NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Some cannabis products might be hard to find in Connecticut, but the state is hopeful that more may be on the horizon.

There is “a limited variety of certain products” available, a Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection spokesperson confirmed to News 8 on Tuesday.

The department is monitoring the situation, stating that “as a new agricultural industry, there are natural fluctuations to supply and demand.” A boost in purchases over the holidays also depleted the supply.

An additional 1,171 products have received brand registration approval since November and are expected to be in stores soon. Another 11 cultivators and five micro cultivators are also close to receiving licenses, adding a “significant pipeline,” according to the department.

At Venu Flower Collective in Middletown, they’ve only been able to get half of the products they typically do, and they said it’s impacting sales.

“It’s good there’s this kind of demand, but it’s tough being in this kind of position,” said Venu General Manager John Healey. “We’re the face of how cannabis is being run in Connecticut, so customers come in and expect to see a large variety and quantity of product, and they come in and see not as many options, and they’re like, why?”

Some retailers like Fine Fettle said they’ve emailed customers telling them there are limited products available to stock their shelves. 

Healey said the quantity of Venu’s shipments has plummeted.

“Like 50 to 60% easily, which makes things very difficult. I mean, there are sometimes we’d get the quantity of 30, and we get ten now,” said Healey. 

According to the Department of Consumer Protection, the state hit $144 million in sales since the start of adult-use sales last January, resulting in over $22 million in tax revenue. Still, the shortage due to the holiday demand slowed sales.

DCP said more than 1100 products received brand registration approval from the drug control division since November, which are expected to hit stores in the coming weeks.

DCP said they are also working with 16 new cultivators working toward their final license approvals. There are currently six sites growing products in Connecticut.

In a statement to News 8, DCP said, “This is a significant pipeline of cultivation facilities that we expect will surpass retail demands in the state. Additional cultivation will alleviate concerns about product availability.”

In the last year, 21 dispensaries have opened, with only one new cultivation site. Healey said hopefully, the new sites will get approval soon.

“We can’t sell their crop until they are in that final stage. Until that happens, we are dealing with a bunch of people going to the same source because everything has to be grown in state,” Healey said.

For dispensaries that sell both adult and medical-use marijuana, they said their priority is orders for medical-use customers.

H/T: WTNH