Hydroponic supply store for homegrown Cannabis opens
Gabriel Zamorano Launches Medatron: A New Hub for Home Cannabis Growers in Meriden.
As a longtime home cannabis grower, Gabriel Zamorano followed his passion and opened Medatron at 626 E. Main St. after retiring from Ulbrich steel. In addition to offering growing supplies and rentals, Zamorano said he is excited to teach others how to grow high-quality plants through hydroponic systems that use water instead of soil to grow indoors.
“I went this route because it’s legal to grow in Connecticut. So, I just started growing and helping people grow,” he said. “I learned a lot through trial and error, and my goal now is to help others, so they don't have to go through the years of grueling failures to figure out the hard way.”
As of October of 2021, state law allows medical marijuana patients 18 years and older and adults 21 years and older to grow up to three mature and three immature plants in their home. In addition, retail sales of recreational-use cannabis to adults aged 21 and over began in Connecticut in January 2023. As different cannabis and hemp products become more common, Medatron is part of a crop of cannabis-related stores becoming a growing part of the Meriden business community.
The city modified its zoning laws to limit the number of retail adult-use dispensaries to three. ZenLeaf at 1371 E. Main St. and Rejoice at 834 Broad St. have already opened, while a third location is in the works.
Economic Development Director Joe Feest said the city is starting to see tax revenues from these sales.
“Cannabis is definitely one of the growing and expanding businesses in the state of Connecticut since they were granted the ability to operate,” he said. “We have had several new businesses or businesses that have actually changed their license from medical over to either hybrid or strictly retail.”
Connecticut dispensaries are only allowed to secure product inventory through Connecticut producers, according to the Record-Journal.
Because of these legislative limitations, Zamorano said there are advantages to growing your own weed at home. "No cut to the dispensary, but your worst grow in here is better than their best grow," Zamorano said.
“I have grown a long time. I know how to dry and cure these processes," he said.
Zamorano sees a business opportunity to supply both commercial growers and home growers. He started shipping from his garage, but now that the location is opened, the green and purple Medatron truck can make easier commercial deliveries because of its convenient access to major highways.
For home growers, Zamorano explained, there were three main ways to grow a marijuana plant; hydroponics, coconut husks or a soil base. He compared growing cannabis in soil to wine or cheese, because the terpenes in the soil can influence the taste.
“Beginning growers learn how to grow with soil, then you move on to the hydro because the hydro is much faster with bigger buds and better tasting, but you need to be experienced to learn how to do it,” he said.
In addition to classes and tastings, Zamorano said he also rents out equipment to help home growers harvest their crops, such as humidors for drying and curing, different presses and a preroll maker.
Midstate Chamber of Commerce president Roseanne Ford welcomed Medatron to the business community and said a ribbon cutting is scheduled for Wednesday from 5 to 6 p.m. She also noted that hydroponics is in fashion as the Kiwanis Club of Meriden donated a hydroponic garden to the Meriden Public Library in April and they’ve already harvested a variety of herbs and greens that they are use for programming at the library.
“This is a growing” industry,” she said. “Indoor gardens are becoming more popular, especially for individuals who may not have space at their home for an outdoor garden or for folks who live in an apartment setting.”
