ROCKY HILL, Conn. (WFSB) – Dispensaries across Connecticut saw busy traffic Monday as cannabis users celebrated 4/20, while lawmakers discussed legislation that could lower prices in the state.
Connecticut has exceeded $270 million in total cannabis sales in each of the last three years since legal sales began a little more than three years ago.
But many Connecticut residents still drive to Massachusetts, where prices are much cheaper.
“I don’t appreciate the high potency taxes here compared to Mass. CT taxes their bud a lot higher than surrounding areas,” said Adyanna Odom of Hartford, who was buying cannabis products in Connecticut on Monday but usually drives to Massachusetts.
Connecticut has a potency-based tax system, where the tax rate is determined by the specific milligrams of THC in the product. Prices in Connecticut are higher than all three of its neighboring states. Massachusetts, by contrast, has a flat tax rate and is a few years ahead of Connecticut with hundreds more dispensaries, more growers and more competition.
Proposed legislation being discussed at the state Capitol Monday would implement a flat excise tax of just under 11 percent, matching Massachusetts and lowering prices.
“I think it would help the industry, because you wouldn’t have people like me and my friends driving to Mass to get bud. We would stay local,” Odom said.
State Rep. Roland Lemar said the bill would help Connecticut cannabis businesses.
“You have a lot of folks who have invested their life savings, time, energy and work into building these businesses. There are some problems standing in the way of their full success. This bill seems to get some of those burdens out of the way,” Lemar said.
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora said lawmakers could be spending their time elsewhere.
“That’s where their priorities are. I’d rather see more productive job growth for the state of CT than worrying about growing more profits for the marijuana industry,” Candelora said.
Art Linares, owner of Rodeo Cannabis Company in Rocky Hill, said his dispensary has been open 11 days and saw a ton of people come in Monday to celebrate 4/20. His farm is in Morris.
“No more drives to Massachusetts. We use natural sunlight to drive down the cost of making our products so we can offer them here at an affordable price, with quality products,” Linares said.
Linares said he’s happy with where the market is and thinks it will continue to grow as more people try Connecticut products at affordable prices.
The state House is expected to vote on the bill Monday night. If it passes, it heads to the Senate and Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk.
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