Adult-use recreational marijuana sales begin at locations across Connecticut
STAMFORD, Conn. -- Demand was strong on Tuesday, the first day of recreational cannabis sales in Connecticut.
A handful of medical marijuana dispensaries are now allowed to sell pot products to adults over age 21.
CBS2 spoke with employees and customers as a marijuana market opened in Stamford.
They cut the ribbon at 9:30 a.m. and opened sales at 10 a.m. sharp in a showroom where paraphernalia is on display but all the pot products are kept in a back room.
Dave Novak of Fairfield was the first official adult use cannabis customer at Fine Fettle.
"About two years since they legalized it, I don't know why it takes so long to open these stores, but they did, and I'm happy to be here just be able to pick up some flowers and candy," Novak said.
Others left with vape cartridges or pre-rolled marijuana cigarettes.
Dave Clark drove up from Manhattan.
"I was born and raised in Connecticut, so it's special for me that I'm able to exercise that freedom in my home state," Clark said.
"I'm happy that it's legal, happy that they're finally able to sell it and we can buy it legally," added a woman named Kim from Norwalk.
Fine Fettle opened in 2019 for medical marijuana customers. It's one of seven medical dispensaries now allowed to sell pot products to any adult over 21.
To control crowds, customers pre-order and reserve a pick-up time.
Fine Fettle Stamford opened its online pre-order window Monday at 3 p.m. By midnight, it had processed 500 online orders.
"Connecticut wanted to make sure it happened right, so to make sure, we worked through local zoning, got all of our paperwork, knew how to operate, bring on staff. We're excited to get to this day. We've been planning for 18 months," said Ben Zachs, the company's chief operating officer.
The state says legal pot will mean hundreds of jobs and millions in new tax revenue.
The law legalizing adult use cannabis in Connecticut also expunged 44,000 previous convictions for low-level cannabis possession.
New York launched its first recreational dispensary last month, and New Jersey led the region last April.