From Chowder Pot To THC: INSA Makes it’s Connecticut Debut

I was bittersweet when I wrote about the permanent closure of my beloved USS Chowder Pot IV's closure on Brainard Road in Hartford last Fall. See, I love seafood, but I also love weed, I knew then that a cannabis dispensary would soon take the place of one of my favorite seafood restaurants. Well Connecticut, today is the day.

I've just received an e-mail from INSA announcing that their new cannabis dispensary is now open for business at 167 Brainard Road in Hartford. Also, INSA says we are only days away from the grand opening of their second Connecticut location, which will be located at 222 Sargent Drive in New Haven. I'm familiar with INSA already, I've shopped at their dispensaries in Massachusetts. If you've driven through downtown Springfield over the past couple of years, you may have seen their huge dispensary right off of I-91 near the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

What's the differences between the menus at Hartford INSA and Springfield INSA? Hartford and Springfield are only 26 miles apart, but the variety and strength of product is better to the North. Massachusetts allows the sale of cannabis flower testing over 30% THC, Connecticut does not. Massachusetts allows the sale of cannabis concentrates in the form of Shatter, Rosin, Diamonds, etc, Connecticut does not. Kief? INSA Hartford does have, as well as vapes that test into the 90% THC range. The price points are pretty similar between the two states, but INSA and most other dispensaries will text you discounted daily specials if you sign up, and that helps.

Does it wash away the pain of never being able to have my whole bellies or twin 1-1/4's on Brainard Road anymore? Sure, but I'm on Ozempic, it's 2024. Good luck INSA, I'll see you soon.