Manchester's Curaleaf Medical dispensary begins adult-use sales
A cannabis dispensary near the Buckland Hills Mall has begun offering cannabis for recreational use.
Curaleaf, located at 240 Buckland St., opened earlier this year for medical sales but began selling adult-use cannabis this week, roughly two miles from the existing Fine Fettle dispensary on Hale Road. Unlike Fine Fettle, which opened as a recreational dispensary, Curaleaf is now a hybrid-use dispensary selling both medical and recreational cannabis products.
The store, built inside the former Friendly's next to Chili's, joins three other Curaleaf dispensaries in selling recreational cannabis, with Hartford, Groton, and Stamford starting earlier this year.
Curaleaf is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The store will soon offer at-home service through Green Coach Delivery, a company that also handles delivery for the nearby Fine Fettle.
The store's front entrance is a small room with a security desk, where employees check for identification. Once inside, customers are greeted to displays, some behind glass, with products including flowers, pre-rolls, gummies, and vaporizers. Some tables have fliers promoting products and a rewards program, and one wall is adorned with two backlit vaporizer posters.
Curaleaf has a website and mobile phone app for placing orders, and provides kiosks in-store for walk-in customers. Employees said orders can be filled shortly after they are placed.
Staff and checkout lines will be dedicated to medical cannabis in order to support and prioritize Curaleaf's existing patients.
Some of the store's employees are in the front, helping customers choose products and complete their orders, while others handle both medical and recreational cannabis in the back.
The store began selling recreational products Monday, but will hold a "ribbon-cutting" ceremony on Friday with prizes, giveaways, and discounts.
Curaleaf was approved to move into Manchester last September. At the time, officials said their medical license was ready to go, but needed until this year for a recreational cannabis permit.
The company currently operates 152 dispensary in 19 states, in addition to 22 cultivation sites across the country.
Fine Fettle, Curaleaf's only competitor in Manchester, opened in February exclusively to serve the adult-use market. The company also operates hybrid-use dispensaries in Newington, Stamford, and Willimantic.
Curaleaf CEO Matt Darin said that the company is proud to expand into the recreational cannabis sphere.
"Connecticut has developed a robust adult-use marketplace that continues to innovate and contribute to the larger adult-use marketplace across the country," Darin said.
