Forum to be held in Norwich Friday on recreational cannabis business ventures
Nov. 16—NORWICH — Residents and entrepreneurs interested in growing cannabis or manufacturing cannabis products can hear from experts in the industry and the new state law on Friday evening at Foundry 66 in downtown Norwich.
Norwich Community Development Corp. will host "Cannabis Conversations: Starting Your Business in Norwich" from 4 to 6 p.m. at Foundry 66 at 66 Franklin St. Registration is required for the free program. Call (860) 887-6964 or go to www.askncdc.com. About 60 people have registered as of Monday.
NCDC President Kevin Brown said agency staff attended cannabis forums in the state and wanted to educate local parties before the state issues licensing regulations and applications.
"We understand the state is still framing up rules for businesses," Brown said Monday. "We just want to make sure Norwich is at the center of the conversation."
Brown said while some small local towns have enacted moratoriums on recreational cannabis businesses, "we want people to know that Norwich is open for business."
The state law that legalized recreational marijuana calls for cities and towns to create zoning regulations on where cannabis businesses can be located, otherwise, the closest related zoning regulatios would apply. Norwich City Planner Deanna Rhodes said her department is awaiting direction from the City Council, which serves as the zoning board, before creating zoning regulations.
The new law would give Norwich businesses an advantage in qualifying for cannabis licenses as a city that had been disproportionately affected by past marijuana criminal laws. The state Department of Consumer Protection, which will issue the state licenses, must reserve 50% of the applications for "social equity applicants." They also would receive a 50% application fee discounts.
Ginne-Rae Clay, executive director of the Connecticut Social Equity Committee, which is writing the licensing regulations on social equity applications, will participate in Friday's forum.
Other presenters will explain business operations and available education programs. Representatives from two multi-state operators will attend, along with a cannabis equipment supply firm and a government relations representative from Acreage Holdings to discuss how cannabis growing facilities are safe and responsible businesses, Brown said.
Brown described the forum as "a link-up" between those already in the cannabis business and those interested in the business.
Eastern Connecticut State University has established a new STEM cannabis cultivation and chemistry field of study for CBD medical marijuana. Plant science assistant professor Bryan Connolly will attend Friday's forum to describe the program and plans to expand it.
On Monday, Connolly said the field of study is being reviewed by the university as a minor, but he hopes it will become a major for next fall. His first cultivation course in spring is full, with 15 ECSU students, Connolly said. He said the course might be offered in summer, perhaps to a broader audience.
Students will plant cannabis seeds and bring them to harvest, Connolly said. The students will study photosynthesis, cell metabolism, genetics, pollination and sexes, light and different strains and hybrid crosses.
Connolly then will turn over the results to Syed Islam, ECSU assistant professor of physical sciences. Islam will teach the course on analytical chemistry of cannabis using modern instrumentation. Islam will analyze the students' harvest for the cannabis content.
"The goal of the program is to train students so they can get a job in a growth facility or in an analytical lab, or go to grad school, where there are emerging programs in grad schools," Connolly said.
