HARTFORD, Conn. — Sixteen companies have qualified as cannabis cultivators that will operate in areas of the state disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs, said state officials.
The state established the Social Equity Council, to encourage the participation in the cannabis industry by people from communities disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition. The legislation allows for companies in "disproportionately impacted areas" (DIA), areas in the state that have either a historical conviction rate for drug-related offenses greater than one-tenth, or an unemployment rate greater than ten percent to participate in a separate license for cultivation.
Companies that aren't in DIAs will take part in another lottery.
Over 40 companies submitted applications for review. The companies that met the requirements outlined by the state are:
- CT Plant Based Compassionate Care LLC
- Insa CT, LLC
- Shangri-La Dispensary
- Soulstar CT, LLC
- Nova Farms Connecticut LLC
- The Flower House LLC
- FFD 149 LLC
- The Yard Connecticut LLC
- Quinnipiac Valley Growth Partners, LLC
- Impact Initiatives LLC
- MariMed CTP LLC
- Connecticut Cultivation Solutions, LLC
- FRC Holdings LLC
- River Growers CT LLC
- Connecticut Social Equity, LLC
- The Cannabis Garden LLC
The companies will have to submit additional information for the required background check. The review of the applications is expected to take several weeks. At that time, the qualifying applicants will have to pay the fees and move forward with the next phase of licensure, including establishing their business in a DIA for operation.
Doug Stewart is a digital content producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at dstewart@fox61.com.
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