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Fine Fettle has a location in Bristol.
Fine Fettle has a location in Bristol.
BRISTOL — Fine Fettle has converted all nine of its Connecticut dispensaries to hybrid facilities, allowing each location to serve both registered medical marijuana patients and adult-use customers under a recent change in state law.
“This change allows us to continue fulfilling our mission of accessible, compassionate care while strengthening the state’s medical program,” Benjamin Zachs, chief operating officer of Fine Fettle, said. “By bringing all of our locations under a hybrid model, we can serve patients and customers alike — without sacrificing the quality, expertise and personal touch that define Fine Fettle. In many regions where we operate, there have not been options for medical patients to increase access. We’re changing that.”
According to the company, the Newington dispensary will see no operational changes, as it has already been operating as a hybrid location. The same is true for Fine Fettle locations in Bristol, Stamford and Willimantic. However, dispensaries in Manchester, Norwalk, Old Saybrook, Waterbury and West Hartford were previously limited to recreational sales and are now able to serve medical patients.
Company officials said the expansion is aimed at improving access for medical cannabis patients, particularly in areas where options were limited. Medical patients at hybrid locations will be able to purchase stronger medical-only products, pay lower prices and avoid state taxes applied to adult-use cannabis.
For medical patients, the company said the biggest changes will be increased access and availability. Each hybrid location now includes a dedicated medical register and access to a licensed pharmacist either in person or remotely during all operating hours.
By law, hybrid dispensaries must provide pharmacist access at all times.
“At minimum, each store will have one pharmacist on site for a contiguous eight hours per week and remote access covering 100% of hours open,” Zachs said.
Patients will be able to ask questions, receive consultations and discuss medical needs either at the register or in a private consultation space.
The hybrid conversion follows changes to Connecticut cannabis law passed last year. The legislation allows recreational dispensaries to convert to hybrid operations and permits pharmacists to conduct patient verification and private consultations remotely, rather than being physically present at all times.
“In last year’s law change to RERACA, the legislature allowed for recreational facilities to convert to hybrid facilities starting October 1 and gave the opportunity for operators to have a pharmacist completing remote verification and remote private consultation with patients, versus physically in store at all times,” Zachs explained. “Having a plethora of pharmacists at our disposal, this allowed us to build a schedule to give coverage across not just four, but all nine stores, and expand medical access by converting the five recreational-only stores to hybrid.”
Fine Fettle said it spent roughly six months preparing for the conversion. The process included multiple state inspections, updates to standard operating procedures, new technology systems, staffing changes and scheduling to ensure pharmacist coverage across all locations.
“This took much planning, including figuring out remote verification, 15 inspections, new standard operating procedures, purchase and usage of brand new technology and more,” he recalled. “Yes, there were definitely some affiliated costs on build out, technology and staffing, but we think it’s worth it for the betterment of Connecticut’s medical marijuana patients and program.”
Medical patients will continue to receive tax-free pricing and access to medical-only products. The company also announced promotional discounts for new medical patients, including reduced pricing on their first three purchases within a set time frame.
“This is about efficiency and equity,” Zachs added. “Patients shouldn’t have to travel far for care or be stuck with limited options. With this model, we can responsibly serve both patients and customers while keeping Connecticut’s medical community strong. We thank the legislature and DCP for helping us make this happen.”
Fine Fettle operates medical and adult-use cannabis dispensaries in Connecticut, Massachusetts and Georgia.
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