The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) is encouraging qualifying Social Equity Applicants to proceed in the application review process for Cultivators in a Disproportionately Impacted Area (DIA).
“Thank you to the Social Equity Council for their work in taking this important step in the licensure process for cannabis businesses,” DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull said. “DCP will review background checks for those applicants who received a vote of approval from the Council. Provisional licenses will be granted once the background checks are complete and selected applicants have submitted the required information and related fees. Licensees will then be able to move forward with setting up their business and applying for a final license.”
DCP Department was notified that 16 applications were approved by the Social Equity Council for satisfactorily meeting the requirements approved by the General Assembly to qualify for the DIA Cultivator license type solely available to Social Equity applicants.
“These important steps mean Connecticut cannabis cultivation will be primarily operated by people from those communities identified as disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs, who qualified as Social Equity Applicants,” Gov. Ned Lamont said. “While there is still a lot of work to be done, we are establishing Connecticut as a leader in addressing the inequities and injustices caused by cannabis prohibition. We are ensuring those communities most harmed have an opportunity to be leaders in this newly regulated industry.”
Cannabis was approved for adult use in June 2021, officials noted, adding adult-use cannabis retail sales are anticipated to begin in the state near the end of this year.