The Goods THC, led by founder and CEO Gloribel Diaz, is among the newest cannabis cultivators to take root in the state. Inside the 275-287 Homestead Ave. structure—once home to the Hartford Specialty Machine Co.—hundreds of marijuana plants grow in precision-monitored rooms designed to replicate the natural light cycles of the sun. The $10 million transformation of the century-old property is a stark contrast to its industrial origins.
“We kind of built a building inside the building,” Diaz said during a recent tour, explaining how the original brick walls have been covered by sleek gray panels and rooms equipped with cutting-edge technology and security systems.
Homegrown Business with a National Edge
The Goods THC occupies 10,000 square feet within the expansive property, which spans roughly 80,000 square feet in total. Diaz, a Hartford native, acquired the building in 2022 with business partners for $1.7 million and secured a Social Equity license from the state, qualifying due to her roots in Hartford and alignment with equity-focused cannabis reform policies.
The company is preparing for its first harvest this summer and aims to deliver its products to retail shops across Connecticut by fall. As the market continues to grow, Diaz believes The Goods THC is well-positioned for success. The company holds exclusive cultivation rights in Connecticut for two nationally recognized brands—Cookies and Tyson 2.0, the latter backed by boxing legend Mike Tyson. In addition, The Goods THC is developing its own proprietary line of strains tailored specifically to Connecticut consumers, with plans to expand into edibles and cannabis concentrates.
“This isn’t just a cannabis movement—it’s a homegrown movement,” Diaz said. “We chose Hartford because this is our community. We’re building opportunities here.”
Equity, Representation, and Resilience
Diaz is not only leading the company as a businesswoman but also breaking barriers in what has long been a male-dominated industry. Despite challenges, she’s determined to pave the way for more women—and especially women of color—to enter the field.
“It’s been tricky, but in a good way,” she said. “I think it’s going to open doors for a lot of people, and even just bring them back to Hartford.”
Kevin Henry, The Goods THC’s chief operating officer, emphasized that Diaz is deeply involved in the company’s day-to-day operations—not just a symbolic figurehead.
“When we talk about social equity, this is the real deal,” Henry said. “She’s active. She’s leading.”
That commitment was especially evident when Diaz, just two weeks after giving birth, returned to the facility to oversee operations.
“I just want to make sure everything is running,” she said.
Revitalizing Homestead Avenue
The launch of The Goods THC aligns with a broader city-led effort to revitalize the Homestead Avenue Corridor. Mayor Arunan Arulampalam’s administration is spearheading the initiative, which aims to reconnect Hartford’s North End with economic opportunity and quality housing.
The city is in the process of acquiring several nearby properties from Trinity Health of New England for $1.6 million to support the redevelopment effort. The plan envisions a mix of affordable housing and commercial activity, in part to support the Hartline—a 7-mile pedestrian and cycling trail designed to link Hartford’s Riverside Park with Bloomfield.
“We’re trying to create something substantial,” Arulampalam said. “A mixed-use community that brings back the vibrancy this area once had.”
A Growing Industry Facing Growing Pains
Connecticut’s recreational cannabis market, legalized in 2023, has grown more gradually than in some neighboring states. Regulators have taken a cautious approach to avoid oversaturation, but the limited supply has kept prices high.
As of May, the average retail price for a gram of cannabis flower in Connecticut was $9.98—down from $12.32 in early 2023 but still higher than in nearby Massachusetts. However, with eight recreational cultivators now operational and another dozen awaiting final state approval, more competition and supply may soon help stabilize prices.
Connecticut lawmakers have also enacted tougher penalties for illegal cannabis sales and expanded THC potency caps—measures that both industry leaders and consumers see as steps toward a more competitive and transparent market.
Looking Ahead
The Goods THC expects to employ up to 30 Hartford residents as operations scale up. Diaz’s commitment to job creation, community engagement, and high-quality cannabis products puts her company at the center of two converging narratives: the expansion of a new legal market and the reinvestment in a long-overlooked neighborhood.
“This is about more than cannabis,” Diaz said. “It’s about rebuilding Hartford—one harvest at a time.”
Dabbin-Dad Newsroom
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