Connecticut

Connecticut faces flower shortage

Published

2 years ago

January 23, 2024

Connecticut had a smoking hot year when it comes to cannabis sales. So good that the state’s dispensaries aren’t sitting on much inventory at the moment.

According to a recent report from Cannabis Benchmarks, supplies for both adult-use and medical dispensaries have been shrinking in the state – and prices have risen as a result.

Consumers celebrated the state’s decision to increase the limits on cannabis purchases as of Dec. 1, and they responded by buying a lot more cannabis. Prior to that date, they could only buy a quarter-ounce, but the new rule upped that limit to a half-ounce of flower or its equivalent in other products.

In December, the state reported sales of 453,944 products in the adult-use market, up 13.4% month-on-month. Medical products sold in December totaled 291,133, up 3.4% from the prior month.

Prices began spiking in the new year, and Cannabis Benchmarks reported that “consumers and registered patients in the state have told of a lack of inventory in dispensaries at the moment, with only a handful of varieties of flower on offer compared to the usual several dozen.”

Kaitlyn Krasselt, communications director with the Connecticut State Department of Consumer Protection, told Cannabis Benchmarks, “The Department is aware of a limited variety of certain products, and is continuing to monitor the situation.”

“The limited variety is likely the result of promotional sales retailers ran in association with the holidays, from Thanksgiving to New Year’s,” Krasselt continued. “Anecdotally, we know retailers experienced heavy traffic in relation to the holidays, and the record sales in our December data supports that. ”

But consumers also have something to look forward to, according to the agency. Kresselt said, “More than 1,000 products have received brand registration approval from the Drug Control Division since Nov. 1, 2023, that are expected to be available in stores in the coming days and weeks.”

Demand High, Supply Low

Fine Fettle, which has several stores in the state, confirmed the shortage.

“Right now we are supply constrained,” Chief Operating Officer Ben Zachs said. “A number of dispensaries have opened and only one microprocessor is growing. We’ve opened more stores and there’s definitely been a lack of flower supply.”

While sales figures were up in the state in December, Zachs said much of that was due to the higher prices. “The actual volume of sales only went up 3%.”

However, he believes hope is on the way. “My understanding is there are microgrowers building and big growers building,” he said. Zachs hopes the problem will be resolved in six to eight months, adding that these things happen in new markets.

“More demand and more stores opening has spread the inventory thin,” Zachs said. “Before it was a lack of choice, now some stores have no flower.”

He also pointed out that overall, flower and pre-rolls only accounted for 50% of sales, which is comparatively low for newer markets.

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Connecticut

Connecticut Science Center temporarily closed for burst pipe

Published

4 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

Connecticut Science Center temporarily closed for burst pipe

HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – The Connecticut Science Center is temporarily closed for a burst pipe in the building.

As a result, the Science Center posted on Facebook saying they will be closed on Sunday, February 1.

“Our team has been working tirelessly to clean and restore the affected areas, but unfortunately, we will not be ready to reopen on Sunday,” they wrote.

The Science Center told anyone who pre-purchased tickets to use them on a future date or contact the office on Monday for a refund.

“We look forward to welcoming you back very soon,” said the Connecticut Science Center.

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Connecticut

Another cold weekend as biting winds gradually return

Published

16 hours ago

January 31, 2026

Press Room

Another cold weekend as biting winds gradually return

Temperatures are well below average again for Saturday with highs in the upper teens and lower 20s.

Winds will start to increase through tonight, eventually gusting up to 35 miles per hour on Sunday.

Temperatures will feel like -10 to -20 through Sunday morning with a biting wind out of the north.

Sunday is cloudy, but Connecticut will stay dry as a strong snowstorm misses us well to the southeast.

High temperatures will lift into the 30s by Monday, and we’ll stay there through next week.

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Connecticut

Connecticut lawmakers looking at reforms to DCF, homeschooling

Published

1 day ago

January 30, 2026

Press Room

Connecticut lawmakers looking at reforms to DCF, homeschooling

Lawmakers say they’re working on reforms to a child welfare agency that’s been in the spotlight for the past 12 months.

Rep. Corey Paris (D-Stamford), who co-chairs the Children’s Committee, said that the reform package could include training, oversight, and even more funding for staffing and resources.

“When the state steps into a family’s life, the bar has to be set extraordinarily high and right now, quite frankly, there are places where we need to do better,” Paris said Friday.

The legislature begins its session on Wednesday.

His comments came as the mother and aunt of Jacqueline “Mimi” Torres-Garcia had court dates this week, both charged in Connecticut with the death of the 11-year-old girl.

New Britain police found her remains in October, but believe she may have been dead for as long as a year before that.

DCF had been monitoring Torres-Garcia, raising questions about whether it had done enough to protect her.

That incident came roughly eight months after a 32-year-old man named “S” claimed he started a fire in his Waterbury home to bring attention to decades of neglect and abuse.

He and his family also had contact with DCF.

Sen. Jonathan Perillo, (R-Shelton), agrees with Paris that lawmakers need to look at reforms.

He wants to see an end to virtual visits, an issue in Torres-Garcia’s case.

Both lawmakers said they’re talking with DCF about what other changes are needed to avoid similar occurrences.

Paris was vague on details, though, saying he’s still trying to build a consensus with Republicans, advocates, and DCF.

The lawmakers said the problem is deeper than the two high-profile incidents.

A state auditor’s report in June raised concern that DCF lost track of children 3,700 times between fiscal years 2021 and 2023.

Lawmakers could also look at more oversight of homeschool families.

Many states require homeschool families to bring their children for an annual visit to a local school, checking in with a mandatory reporter. Connecticut does not.

Interim Child Advocate Christina Ghio renewed calls in March to change that, saying abusive families can minimize contact with mandatory reporters by claiming they are homeschooling their children.

That’s what happened when Matthew Tirado died in 2017, and that allegedly happened in the case of “S.”

Rep. Jennifer Leeper (D-Fairfield), who co-chairs the Education Committee, said lawmakers are looking into the issue, though no proposal has been drafted yet.

She said she’s trying to find a balance, but she wants to ensure that state laws ensure children are safe and are getting a quality education.

“Almost every other state has a more robust system to ensure children’s both well-being and also educational attainment and that those families, too, are enjoying a really meaningful and flexible and self-directed homeschooling experience,” she said.

Perillo said the legislature should focus on DCF reforms.

“DCF is the authority here, and DCF has been the home of systemic problems for decades,” he said.

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