CBD, hemp, and medical marijuana businesses see potential in legalization

Leading up to the recreational marijuana legalization in July, Bryan Langevin, co-owner of Green Valley Glass in Putnam and Colchester, said there’s been movement in glass smoking supplies, with plenty of customers looking for glass products on Friday and Saturday.

“There was that initial shock to the public, but it’s leveled a little bit,” Langevin said.

In Connecticut, recreational marijuana will be legal for people 21 and older to consume on Thursday, with retail sales coming in 2022 and personal use growing in 2023. While some businesses, such as hemp growers and those selling CBD and smoking supplies, are considering getting into recreational marijuana, they see at least some potential for their current products.

For Dr. Stefana Pecher, of the nonprofit Better Together CT, Inc, and Your Country Doctor in North Stonington, she sees the legalization of marijuana as a way to help destigmatize the hemp crop she grows. While hemp is still a cannabis plant, it’s bred for use as a food, as CBD (cannabidol) oil, and as an industrial material, as hemp contains little to no THC, the chemical that causes marijuana’s high.

As for CBD, Pecher said it has applications for many conditions, from Parkinson's to dementia, to diabetes and multiple sclerosis, as it’s an option when conventional options haven’t worked.

“It’s been a remarkable process over these last six years to see how much patients have benefited,” Pecher said.

A post on a Harvard University blog also notes other uses, such as treating childhood epilepsy.

Jonathan Fister, Pecher’s executive assistant, said that marijuana legalization does help with the stigma cast on hemp.

“People still hate on it,” Fister said, “I know a lot of people who do.”

Langevin believes the growth in cannabis products will be recreational marijuana first, but sees crossover happening.

“People will walk into a dispensary for the first time, and learn about CBD,” Langevin said.

In terms of starting in the recreational marijuana business, Pecher said it’s a possibility, but with the need to enter into a lottery to earn the respective licenses, it’ll only be something that happens “if it’s meant to happen.”

“We’re doing well as it is,” Pecher said.

The licensing limits call for one retailer and one grower per 25,000 in a municipality. Langevin is possibly interested in “dipping our toes” in recreational marijuana. However, Langevin would use new stores for dispensing, and Green Valley Glass will maintain its current glassware and CBD products.

Carl Tirella, Connecticut regional manager for Acreage Holdings, which owns three medical marijuana dispensaries (including Thames Valley Relief in Uncasville), is interested in a mixed license for those facilities, but with zoning and financial costs, including $1 million for the new license, it’s still up in the air.

However, Tirella said medical marijuana will still be the focus either way, and he wants people to have "an open mind” about it.

“If it’s not for you, it’s not for you, but at the end of the day, we will work with patients to the best of our ability,” Tirella said.

Looking ahead, Langevin wants to expand into marijuana growing supplies, as people in Connecticut can start growing their own plants for personal use in 2023. He plans to learn more about growing in 2022, as people who can get medical marijuana will be able to grow at that point. Langevin will be able to take what he’s learned to his Putnam store.

“To me that’s a huge market opening up, more prominent than more CBD,” Langevin said.

At a glance:

Better Together CT, Inc will be holding its Hempstock 2021 event on August 14 and 15, with the goal of educating people about the uses of hemp. The event will also feature music and art from local Native American tribes, including the Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation.