(a) Not later than thirty days after the date that the Social Equity Council identifies the criteria and the necessary supporting documentation for social equity applicants and posts such information on its Internet web site, the department may accept applications for the following cannabis establishment license types: (1) Retailer, (2) hybrid retailer, (3) cultivator, (4) micro-cultivator, (5) product manufacturer, (6) food and beverage manufacturer, (7) product packager, (8) delivery service, and (9) transporter. Each application for licensure shall require the applicant to indicate whether the applicant wants to be considered for treatment as a social equity applicant.
(b) On and after July 1, 2021, the department may accept applications from any dispensary facility to convert its license to a hybrid-retailer license and any producer for expanded authorization to engage in the adult use cannabis market under its license issued pursuant to section 21a-408i.
(c) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, the following fees shall be paid by each applicant:
(1) For a retailer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be five hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars.
(2) For a hybrid retailer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be five hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars.
(3) For a cultivator license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be one thousand dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be seventy-five thousand dollars.
(4) For a micro-cultivator license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five hundred dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be one thousand dollars.
(5) For a product manufacturer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be seven hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars.
(6) For a food and beverage manufacturer license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be one thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be five thousand dollars.
(7) For a product packager license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be five hundred dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be five thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be twenty-five thousand dollars.
(8) For a delivery service or transporter license, the fee to enter the lottery shall be two hundred fifty dollars, the fee to receive a provisional license shall be one thousand dollars and the fee to receive a final license or a renewal of a final license shall be five thousand dollars.
(9) For an initial or renewal of a backer license, the fee shall be one hundred dollars.
(10) For an initial or renewal of a key employee license, the fee shall be one hundred dollars.
(11) For an initial or renewal of a registration of an employee who is not a key employee, the fee shall be fifty dollars.
(12) The license conversion fee for a dispensary facility to become a hybrid retailer shall be one million dollars, except as provided in section 21a-420u.
(13) The license conversion fee for a producer to engage in the adult use cannabis market shall be three million dollars, except as provided in section 21a-420l.
(d) For any dispensary facility that has become a hybrid retailer, the renewal fee shall be the same as the fee for a hybrid retailer set forth in subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section. For any producer, the renewal fee shall be the same as set forth in section 21a-408i. A social equity applicant shall pay fifty per cent of the amount of any of the fees specified in subsection (c) of this section for the first three renewal cycles of the applicable cannabis establishment license applied for, and the full amount thereafter, provided in the case of the fees set forth in subdivisions (12) and (13) of subsection (c) of this section, a social equity applicant shall pay the full amount of the fee.
(e) For the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, and thereafter, fees collected by the department under this section shall be paid to the State Treasurer and credited to the General Fund, except that the fees collected under subdivisions (12) and (13) of subsection (c) of this section shall be deposited in the Social Equity and Innovation Fund established under section 21a-420f.
(f) For each license type:
(1) Applicants shall apply on a form and in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, which form shall include a method for the applicant to request consideration as a social equity applicant; and
(2) The department shall post on its Internet web site the application period, which shall specify the first and last date that the department will accept applications for that license type. The first date that the department shall accept applications shall be no sooner than thirty days after the date the Social Equity Council posts the criteria and supporting documentation necessary to qualify for consideration as a social equity applicant as set forth in section 21a-420g. Only complete license applications received by the department during the application period shall be considered.
(June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1, S. 34.)
History: June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-1 effective July 1, 2021.
Structure Connecticut General Statutes
Title 21a - Consumer Protection
Chapter 420h - Regulation of Adult-Use Cannabis
Section 21a-420. - Definitions.
Section 21a-420a. - Purchase, possession, display, sale or transportation of cannabis legal.
Section 21a-420b. - Enforcement of violations of federal law related to cannabis.
Section 21a-420c. - License required for sale, offering or delivery of cannabis.
Section 21a-420e. - Timeline for initial applications for licensure. Fees for licenses.
Section 21a-420l. - Authorization for expanded activity of producer. Social equity partnership.
Section 21a-420m. - Creation of equity joint ventures by producer. Requirements. Fee.
Section 21a-420n. - Cultivator license.
Section 21a-420p. - Micro-cultivator license.
Section 21a-420q. - Regulations re maximum grow space. Policies and procedures.
Section 21a-420r. - Retailer license.
Section 21a-420s. - Hybrid retailer license.
Section 21a-420w. - Food and beverage manufacturer license.
Section 21a-420x. - Product manufacturer license.
Section 21a-420y. - Product packager license.
Section 21a-421b. - Criminal history records checks required for licensure. Fees.
Section 21a-421c. - Third-party background checks for backer or key employee license applications.
Section 21a-421e. - Project labor agreement required. Civil action for enforcement. Penalty.
Section 21a-421f. - Cannabis business accelerator program.
Section 21a-421g. - Workforce training program for cannabis industry.
Section 21a-421h. - Bond authorization.
Section 21a-421i. - Revolving loan program.
Section 21a-421j. - Regulations required to implement RERACA. Policies and procedures.
Section 21a-421q. - Purchase of cannabis by qualifying patients and caregivers.
Section 21a-421bbb. - Inducement of person under twenty-one to procure cannabis.
Section 21a-421eee. - Loitering on cannabis retailer or hybrid retailer premises.
Section 21a-421hhh. - Certain gifts, sales and transfers of cannabis prohibited. Penalties.
Section 21a-422b. - Positive drug test of student and enrollment in educational institution.
Section 21a-422e. - Program re collection of public health information on cannabis. Report.
Section 21a-422m. - Use of cannabis in hospitals.
Section 21a-422n. - Possession of cannabis in Department of Correction facilities or halfway houses.
Section 21a-422t. - Sign re storage and disposal of cannabis and cannabis products.