Connecticut

Illinois cannabis sales soar, while Connecticut’s market falters

Published

2 years ago

July 10, 2024

Illinois cannabis sales soar, while Connecticut’s market falters

The midwestern cannabis market of Illinois passed $1 billion in sales just halfway through the calendar year, while Connecticut officials have watched their fledgling industry struggle with months of declining sales.

Illinois marijuana sales have steadily posted year-over-year increases, Gov. JB Pritzker announced in a press release, with the Land of Lincoln reaching the $1 billion sales mark almost two weeks earlier this year than it did in 2023. This year’s sales breakdown includes more than $850 million in adult-use cannabis sales and nearly $150 million in medical sales.

The steady uptick is also reflected in the 2024 fiscal year, which tallied more than $2 billion in legal cannabis sales, up from $1.9 billion in the 2023 fiscal year.

In terms of products purchased, cannabis flower was easily the top category with 49% of purchases, followed by vape cartridges at 32% and edibles with 22%.

“Illinois has the most equitable cannabis industry in the country, and it’s growing and thriving,” Pritzker said in the release. “The increase in total adult-use cannabis sales, combined with the policies my administration is implementing to support communities ravaged by the War on Drugs, highlights how this emerging industry is helping us set a national standard in equity and economic justice. Growing sales in 2024 means cannabis tax revenue will continue to play a major role in righting decades of wrongs in the state’s criminal justice system.”

Connecticut, however, has seen a very different story with its nascent recreational marijuana market, which launched in January 2023.

The New England state’s legal cannabis sales hit a peak in December 2023, but has been declining since, CT Insider reported. The state reported $23.9 million in sales in June compared to $24.7 million in May sales.

The breakdown includes adult-use sales of just $16.3 million in June, down from $16.5 million in May, and medical marijuana sales at $7.6 million in June, down from $8.2 million in May.

Connecticut’s peak of cannabis sales thus far was $27.5 million back in December, CT Insider reported.

The trend continues a multimonth slide in Connecticut; sales were already on a downward trend in the opening months of 2024, with $24.9 million in January sales and then $23.6 million the month after that.

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Connecticut

Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford

Published

1 hour ago

March 4, 2026

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Multiple cars involved in crash on I-84 in Hartford

A multi-vehicle crash temporarily close Interstate 84 on Tuesday night.

The crash happened around 8:30 p.m. and involved four cars, according to the Hartford Fire Department.

Fire crews arrived at the scene and helped one of the drivers who was trapped. The driver was then taken to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.

Four other people reported minor injuries but declined ambulance treatment at the scene, officials said.

I-84 East was temporarily shut down as crews responded but has since reopened.

The Connecticut State Police is investigating the crash.

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Connecticut

Sleet, freezing rain leading to treacherous travel in parts of Connecticut

Published

13 hours ago

March 3, 2026

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Sleet, freezing rain leading to treacherous travel in parts of Connecticut

As the snow turns to sleet and freezing rain in parts of the state this afternoon, it is causing some treacherous travel on Connecticut roads.

The Connecticut Department of Transportation is reporting several crashes.

There are crashes on both sides of Interstate 691 in Meriden.

A tractor-trailer jackknifed on the eastbound side of I-691 between Exit 5 and 3, closing the left lane. On the westbound side, a single-vehicle crash closed the left lane.

There is a two-vehicle crash on I-91 North in Middletown between Exits 20 and 21. The left and center lanes are closed.

A multi-vehicle crash has closed lanes of I-84 East in Waterbury between Exits 25 and 25A. There is a second crash on I-84 East in Southington near Exit 30.

In Cromwell, a two-vehicle crash closed the right lane of Route 9 North in Cromwell.

On Route 9 South, a crash closed a lane on the southbound side.

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Connecticut

The Great Westport Sandwich Contest kicks off with event at Old Mill Grocery

Published

1 day ago

March 3, 2026

Press Room

The Great Westport Sandwich Contest kicks off with event at Old Mill Grocery

People in Westport have the chance to pick the best thing between sliced bread.

The Westport Weston Chamber of Commerce held a kick-off event at Old Mill Grocery on Monday for The Great Westport Sandwich Contest.

The contest runs throughout March with 21 restaurants, delis and markets competing in 10 categories to be crowned the best sandwich maker.

Residents can vote in the following categories: Best chicken, best steak, best vegetarian, best combo, best club, best NY deli, best pressed sandwich, best breakfast sandwich, best wrap, and best fish/seafood sandwich.

After people sample sandwiches, they can vote for their favorites in each category on the chamber’s website. They will also be placed into a drawing to win a free sandwich from one of the 10 winners.

“Of course, the goal is to have people come to Westport and check out restaurants, our markets and our delis. This is a great promotion. I mean it is a competition, but mostly it’s to bring people to the restaurants. It also gives a great community activity because they are the ones who get to vote who makes the best one,” says Matthew Mandell, the chamber’s executive director.

Winners will be announced in April and receive a plaque.

The chamber has held similar contests to determine what establishment has the best pizza, burger, soup and salad.

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