Big Bucks And Buds: This State’s Cannabis Industry Spent Millions On Lobbying Efforts

Medicinal marijuana growers and retailers in Connecticut spent a significant amount of money on lobbying in the years leading up to the legalization of the state’s recreational cannabis sales.

• Watertown, Connecticut-based Theraplant spent over $657,000 on lobbying between 2019 and 2022
• New York-based Acreage Holdings (OTCQX:ACRHF), which owns three MMJ dispensaries in the state, increased its lobbying investment from about $136,000 in 2019 and 2020 to more than $210,500 in 2021 and 2022.
• Florida-based Trulieve (OTCQX:TCNNF) also spent $158,990.80 on lobbyists in 2021 and 2022.
• Companies that specified only “cannabis” or “marijuana” in their filings spent $852,470.25 between 2019 and 2020, and $956,365.28 between 2021 and 2022.

Data was sourced from CT Insider, citing lobbyist filings reviewed by Hearst Connecticut Media.