Why We Take Issue With Promoting Hi! People and Other THC Seltzers
Under the state’s funding structure, $1 from every individual can of THC seltzer sold goes straight into the Cannabis Enforcement Account — the same account used to fund raids, fines, compliance actions, and enforcement against everyday residents.
Part of Cannabis Enforcement and the DIA Map · HB 7181 and Connecticut's Enforcement Laws
Opinion. This piece expresses the view of the publication. It is labeled so readers can distinguish it from news reporting.
This is exactly why we take issue with Connecticut residents and businesses promoting or partnering with Hi People and other THC seltzer producers.
Under the state’s funding structure, $1 from every individual can of THC seltzer sold goes straight into the Cannabis Enforcement Account — the same account used to fund raids, fines, compliance actions, and enforcement against everyday residents.
That means a simple 4-pack purchase sends $4 directly to enforcement. Not equity. Not community programs. Enforcement.
Our reporting isn’t about attacking any one company — it’s about making the public aware of where their dollars actually go in Connecticut’s cannabis system, and why these relationships deserve real scrutiny.
So let’s chat Emerald Lounge, we welcome it but are unable to initiate the contact from our platform.
- CT CannaTimes Editor
This story was originally published by Connecticut CannaTimes on Facebook on November 22, 2025 and was migrated to this website on October 16, 2026. The publication date above is the original date.
More in Cannabis Enforcement and the DIA Map
The full investigation- Nearly 97% of Documented Cannabis Raids Happened Inside or Within Five Miles of a DIAOctober 17, 2026 · Enforcement
- Crisp Cannabis President Charged With Animal Cruelty After Dogs Left in Locked Car, Police SaySeptember 17, 2026 · Courts
- Would Fentanyl Survive a Burning Joint? Examining the “Fentanyl-Laced Cannabis” ClaimJune 10, 2026 · Enforcement
Related Stories
Every Can of THC Seltzer Sold in Connecticut Funds Enforcement, Not Patients
When most Connecticut consumers pick up a can of THC seltzer, they assume they’re supporting a legal industry, small businesses, or the state’s cannabis program. But every single can sold in the state — every individual beverage — sends $1 straight into the Connecticut Cannabis Enforcement Account.
Hi! People and Emerald Lounge: A Grand Opening That Reveals Unequal Enforcement
There is no scenario in which an ordinary Hartford resident could light up cannabis outside a storefront, 20–25 feet from a business entrance, without risking a citation or confrontation. Public consumption rules are enforced aggressively. Municipal police, DCP, and the Clean Indoor Air Act all restrict where an individual can smoke — and lower-income communities feel this enfo
Hi! People's Hartford Opening: Corporate Cannabis, HB 7181 and the Squeeze on the Gray Market
Hi! People is promoting its Hartford “GRAND OPENING – Hartford’s Most Anticipated Event of 2025” at 306 Market Street, with live music, food trucks, “The Emerald Smoke Lounge,” “special vendors + CT’s favorite canna-brands,” “freshly stocked shelves,” promotions, and “exclusive discounts” for people who tag friends and RSVP.
Nearly 97% of Documented Cannabis Raids Happened Inside or Within Five Miles of a DIA
A Connecticut CannaTimes investigation found that 91.6% of documented cannabis enforcement locations, 96.7% of search-warrant raids, and 92.7% of enforcement actions involving arrests occurred inside or within five miles of areas Connecticut designated as disproportionately harmed by the drug war.