Norwich ― Traffic slowed in front of 606 West Main St. Friday morning as a few drivers honked at the more than 50 people gathered to welcome Zen Leaf Norwich, the city’s first cannabis retail dispensary.

The first customers had to await the ribbon-cutting formalities, as officials from Zen Leaf’s parent company, Chicago-based Verano Holding Corp. thanked city leaders for embracing the state’s new adult recreational cannabis industry and pledged to honor the social equity aspects of the law.

The Norwich combined medical and adult recreational cannabis dispensary is the company’s third retail outlet in Connecticut and the first under the social equity guidelines. A state law enacted in 2021 gives preference to license applicants located in cities deemed disproportionately affected by the nation’s so-called war on drugs.

Josh Kudisch, vice president of national retail for Verano, said the company plans to partner with local human services agencies, including food pantries and the NAACP and to give back to the community.

Richard Wallace, 71, of Norwich stood patiently through the half hour of speeches and greetings Friday to become the first medical cannabis customer to enter the store. Wallace said he has been using cannabis for relief from neuropathy pain for the past four years. He had previously been going to the dispensary in Montville.

“Now, I hope to come here regularly,” Wallace said.

Customer Paige Pabst, 27, of Greeneville, was among the first recreational cannabis buyers Friday morning. Pabst said legalized marijuana in Connecticut and having a local store a few miles from home “beats going to Massachusetts.” She came to the grand opening to buy a pack of pre-rolled joints to take advantage of Zen Leaf’s 20% off opening day sale.

A pack of five pre-rolled joints cost $24.80 Friday after the 20% discount.

With a growing number of retail outlets in the region, Pabst said she would compare prices and whether she becomes a regular at Zen Leaf “depends on the prices.”

Once the ribbon was cut and the doors opened officially at 9 a.m., a steady stream of customers entered the store, greeted at the front counter by staff who checked IDs and steered medical and recreational customers through their respective lines. Large flat screen TVs lined the inner service room wall flashing promotions for various products.

By 9:30 a.m., the rush had subsided, and Zen Leaf staff settled in for normal business.

The city’s first dispensary became the third retail cannabis store in the region, the others in Uncasville and Groton, with more proposed outlets on the horizon. Norwich zoning officials had approved a second retail cannabis business, but Kevin Brown, president of the Norwich Community Development Corp., said the plan fell through. The city continues to court the industry, and two large cultivators, on Eighth Street and Forest Street, plan to start production by the end of 2023 or early 2024, Brown said.

Cannabis around the region

In Groton, Curaleaf, which has been operating as a medical marijuana dispensary, announced on July 7 that it also is beginning adult-use recreational cannabis sales.

The Town of Groton implemented new regulations in May ― which don’t apply to Groton Long Point, the City of Groton and Noank ― to allow cannabis businesses in certain zones in town. The town’s Planning and Zoning Commission this week approved a site plan from Botanic Jac, LLC. for a cannabis retail store at 721 Long Hill Road.

Montville has a moratorium on all cannabis establishments in place until November, but that does not affect The Botanist, a hybrid retailer which offers both medical and adult-use cannabis, said Director of Land Use and Development Liz Burdick. The Montville Planning and Zoning Commission has asked Burdick to put together a regulation to prohibit future retail cannabis establishments, but it still has to go through the approval process, including a public hearing, she said.

Some towns have moratoriums or bans on cannabis establishments.

Old Lyme has a ban on all cannabis establishments, said Eric Knapp, land use coordinator for the town.

Lyme prohibits “the commercial cultivation, propagation, processing, distribution, and wholesale or retail sale of cannabis.”

In November, the Waterford Planning and Zoning Commission passed a ban on the sale and production of recreational cannabis.

Stonington Borough has also passed an ordinance banning cannabis businesses.

Other towns are passing regulations.

In September, the Preston Planning and Zoning Commission approved regulations to allow adult-use recreational cannabis retail dispensaries and cultivation facilities in some town zones.

In August, Stonington approved cannabis regulations that will allow one retail and one non-retail cannabis business in town.

The New London Planning and Zoning Commission has approved special permits for retail cannabis establishments at 449 Colman St. and 595 Bank Street.

Officials welcome cannabis businesses

State Sen. Cathy Osten, speaking at the Norwich grand opening Friday, said it took three votes in the state Senate in 2021 before passing legislation to approve recreational marijuana. She said she supported legalization legislation to ensure Connecticut had a well-regulated cannabis industry.

“This makes sure that when everybody is complaining and talking about fentanyl-laced in everything that’s out there, it won’t happen with a business like this,” Osten said, “because they care about the product that they deliver. They care about who they deliver it to. They make sure it’s a clean product.”

Osten also welcomed the new jobs to the city. Zen Leaf said all 17 employees live in Connecticut, and a majority live in Norwich.

“And I’m very excited about seeing a new business here in Norwich, and I look forward to seeing some of that new revenue,” Osten said.

The state law provides a 3% additional sales tax on recreational cannabis sales, with that revenue going directly to the host municipality, Osten said.

Norwich Mayor Peter Nystrom, a 20-year former state representative, said he probably would have been against the law at the time. Nystrom said when the state legalized recreational marijuana, Norwich welcomed the industry “from day one.” He stressed the need to keep people safe and healthy. He said Norwich should invest some of the new tax revenue into additional community policing.

“You have to adapt. You have to change. You have to work with reality,” Nystrom said of Norwich’s support for the industry. “We’re going to work with the industry. … I let go of my own personal beliefs. That’s the bottom line. We all have to work together as a community.”

c.bessette@theday.com