Dozens of fresh donuts, a steel-drum band and a cadre of enthusiastic employees were on hand Tuesday morning for the first day of recreational cannabis sales at Branford’s RISE Dispensary, one of seven outlets in the state launching the new industry.
Nearly 100 products went on sale inside later in the morning, ranging from $18 pre-rolled cigarettes to $98 vape cartridges containing 831 milligrams of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana products.
RISE, which changed its name from Bluepoint Wellness on Tuesday to mark its move into a new line of business, was one of seven “hybrid” retailers who added adult recreational sales to their medical cannabis businesses on Tuesday. Two more outlets have been approved to open in the coming weeks.
The Branford outlet celebrated with the cutting of a bright-green ribbon and a celebratory mood.
“We’re out here to show people that cannabis is a positive plant that creates connectivity and positivity, more well-being,” said Ben Kovler, CEO of Green Thumb Industries, operator of RISE. The Branford store is one of 77 run by Chicago-based Green Thumb and its first to open for recreational sales in the state.
“We’re excited to convert day one for adult use,” Kovler said. “Everybody’s very excited for this.”
The company has hired more than 100 people statewide in recent months to prepare for recreational sales, with about 70 expected to work at the Branford site, he said.
Green Thumb sees promise in Connecticut’s new industry, Kovler said. “It’s a small population, but it’s a good market and a lot of people here that like to use.”
In a statement, RISE cited annual recreational cannabis sales estimates statewide of $375 million for this year, along with the projection that the industry could generate $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue in its first seven years.
What had yet to appear as of 9 a.m. on Tuesday at RISE were crowds of customers, although sales weren’t scheduled to begin until 10 a.m. Parking spots remained open as media crews and employees milled about in front of the store.
Kovler said that the mid-week, mid-winter, mid-morning opening times would likely keep customer numbers relatively low initially. In addition, cannabis “super-users” were likely already supplied by retailers in neighboring states. Occasional users were likely to stop by after work or on weekends to stock up on cannabis, he added.
At Affinity Health & Wellness on Whalley Avenue, the city of New Haven’s only recreational cannabis retailer thus far, a line of several dozen people had formed by 9:30 a.m. and the parking lot in the small plaza home to the store was jammed. Employees of neighboring business City Beauty resorted to patrolling outside to save some spots for their customers.
Residents of poor neighborhoods like that around Affinity are most likely to benefit from the new industry, said Adam Wood, president of the Connecticut Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.
“This industry is going to create more than 10,000 jobs over the next couple of years, and hundreds of millions in new revenue that will be reinvested in the communities most hard hit by the war on drugs,” Wood said. “Today is historic, but the real story is about the benefits to come that will transform lives and communities.”
Contact Liese Klein at lklein@newhavenbiz.com.
