or deny social equity status for lottery and non-lottery applicants. General lotteries can only be completed by DCP once a full tranche of applicants has received social equity status in a given license category.
• August 26, 2022 — DCP receives approved social equity lottery applicants for Retailer and Micro-cultivator licenses.
• September 21, 2022 — DCP launches public education campaign on responsible cannabis consumption.
• September 22, 2022 — DCP announces Retailer and Micro-cultivator applicants selected in general lottery.
• October 5, 2022 — DCP receives approved social equity lottery applicants for Product Packager licenses.
• October 28, 2022 — DCP receives approved social equity lottery applicants for Product Manufacturer and Transporter licenses.
• November 10, 2022 – DCP receives fourth producer conversion application.
• November 21, 2022 – DCP announces Product Packager and Transporter applicants selected in general lottery.
• November 22, 2022 – DCP receives social equity lottery applicants for Food and Beverage Manufacturer and Delivery Service licenses.

For more information about Adult-Use Cannabis, visit ct.gov/cannabis.