Connecticut dispensaries struggle with supply, send shoppers to western Mass

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – Our neighboring state of Connecticut has experienced a shortage of certain cannabis products. We wanted to know if those supply and demand issues were affecting our dispensaries here in the Bay State.

As it turns out, here in Massachusetts, we have the opposite problem. Western Mass News spoke with 6 Bricks in Springfield, and they told us they have more than enough flower to go around, and with clients from Connecticut crossing the border to shop, business is booming.

Payton Shubrick, CEO and founder of 6 Bricks Cannabis Dispensary told us, “We see a multitude of Connecticut customers that are still coming into the state of Massachusetts, for a multitude of reasons.”

The state of Connecticut legalized recreational cannabis use back in July of 2021, years after Massachusetts began “rolling” out adult-use marijuana in the fall of 2016.

Although both states are arguably in their infancy stage, Shubrick told us that since our state legalized first, Massachusetts has so many different variations of products, giving customers more options.

“When you look at the number of license holders that relates to cultivating manufacturers in production,” Shubrick added, “There’s way more that we have available in Massachusetts.”

So, while Connecticut dispensaries are struggling to keep up with supply and demand, Massachusetts flower products are flourishing.

“We have more than enough flower here,” Shubrick claimed, “Some may say we have too much, and so, that allows for a price point that is more obtainable for folks.”

Western Mass News caught up with one shopper from East Windsor, Connecticut, and he told us that 6 Bricks has a lot more options than the dispensaries in his home state, and all he has to do is drive about 10 minutes down I-91.

“Better prices, you know, I think, and it’s not too far from my house.”

Shubrick explained that another thing she believes may be encouraging participation from Connecticut customers, is how much you can buy.

In Massachusetts, customers can legally purchase 28 grams of product, whereas in Connecticut you can only buy about 14.

We also asked what could happen when Connecticut catches up. Shubrick told us that everyone in the cannabis industry is a little nervous about how their revenue will be impacted as more states come online, and even though that causes a lot of uncertainty with their customer base, there’s still a lot of hope as the market grows and more products are developed.

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