Connecticut began its first
recreational marijuana sales on January 10, 2023, with seven initial dispensaries offering recreational marijuana for purchase.

The state saw a huge number of
sales, with over a quarter million
dollars in sales on the first day.
Currently, the state is taxing the
recreational marijuana at a rate
of 20%. The new changes have
had mixed reviews from various
people across the state.
Some medical patients have been complaining about not being able to get their medication due to much of the available product in the state going to the recreational dispensaries.

Several patients have expressed frustration at the fact that since
recreational sales have started, menus at the medical dispensaries have been bare.

A patient that wishes to remain anonymous stated “I have been a patient for several years and never had issues like this in the past.

It is terrible that the state is restricting the growers so much.

Medical patients should be the first priority. Some patients are suffering from terminal illnesses and depend on the

relief they gain from this medication..”

Medical patients have not been able
to get access to the products that they
typically are able to use due to the growers in the state being unable to keep up with the supply and demand.
The state created a lottery system for cultivator licenses which only allowed for four licenses to be issued statewide for cultivators. There were tens of thousands of applications from qualified potential business owners looking to start cultivation businesses, however only four were given licenses. Now, this is creating a statewide marijuana shortage that is heavily impacting those who participate in Connecticut’s medical marijuana
program.

The state needs to allow more licenses to be given to individuals so that they can keep up with supply and demand before the issue escalates further.