I’m standing in the middle of a parking lot in Hartford, and the air smells like a skunk had a party in a lawnmower. Welcome to Connecticut, 2026. Not that long ago, buying marijuana in this state felt like a secret mission. Now? It’s as common as buying a coffee, but the drama is just getting started this year. If you’re trying to keep up with the "Green Rush," buckle up. … [Read more...] about THE CT GREEN SCENE: What it looks like so far for 2026
CT Weed
High Times, Higher Taxes? Connecticut Lawmakers Eye a Cannabis Tax Glow-Up
Connecticut lawmakers are considering a change that could reshape how recreational cannabis gets taxed — and it starts with House Bill 5109 (HB 5109).The proposal would ditch the state’s current potency-based system — where products are taxed based on how much THC they contain — and replace it with a straightforward excise tax tied to the sale price. The bill, formally titled … [Read more...] about High Times, Higher Taxes? Connecticut Lawmakers Eye a Cannabis Tax Glow-Up
Welcome To Connecticut, The Velvet Rope Dispensary State
There I was — thumb numb, brain half-fried — doing what any responsible adult does after coffee in the mornig: doom-scrolling through cannabis Twitters and industry feeds looking for something between enlightenment and blood pressure spikes. And then I hit it. A graphic showing Northeast cultivator rankings. Vermont sitting up top with nearly 400 licensed growers. New … [Read more...] about Welcome To Connecticut, The Velvet Rope Dispensary State
From Big Macs to Big Meds — Meriden’s Old Diner May Become a Pot Shop
Meriden could soon welcome its third legal cannabis retailer. Stamford-based Curaleaf Hartford, in partnership with Hamden’s CJC Enterprises, has filed plans to open a retail cannabis store at 443 South Broad Street, the former site of the Green Olive Diner.The building, roughly 3,800 square feet and once a McDonald’s with a drive-through, would be refreshed for both medical … [Read more...] about From Big Macs to Big Meds — Meriden’s Old Diner May Become a Pot Shop
Fine Fettle Levels Up
Connecticut cannabis operator Fine Fettle is expanding access by converting all nine of its dispensaries into hybrid locations serving both medical patients and adult-use customers. The change, effective January 15, 2026, comes as the state’s medical program has faced declining enrollment since recreational sales began in 2023.The move allows Fine Fettle to improve convenience, … [Read more...] about Fine Fettle Levels Up
Puff, Puff, Closed: Danbury Reminds Vape Shops That “Almost Legal” Is Still Illegal
Two Danbury smoke shops learned the hard way that Connecticut’s cannabis laws do not leave much room for creative interpretation. State regulators ordered Cali Exotic Convenience and Star Rose Smoke Shop to shut their doors after investigators alleged the businesses were selling illegal cannabis products. The enforcement action is part of the state’s ongoing effort to rein … [Read more...] about Puff, Puff, Closed: Danbury Reminds Vape Shops That “Almost Legal” Is Still Illegal
Connecticut’s Cannabis Taxes are High on Complexity and Low on Results
Connecticut’s legal cannabis market was supposed to be a steady new revenue stream and a clean break from prohibition-era chaos. Instead, as 2026 begins, the state’s cannabis tax structure is looking less like a smart policy and more like a bureaucratic buzzkill.The core issue is Connecticut’s reliance on a potency-based tax system. Rather than taxing cannabis simply as a … [Read more...] about Connecticut’s Cannabis Taxes are High on Complexity and Low on Results
Paging Dr. Weed: The Waiting Room Is Empty
Connecticut’s medical marijuana program is quietly experiencing an awkward moment — the kind where the music is still playing, the lights are on, but half the party has already left. Once the backbone of the state’s cannabis system, the medical program is seeing a steady and significant drop in registered patients, echoing the same pattern that’s played out recently in New … [Read more...] about Paging Dr. Weed: The Waiting Room Is Empty
Connecticut Startup Unveils Fast-Acting Hemp Seltzers for a New Kind of Social Buzz
A Connecticut-based company, Hi People, has launched a new line of hemp-derived THC and CBG-infused seltzers designed to offer a smooth, fast-acting alternative to alcohol. Founded in Derby, the brand is expanding across the state with new storefronts coming soon to Hartford and New Haven. Crafted Flavors with Real Ingredients Hi People’s beverages come in three distinct … [Read more...] about Connecticut Startup Unveils Fast-Acting Hemp Seltzers for a New Kind of Social Buzz
Connecticut Marijuana Prices are WAY Higher Than Massachusetts
As of mid‑2025, the average cost of marijuana in Connecticut far exceeds that in Massachusetts—with a gram costing $9.46 in Connecticut compared to $3.31 in Massachusetts.Economists and industry analysts suggest that the roughly six‑year head start in Massachusetts’s recreational cannabis market, legalized in 2016, has enabled greater product supply and competition—factors that … [Read more...] about Connecticut Marijuana Prices are WAY Higher Than Massachusetts
