“I am proud of the hard work our team has done to meet the goal of opening adult-use sales in a safe, well-regulated market,” DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull stated. “We know that many people are excited to participate in this marketplace, whether as a business or a consumer, and we encourage adults who choose to purchase and consume these products to do so responsibly once sales begin on January 10.”

"While only 9 stores will be open on January 10th and there is an initial purchase limit, just about 18 months from legalization until sales is an impressive feat," Michelle Bodian, counsel at leading cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg LLP and a leading member of the firm’s cannabis licensing and regulatory compliance efforts in Connecticut told Benzinga. "1/4 ounce of cannabis flower or its equivalent per transaction will hopefully increase over time as more hybrid retailers and retailers open up. This is a long-awaited moment for many in Connecticut."

The news of the adult-sales launch comes on the heels of Connecticut governor Ned Lamont announcing Tuesday that around 44,000 state residents with cannabis possession convictions will have their records partially or fully erased in January 2023.

“On January 1, thousands of people in Connecticut will have low-level cannabis convictions automatically erased due to the cannabis legalization bill we enacted last year,” Lamont, a Democrat, stated. “Especially as Connecticut employers seek to fill hundreds of thousands of job openings, an old conviction for low-level cannabis possession should not hold someone back from pursuing their career, housing, professional, and educational aspirations.”