The state Department of Consumer Protection will begin accepting applications for certain types of adult-use cannabis establishment licenses.

Cannabis was approved for adult use in Connecticut in June 2021, and retail sales are expected to begin in the state by the end of the year.

The Department of Consumer Protection will hold multiple sweepstakes on an ongoing basis and announce the number of available licenses before each application round.

They said the application rounds for the eight types of licenses that will be selected through the lottery process will open in a staggered fashion.

The application period for the first round of lotteries will remain open for 90 days.

Applications for Social Equity Cultivator licenses located in disproportionately affected areas will have a one-time 90-day application period beginning February 3 and ending May 4.

Officials said they would hold two lotteries for each license type: a social equity lottery and a general lottery.

Selected Social Equity Lottery applicants are subject to review by the Social Equity Council to confirm their social equity status.

To qualify as a social equity seeker, at least 65% ownership or control of the business must be held by individuals who meet the income and residency requirements for a social equity seeker set out in the law.

Once the Social Equity candidates are selected through the lottery process and approved by the Board, DCP will organize the general lottery. All applicants approved by Social Equity and those selected in the general lottery will be eligible to apply for a provisional license. More information on the lottery process is available at ct.gov/cannabis.

The department plans to open a second lottery application period for most license types in the second half of 2022.

Application periods

The first application period for each license type will open for a period of 90 days on the following dates:

Disproportionately Affected Area Farmer: February 3, 2022 (no lottery)

• Retailer: February 3, 2022
• Micro-cultivator: February 10, 2022
• Delivery service: February 17, 2022
• Hybrid Retailer: February 24, 2022
• Food and beverages: March 3, 2022
• Product Manufacturer: March 10, 2022
• Product packer: March 17, 2022
• Carrier: March 24, 2022

Number of licenses

An equal number of licenses will be available for Social Equity and General Applicants.

• Retailer: 6 general licenses, 6 Social Equity licenses
• Micro-cultivator: 2 general licenses, 2 Social Equity licenses
• Delivery Service: 5 General Licenses, 5 Social Equity Licenses
• Hybrid retailer: 2 general licenses, 2 Social Equity licenses
• Food and beverage: 5 general licenses, 5 social equity licenses
• Product Packager: 3 general licenses, 3 social equity licenses
• Product Manufacturer: 3 general licenses, 3 Social Equity licenses
• Carrier: 2 general licenses, 2 Social Equity licenses

Cannabis establishment applicants licensed under the following provisions are not subject to the lottery process:

• Currently Licensed Medical Marijuana Producers Are Converting to Enter the Adult Cannabis Market
• Currently licensed medical marijuana dispensaries converting to a hybrid retailer license to allow the sale of medical and adult cannabis
• Applications for Social Equity Cultivators located in a disproportionately affected area who meet the requirements set forth in Section 149 of Public Law 21-1 of the June 2021 Special Session
• Applicants applying for a Cannabis Establishment License as a joint venture or social equity partner with a licensed medical marijuana producer or dispensary
• Social Equity Council Micro-Grower Support Program (to be developed by the Social Equity Council)

Applications will be available at ct.gov/cannabis.

Interested applicants can view a description of each type of license to determine which one is right for their business.