While final legislative approval is still needed, medical marijuana growers are lining up to file applications to become one of a handful of providers the state is expected to license in the coming months. Currently, a half-dozen Connecticut communities have buildings with lease deals in place with purveyors of pot.
Biltin Advanced Propogation will lease 40,000 square feet of space at One Hartford Square in New Britain if they receive their license.
Erik Williams, chief operating officer, says “we’ve gone and identified, from existing patients right now, over 150 different strains that are being used legally by medical marijuana patients right now that we expect will be donated the day that we get our licenses.”
Vacant space in West Haven, Bridgeport, Waterbury, Watertown and Middletown is also being targeting by marijuana growers, who will commit to long term leases if they receive their licenses from the State Department of Consumer Protection.
Middletown’s historic Remington Rand Building has a marijuana grower ready to lease 15,000 square feet, which has received mixed reviews from tenants.
Jerry Fenerty, president of ID Mail Systems, and a 13-year tenant of the Remington Rand, noted, “given that the laws have changed and this is now a legal activity in Connecticut, i don’t really have a problem with it and we look forward to having good neighbors.”
Dimitri Moore, of Fat City Cycles, is concerned.
“If pot was to be grown here, I mean, people could be trying to get into the building, you know. It could lead into people trying to break in all the time. More people like lingering here,” said Moore.