Legal recreational marijuana sales start in Connecticut

By SUSAN HAIGH and PAT EATON-ROBB
Associated Press

MONTVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut’s first round of recreational cannabis sales for adults 21 and older have begun. Sales were allowed to start at 10 a.m. Tuesday at seven existing medical marijuana establishments. By 5 p.m., state officials reported more than $250,000 in sales were generated in the first seven hours. The new availability comes less than two years after Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation making Connecticut the latest state to legalize recreational sales. As many as 40 dispensaries and dozens of other cannabis-related businesses are expected to eventually open in Connecticut by the end of this year. Customers say they welcome the ability to buy cannabis legally.