Sunday, January 05, 2025

2 Years In, CT Legal Cannabis Isn't the Desired Cash Cow

Two years ago, the first legal recreational cannabis was sold in Connecticut. There were, on Jan. 10, 2023, nine stores selling cannabis to anyone over age 18. There are now 31 recreational cannabis shops in Connecticut ...

Posted by LampLighter at 01:31 PM | 15 COMMENTS | permalink

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Interview | Rino Ferrarese Talks Connecticut Cannabis #ctnewsjunkie #ctpolitics

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-- CTNewsJunkie (@ctnewsjunkie.bsky.social) January 4, 2025 at 3:34 PM

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More from the article ...

... "As we mark the two-year anniversary of adult-use cannabis in Connecticut, we recognize the progress made toward fostering a safe, regulated way for adults to purchase cannabis in our communities," said Department of Consumer Protection Deputy Commissioner Shirley Skyers-Thomas.

But while there has been growth, some industry insiders say that it has not been as strong as it might have been. Sales of medical cannabis have decreased month-over-month, despite "medical preservation plans" every supplier was told to file.

The top for medical cannabis sales was three months after recreational cannabis began in March, 2023, when there were nearly $13 million in medical cannabis sales. In November, that number had dropped to below $7 million.

"The medical market is going to naturally die when adult use programs happen," said Rino Ferrarese, manager and partner at Affinity Grow, one of the few large-scale suppliers to open since recreational sales began two years ago. "You just naturally see there's this attrition from the medical program" to recreational.

Connecticut cannabis is not sold in a bubble. If a consumer can't find what they want in the shop down the block, they need only travel across the border to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York or New Jersey. There, a consumer might find cheaper cannabis, a better selection of products, a friendlier atmosphere, or all of the above. ...


#1 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-01-05 12:55 AM


@#1 ... Connecticut cannabis is not sold in a bubble. If a consumer can't find what they want in the shop down the block, they need only travel across the border to Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York or New Jersey. ...

I enjoy listening to a ~local~ adult alternative music station (as I have mentioned in prior comments, www.1071thepeak.com ). Advertisers on that station have been the cannabis shops in NY, with home delivery!

While I do not partake, I can see why they chose that demographic for their advertising.


#2 | Posted by LampLighter at 2025-01-05 01:02 AM

Two years ago was too late to cash in. Even in CO where it started, cannabis sales are down significantly. In CO the early surge in sales was due to about 60 percent sales to tourists. Now that so much of the rest of the country has it legalized, those revenues have disappeared.

I also partake. But I haven't really purchased any in years. Here in CO, there is so much of it floating around that I don't know why anyone buys it. And just for the fun of it I grow a couple of good plants a year. It's no harder to grow than tomato's. If I didn't like some variety, one plant could easily provide me with a 5 year supply.

#3 | Posted by Whatsleft at 2025-01-05 04:08 PM

If we add in the savings to government expenses, as well as Cannabis income, the plus value for States which legalize, carries much more weight.

Consider this:
Less police wasted time in arrests and incarceration of taxpayers who use Cannabis.
Tremendous savings to the Judicial Branch. Courts are relieved of the burden of petty weed trials in both time and expense. This frees Courts dockets and allows more important trials to be speedy.
Less lost time from User's employment.
Less family trauma and disruption.
Less crime.
Less Law Enforcement opportunity for criminal corruption.

Profits at the dispensary checkout counter are not the only financial measures which benefit States that legalize the devil weed.

#4 | Posted by Wardog at 2025-01-05 04:48 PM

#4

I agree that the profit to the states in sales is only part of the story but I would love to see some numbers. Not that I disagree with any of your points and long argued for legalization not for profit but for a reduction in harm that marijuana laws cause. However the cost savings should be looked at for the states that are still weighing legalization and also to prevent a roll back of the progress made.

A study that looked at court case loads, police effectiveness, child welfare etc. would really be useful.

#5 | Posted by TaoWarrior at 2025-01-05 05:06 PM

#4,#5
Even back in the 80's and 90's, we rarely made arrests for personal use quantities of cannabis. It pretty much had to rise to the level of felony trafficking or invollve children before we bothered with enforcement action.

More commonly, an arrested drug dealer would be distributing weed along with meth, cocaine and or heroin (street dealers diversify). That would get our attention, but even then we'd see the same guys back on the same corner a week later, because they would plea out to the lesser offense of simple possession In exchange for dropping the felony charges.

When you see a story about people doing time for minor offenses, realize that minor offense is likely not representative of the crime they were originally accused of. Nearly all convictions are the result of plea bargains.. trafficking become possession with intent to distribute, Distribution becomes possession, Robbery becomes petit theft, Burglary becomes Trespass, Aggravated Battery becomes simple assault, etc. Actual trials are rare.

#6 | Posted by Miranda7 at 2025-01-05 09:14 PM

This can't be true... Harris' grand idea was to give black people forgiveable loans to start more of these businesses. Tony said she was a great candidate, so I can't believe this story is true.

#7 | Posted by kwrx25 at 2025-01-05 09:41 PM

Biden should legalize it on his way out.

#8 | Posted by chuffy at 2025-01-05 09:45 PM

MAGAt, you voted for the rapist who bankrupted multiple casinos.

#9 | Posted by reinheitsgebot at 2025-01-05 09:46 PM

Chuffy managing to find a way to do something nice while also doing it in the most pathetic way possible.

#10 | Posted by sitzkrieg at 2025-01-06 09:49 AM

If we add in the savings to government expenses, as well as Cannabis income, the plus value for States which legalize, carries much more weight.

Consider this:
Less police wasted time in arrests and incarceration of taxpayers who use Cannabis.
Tremendous savings to the Judicial Branch. Courts are relieved of the burden of petty weed trials in both time and expense. This frees Courts dockets and allows more important trials to be speedy.
Less lost time from User's employment.
Less family trauma and disruption.
Less crime.
Less Law Enforcement opportunity for criminal corruption.

Profits at the dispensary checkout counter are not the only financial measures which benefit States that legalize the devil weed.

The why not expand it to all recreational intoxicants?

#11 | Posted by MBlue at 2025-01-07 11:53 AM

The why not expand it to all recreational intoxicants?

#11 | POSTED BY MBLUE

They tried that in Oregon. It didn't work. Because of the Humans. We are not very Sapien.

#12 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-01-07 12:00 PM

They tried that in Oregon. It didn't work. Because of the Humans. We are not very Sapien.
No, Oregon just decriminalized. They didn't provide a source of tested, known strength of substances that are taxed and regulated.
There is a big difference.

#13 | Posted by MBlue at 2025-01-07 12:23 PM

Re 13.

Yup

Like I said. Not very sapien about it. Which is why it failed. They fundamentally misunderstood the nature of addiction. And human nature.

#14 | Posted by donnerboy at 2025-01-07 12:28 PM

I am for legalizing Marijuana but I am sick and tired of it in public. Getting a contact buzz following cars is an every other day thing I experienced only once or twice before legalization here.

#15 | Posted by GalaxiePete at 2025-01-07 12:33 PM

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