Recreational marijuana sales launched in Branford on Tuesday, Jan. 10 with a green ribbon cutting at Rise, a new hybrid (recreational/medical) cannabis retailer at 471 East Main St.

Rise is the retail brand of multi-state operator Green Thumb Industries (Chicago, IL). In Branford, Rise is a new retailer for both medical and recreational marijuana sales, replacing the former medical marijuana dispensary at the site, Bluepoint Apothecary, LLC. Blue Point Apothecary LLC owner and pharmacist Nick Tamborino began the Branford dispensary in 2014.

In July 2022, Branford’s Planning and Zoning Commission (PZC) gave unanimous approval for a special exception application, submitted by an attorney for Green Thumb Industries, to allow Bluepoint to operate as a hybrid location with the additional sales of recreational cannabis, upon Connecticut’s first day for legal recreational sales.

Day One in Branford

With a steel drum band playing, Green Thumb CEO, Founder and Chairman Ben Kovler gathered with many of the site’s 60 employees to welcome press and guests to Branford’s Rise ribbon cutting at 8:45 a.m. on Jan. 10.

“What an amazing day here for Connecticut -- Day One of adult use,” said Kovler. “I’m lucky enough to stand up here, but it’s really a team; it takes a village. It’s a culmination, really, in our country, of the failed war on drugs. We’re out here to show people that cannabis is a positive plant; it creates connectivity and positivity [and] more well-being.”

Kovler said the new operation is excited to be a part of the Branford community. He talked about “...where we sit in this community.”

“It’s important that we’re positive members of the community; that we’re positively contributing and creating good relationships. It’s not lost on us that we’re able to build this business on the back of a failed war on drugs that’s often victimized black and brown communities. So we’re excited to take today’s first-day profits and donate them to the Black Business Alliance [and] we look forward to a very equitable economy here in Branford.”

Anne-Marie Knight, Executive Director of non-profit Black Business Alliance (New Haven) was on hand to thank Kovler and his team for their support.

“This is an opportunity to support an organization that supports these businesses from the ground-up. We thank you for thinking about equity, being a part of the community; but really investing in our community,” said Knight.

Kovler thanked Branford State Representative Robin Comey (D, District 102) for attending the grand opening event.

Comey congratulated Green Thumb for opening Rise among the day's 7 dispensaries opening statewide on Jan. 10. She said the expansion of the Branford location to now serve both medicinal and recreational customers is “...really directly supporting the needs and the wants of our residents here in the state.”

During the 2021 legislative session, Connecticut “...set out to pass the most equitable and community-centric adult-use cannabis legislation that we could,” said Comey.

Comey said the start of recreational sales in the state is “...another step in removing the stereotypes that come along with marijuana, whether you’re using it for recreational or medicinal purposes.”

“Today, particularly, the safety and the wellness of all of our cannabis users here in the state is a priority,” said Comey. “And whether or not you have a qualifying diagnosis, you will be able to access safe, quality products that can help the users here in our state.”

Speaking with Zip06/The Sound at the grand opening on Jan. 10, Green Thumb Industries’ Northeast Commercial General Manager, David Bodurtha, said the company’s acquisition of the Branford-based Bluepoint dispensary included officially changing its name over to Rise as of Jan. 10.

Bodurtha said Green Thumb also owns Bluepoint’s Westport dispensary, and is currently partnering with Tamborino at that store. Green Thumb also owns Southern Wellness in Milford.

While the Towns of Westport and Milford voted not to allow retail sales for adult-use marijuana, Bodurtha noted the state allows operators to seek other sites within a 10-mile radius. He said Green Thumb received approval last week to move its Milford store to a Boston Post Road location in Orange, with an anticipated possible opening in May. A site is still being sought within the 10-mile radius for the Westport store.

Green Thumb currently operates a total of 77 dispensaries in 15 markets, including 6 stores in neighboring Massachusetts; with most of its dispensaries carrying the Rise name. Green Thumb also owns 17 grow labs located among several states, including Advance Grow Labs in West Haven.

Some Green Thumb retail stores are medical only, others are adult-use only, and some are hybrid, like the Branford site. Bodurtha said the Branford site is anticipated to serve consumers from a geographical area stretching between the city of New Haven and the Connecticut River.

He said medical marijuana consumers are considered a priority at hybrid stores.

“We serve the medical community first and foremost,” said Bodurtha. “We make sure we have plenty of product for them. We have separate menu; we have separate lines. We’re doing free delivery for a minimum purchase of $50, so it’s really convenient for those who want to avoid the lines and the extra traffic that we’re seeing.”

On Jan. 10, Branford site traffic was managed with assistance from a private parking company, and included separate parking for medical marijuana customers.

Following the ribbon cutting, a short line of recreational retail customers lined up at Rise’s separate, side entrance to await the state’s official, 10 a.m. opening bell for recreational sales to begin.

At the Branford location, recreational consumers first check in at an enclosed lobby entrance, where government-issued forms of identification showing age 21 or over are confirmed, before going through another door to the retail floor. There, customers head to a row of touch-screen kiosks where they can select purchases. Next, they enter a foot-traffic, line-and-stanchion queue to reach the service counter, where a Rise “budtender” dispenses their order.

By state law, recreational sales are limited to 1/4 ounce of cannabis flower, or its equivalent, per transaction, among products offered.

“That’s 7 grams of flower, which is the equivalent of 125 grams of edibles, which is a very low limit,” said Bodurtha. “You can buy up to 2 grams of vape at a time, which is understandable. So I think the state imposed these limits just to ensure there is enough product in the state to continue to serve the medical community. And again, that’s our number-one priority, as well. That’s why we’re here to begin with. We were hoping this day would come; and it has. Now we can serve both communities. We’re just thrilled for that.”

All products are tested by a third-party lab to ensure not only accurate potency; but to ensure no harmful containments such as pesticides, fungicides or herbicides are in the product, said Bodurtha.

“Safety, and safe clean product, is one of our top priorities, and something we take very seriously.”

Bodurtha said legal sales of cannabis “brings positivity to a community” in several ways.

“We have 60 new jobs at this location; it's a whole new tax base for the state, which has been waiting a long time for that additional tax revenue; [and] a lot of cannabis customers have been waiting for this day. It's a day in history. It’s going to help curb the opioid pandemic --we've seen that. And, really, it just helps people lead happier, healthier lives every day.”

In markets where legalization is happening, “...more and more Americans are choosing cannabis for well-being, every single day,” said Bodurtha. “We’re here to serve that need.”