Nick Cimadon was living in Guam and transitioning out of the Navy when he was able to obtain a Connecticut cannabis food and beverage license. He enjoyed the Navy, but both he and his wife are Connecticut natives, and it offered a chance to build a business back home.
Connecticut
THC seltzers have become popular in Connecticut, but a federal law could affect their future
Stew Leonard’s Wines and Spirits of Norwalk, Danbury and Newington started stocking their shelves with THC beverages in September 2023. The CANN THC tonics pictured above at the Norwalk location come in flavors like lemon lavender, grapefruit rosemary, and blood orange cardamom.
Four years later, Cimadon’s business, SoundView, is divided in two. He produces cannabis edibles like gummies and chocolate bars using cannabis sourced from Connecticut. The other aspect of his business? THC seltzers using hemp from out of state.
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Now, with federal law governing hemp likely to change, the future of his business is in question.
“This is uncharted territory,” he said. “This was out of left field. No one saw this coming.”
Nearly 2 million THC seltzers were sold in a four-month span this year in Connecticut. But included in the federal bill that has led to the reopening of the federal government is a measure that closes a loophole that allowed hemp-derived THC products, such as infused seltzers, to be sold across the country.
What it will mean on a state-by-state basis is not yet fully understood. But there are fears that it could have a major impact or even lead to the disallowance of selling the beverages here.
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“Our early analysis is this may not be all that impactful on the Connecticut market,” said state Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven, who chairs the legislative General Law Committee. “We’re going to need the attorney general’s office, Department of Consumer Protection, governor’s office and our team at House Dems to evaluate it over the coming weeks to see what that impact really is.”
When it comes specifically to THC-laden beverages, Connecticut marketers may be able to continue operations if the products are grown, processed and sold within the state’s borders.
“That is the important distinction – if you are sourcing it in Connecticut, producing it in Connecticut and selling it in Connecticut,” Lemar said. “I think it needs to be all three of those things. If you’re not transporting it across state lines in any of its forms, we think our marketplace protections would make it so that you are OK.”
That provision would, among other things, reduce the amount of allowable THC in products derived from legal hemp to trace amounts, effectively dooming the hemp cultivation and processing industry, said Mike Goodenough, a Connecticut-based hemp grower and manufacturer.
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“This is horrendous to so many businesses. This cripples us, hands down,” Goodenough claimed.
The bill as written maintains the status quo for a full year, giving states and manufacturers time to reconfigure statutes and operations, if needed.
Kaitlyn Krasselt, spokeswoman for the state Department of Consumer Protection, noted 1.988 million THC seltzers were sold in Connecticut in the four months between May and September.
“If the (federal) law passes in its current form, we are reviewing the potential impact to Connecticut’s industry and working with the legislature to determine what changes they may want to make in Connecticut,” she said.
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The seltzer exception
The compound in cannabis that creates the effect of a “high,” THC, exists only in small amounts in hemp, but the plant can be processed to isolate THC and infuse it into edible substances such as candies and seltzers.
The 2018 federal Farm Bill that legalized hemp made no provision for that process, which allowed products containing large amounts of THC to be sold legally in gas stations, smokeshops and elsewhere, said Larry Cafero, executive director of Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut.
“These THC hemp-derived seltzers, which had no regulation when they initially came out, had 25 milligrams, in some cases, of THC in a 12-ounce can. They were being sold in convenience stores and bodegas, and these little gas station markets, and there was no age limit,” Cafero said. “A 12-year-old could go buy it as if he or she would be buying a soda.”
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Connecticut legislators sought to close that loophole and last year carved out an exception for beverages infused with hemp-derived THC, allowing beverages with low levels of hemp-derived THC to be sold in Connecticut package stores and cannabis dispensaries.
Cannabis business analyst Whitney Economics wrote in September that the total potential THC seltzer market in the United States “is valued, conservatively, at between $9.9 billion and $14.9 billion.”
Cafero said the legal sale of THC seltzers was important for his members and their customers because of a continued decrease in alcohol sales. Whitney’s report echoed similar sentiments, citing a 10% drop in alcohol consumption since 2021.
“It’s so popular because people, in many cases, are choosing that as a beverage, as opposed to an alcohol-based beverage,” Cafero said of THC seltzers.
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Supply chains
There are several Connecticut-based THC seltzer manufacturers, sold legally both in package stores and cannabis dispensaries.
“Lighthouse is made in Connecticut. Float House is made in Connecticut. Muze is made in Connecticut. Hi People is made in Connecticut. SoundView is made in Connecticut,” said Ben Zachs, who runs cannabis retailer Fine Fettle.
But many of those seltzer manufacturers may not obtain the THC from Connecticut-grown hemp, and many transport their finished products to other states.
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“A lot of them would say, ‘Well, we’re selling a lot of drinks outside the state, and this really lowers our captured market,’” Zachs said.
Lemar said, “I think a number of Connecticut-based businesses were looking at business opportunities outside of the state that they’re now being precluded from. I don’t think there’s much interest in just watching these Connecticut businesses just go under because of this new federal restriction.”
Cimadon suggested the easiest solution may be to “collapse it into cannabis,” putting hemp and cannabis into the same program, regulated by the state. But that could create additional problems. Cannabis edibles in Connecticut are subject to different rules than those with THC derived from hemp, including around packaging and potency, which could mean a huge shift for the entire industry.
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Connecticut hemp producers would need to get new state licenses and, unlike cannabis, which is illegal federally but legal in Connecticut, hemp growers are required to be federally licensed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Connecticut has a hemp plan filed with the USDA, and a provision in Connecticut’s hemp laws requires state statutes to mirror federal laws.
Lemar said there will be discussions in the coming months about “what do we need to do in Connecticut to ensure that our regulations and our authorizations are consistent with federal law?”
HARTFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – Nearly 40,000 Connecticut residents will find some good news in their mailboxes this week: their medical debt has been erased.
Gov. Ned Lamont announced Monday that letters are going out to residents informing them that some or all of their medical bills have been eliminated. This third round of the Medical Debt Erasure Initiative is wiping out more than $63 million in medical debt.
Since the program began in December 2024, nearly 160,000 Connecticut residents have had a total of $198 million in medical debt eliminated.
“Medical debt can delay healing due to stress and anxiety about how to pay these bills,” Lamont said. “This makes a real difference in the lives of our families, reducing fear and concerns.”
The state partners with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt to buy large bundles of qualifying medical debt for pennies on the dollar. To qualify, residents must have income at or below 400% of the federal poverty level or have medical debt that equals 5% or more of their income.
There’s no application process — the debt erasure happens automatically through purchases from participating hospitals and collection agencies. Residents who qualify will receive letters from Undue Medical Debt over the next several days.
The first round erased about $30 million for roughly 23,000 people, and the second round eliminated more than $100 million for 100,000 people. Lamont plans to continue the program using $6.5 million in federal ARPA funding.
Copyright 2025 WFSB. All rights reserved.
Health
The child, who is under the age of 10 and unvaccinated, recently traveled internationally, health officials said.
An unvaccinated child in Connecticut has been diagnosed with measles, public health officials confirmed, the state’s first confirmed case of the highly contagious disease since 2021.
The child, who is under the age of 10, lives in Fairfield County, the Connecticut Department of Public Health announced last week. The child had recently travelled internationally before showing symptoms including cough, runny nose, congestion, fever, and eventually a full-body rash.
“The single best way to protect your children and yourself from measles is to be vaccinated,” Connecticut DPH Commissioner Manisha Juthani, MD, said in a statement. “One dose of measles vaccine is about 93 percent effective, while two doses are about 97 percent effective.”
The United States has seen a record high 1,912 measles cases since the disease was declared eliminated in 2000, the CDC reported. As of July 7, this year has also reported the most cases in more than 30 years, according to the International Vaccine Access Center.
Earlier this year, West Texas saw a measles outbreak of hundreds of cases, mostly among unvaccinated children who had to be hospitalized. About one in five unvaccinated people diagnosed with measles are hospitalized, Connecticut DPH said, and the disease can be especially dangerous for children.
“We must ensure we continue to protect those who matter most – children and other vulnerable people – from vaccine preventable illnesses through on-time vaccination,” Juthani said.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his overhaul on the childhood vaccine schedule and doubts on COVID vaccine safety, endorsed the measles vaccine after two children died from measles amid the outbreak in Texas.
“The most effective way to prevent the spread of measles is the MMR vaccine,” Kennedy said in April.
Earlier this year, a Vermont child who had recently traveled internationally was confirmed to have been infected with measles. In March, a man tested positive for measles after traveling on an Amtrak train originating from Boston’s South Station to Washington D.C.
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The Connecticut high school football’s CIAC postseason wrapped up with the state championships this past weekend on Saturday.
Finishing in the No. 1 spot in this week’s final Top 25 rankings out of the Constitution State is Avon Old Farms after they defeated The Williston Northampton School, 35-21, in the Drew Gamere Bowl to end their season a few weeks ago. New Canaan sits right behind as they repeated as Class L champs. Which other teams from around Connecticut high school football deserves to be in the final set of Top 25 rankings for the 2025 campaign?
The Massey Ratings, officially used during the BCS era, is a model that ranks sports teams by analyzing game outcomes, strength of schedule, and margin of victory.
Here are the last Connecticut high school football rankings for 2025, according to Massey as of Dec. 14.
1. Avon Old Farms Beavers
Avon Old Farms (10-0) opened up the Connecticut high school football season by avenging a loss to Brunswick School from last season and have set the tone for the rest of the campaign. The Beavers have a talented offense that’s averaging 40.7 points per game, led by quarterback Matthew Baer, running back Kharon Craig, and offensive tackle Charlie Thom (Notre Dame commitment).
The Beavers have concluded their season play out of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Counci (NEPSAC) when they defeated The Williston Northampton School last week in the Drew Gamere Bowl, 35-21. Avon Old Farms finishes as the No. 1 team in the Connecticut high school football rankings.
2. New Canaan Rams
The defending Class L state champion New Canaan Rams (13-0) have done it once again as they defeated Cheshire, 34-13.
The Rams have won back to back playoff games versus Darien and Weaver with ease, winning by a combined 85-13. New Canaan won its 16th state championship in head coach Lou Marinelli’s legendary career. With the win, New Canaan clinched their fourth undefeated season in program history for the Rams (1968, 1969, 2008, 2025).
New Canaan has used a high-powered offense to cruise past opponents this fall, with quarterback Maddox Hoffman throwing for 1,936 yards and 21 touchdowns. Running back Henry Stein leads the ground game as he’s rushed for 916 yards and seven touchdowns.
3. Choate Rosemary Hall Wild Boars
Choate Rosemary Hall (8-2) saw its 18-game winning streak snapped back in Week 1 when they lost against New Hampshire’s Phillips Exeter Academy in a battle of top-ranked teams in their respective states.
The Wild Boars will finish likely within the Top 5 of the rankings after they ended their 2025 season in exciting fashion as they avenged that defeat by beating Phillips Exeter Academy in the Leon Modeste Bowl in a 44-42 thriller.
In 2024, the Wild Boars had completed their second consecutive perfect season after defeating Brunswick School. They have lost only four games over the last four Connecticut high school football seasons and only allowed only four opponent to score double digits.
The Wild Boars are another prep school that features multiple future Division I players, including Tanner Raymond (Rutgers) and interior offense lineman Will Tellers.
4. St. Thomas More Chancellors
St. Thomas More (1-3) remain steady as the No. 3 team in our latest set of Connecticut high school football rankings after a 50-21 loss to New Jersey’s No. 3 team, Hun School to end their season.
The Chancellors only losses from the 2024 season came against Maryland’s St. Frances Academy, Hun School, and Florida’s IMG Academy, respectively. St. Thomas More doesn’t have anymore scheduled games left on their 2025 slate.
Among the players the Chancellors feature on their roster are four-star edge rusher Alhassan Iddrissu (UCF), cornerback Terron Johnson, running back Malichi Greaves, and linebacker Christian King.
5. Daniel Hand Tigers
The Daniel Hand Tigers (13-1) has dominated in the Class SS playoffs, dominating all three opponents by a combined score of 122-32, after defeating the Killingly Trailblazers, 37-13, on Saturday.
Fueling the Daniel Hand offensive attack is the strong play of senior signal caller Bobby Reh, who has thrown for 2,194 yards and 29 touchdowns to only three mere picks. Junior running back Lucca Boyce leads the ground game with 1,272 yards and 14 touchdowns.
6. St Joseph (8-2)
7. Cheshire Academy (7-3)
8. Windsor (12-1)
9. Brunswick School (6-4)
10. Greenwich (8-2)
11. Newtown (8-2)
12. Killingly (11-1)
13. Fairfield College Preparatory (8-2)
14. Wilton (10-2)
15. The Taft School (5-4)
16. Bunnell (10-3)
17. Kingswood-Oxford School (8-2)
18. Berlin (12-0)
19. The Loomis Chaffee School (3-6)
20. Darien (6-5)
21. Brookfield (8-3)
22. Staples (5-5)
23. Cheshire (8-3)
24. Southington (7-3)
25. Mark T. Sheehan (10-3)
For Connecticut high school football fans looking to keep up with scores around the nation, staying updated on the action is now easier than ever with the Rivals High School Scoreboard. This comprehensive resource provides real-time updates and final scores from across the Constitution State, ensuring you never miss a moment of the Friday night frenzy. From nail-biting finishes to dominant performances, the Rivals High School Scoreboard is your one-stop destination for tracking all the Connecticut high school scores and football rankings.
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