The state has announced the names of the first six cannabis retailers moving forward with the licensing process after gaining social equity status.
The state Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) on Friday named six retailers, three equity joint ventures, and two micro-cultivators that recently had their social equity status approved and are moving forward with the licensing process, which includes submitting information for a background check and paying fees before receiving a provisional license.
The retailers are:
- Shangri-La CT Inc., which names Hartford resident Jocelyn Cerda and Missouri resident Kepal Patel as principals
- Botanic Jac LLC, which names Waterford resident Jon Hendel as principal
- Chillax LLC, which names New Jersey resident Niralee Modi as principal
- Jananii LLC, which names Maryland resident Jusmin Patel as principal
- Slap Ash LLC, which names Florida resident Ashley Vaughn and Chicago resident Amanda Ostrowitz as principals
- Divine 1 LLC, which names Pennsylvania resident Dharini Patel as principal
The equity joint ventures are:
- Two for one of the state’s existing medical growers Theraplant LLC
- Budr Hartford Holding LLC, which names Middletown residents Derrick Gibbs and Nancine Crump and New York resident Carl Tirella as principals
The micro-cultivators are:
- Jananii LLC, which names Maryland resident Jusmin Patel as principal
- RAD Holding Corp., which names Hartford resident Shawn Devon Howell and Suffield resident James L. Daddario as principals
According to DCP officials, company background checks are conducted by a third-party processing company and the review of those applications is expected to take several weeks.
The DCP said adult-use cannabis retail sales are expected to begin in the state around the end of 2022.
