State names cannabis equity qualifiers
6 prospective retailers, 2 microcultivator applicants on list
Connecticut has made public the six cannabis retailers that have qualified for social equity status, who will be among the first to sell recreational cannabis in Connecticut, provided they receive further approval and pay the necessary licensing fees.
The state Department of Consumer Protection also identified the two microcultivator applicants approved so far for equity status, and the three Equity Joint Venture applicants that also received the green light from the state’s Social Equity Council to move forward in the licensing process. The council is charged with making sure that equity applicants for licenses meet income, residency, and ownership requirements.
As is the case with other approved applicants identified by the state thus far, the people behind these latest businesses include in-state and out-of-state residents, as well as equity applicants and wealthy backers. Connecticut’s adult-use cannabis law, passed in 2021, enables equity applicants to partner with financial backers if the business is at least 65 percent owned by an equity applicant.
The retailers are:
Shangri-La CT Inc., which lists a business address in Hartford. Jocelyn Cerda, of Hartford, and Kepal Patel, of Columbia, Mo., as principals.
Botanic Jac LLC, which lists a business address in New London. Waterford developer Jon Hendel is listed as principal.
Chillax LLC, which lists a business address in Somerset, N.J. Niralee Modi, of Somerset, is listed as principal.
Jananii LLC, which lists a business address in Clarksburg, Md. Jusmin Patel, of Columbia, Md., is listed as principal.
Slap Ash LLC, which lists a business address in Glastonbury. Ashley Vaughn, of Tampa, Fla., and Amanda Ostrowitz, of Chicago, are listed as principals.
Divine 1 LLC, which lists a business address in Bensalem, Pa. Dharini Patel, of Bensalem, is listed as principal.
The microcultivators are:
Jananii LLC, the same company to receive approval for a retail license.
RAD Holding Corp., which lists a business address in Hartford. Shawn Devon Howell, of Hartford, and James L. Daddario, of Suffield, are listed as principals.
The equity joint ventures are:
Theraplant LLC, one of the state’s four existing medical marijuana producers, received approval for two EJVs — the maximum amount allowed by law.
Budr Hartford Holding LLC, which lists a business address in Hartford. Derrick Gibbs and Nancine Crump, of Middletown, and Carl Tirella, of New York, are listed as principals.
The applicants and their backers are now undergoing background checks and further review by DCP. Once complete, qualifying applicants must pay fees to receive a provisional license.
The fees range. For a social equity applicant seeking a provisional retail license, the fee is $2,500.