[PRESS RELEASE] – CHICAGO, April 1, 2025 – Verano Holdings Corp., a leading multistate cannabis company, announced the grand opening of Zen Leaf Ashford on April 4, elevating the company’s retail footprint to six Connecticut locations and 154 dispensaries nationwide.

Zen Leaf Ashford, located at 55 Nott Hwy., will be open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Zen Leaf Ashford will kick off the weekend-long celebration with a Friday morning ribbon cutting with the local Chamber of Commerce, and Friday through Sunday will feature grand opening doorbuster deals and discounts, food trucks, DJs spinning tunes, giveaways from CTPharma, and other popups. Additionally, the company will host an onsite job fair with the opportunity for on-the-spot interviews throughout the weekend.

Situated in Windham County, Zen Leaf is Ashford’s first cannabis outlet and the closest dispensary to the iconic University of Connecticut in Storrs, providing the Husky faithful a convenient location just minutes from campus. Although Verano has a standing 10% off student deal nationally, Zen Leaf Ashford is upping the ante with a UConn-exclusive 20% “Higher Education” student promotion, and as a nod to the Huskies’ legendary sports prowess, Zen Leaf will celebrate men’s/women’s Husky soccer, football, basketball, softball and baseball victories throughout each season with “UConn Wins, You Win” specials for all customers.

Additionally, Zen Leaf Ashford will also offer everyday specials available at all Connecticut Zen Leaf locations, including the state’s leading 22% off discount for veterans, 20% off “Medical Monday” deals for medical patients, and up to 20% off the first three orders after downloading the Zen Leaf mobile app.

Along with grand opening celebrations, as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to support local communities across Connecticut, Verano is proud to dedicate funds benefitting the following local area organizations:

• Windham Covenant Soup Kitchen, a local nonprofit dedicated to assisting Windham residents experiencing food insecurity and limited access to essential services, which will provide more than 6,700 meals for those in need.
• Windham Area Interfaith Ministry, an organization that provides various supportive services for area residents, including emergency assistance.

“We’re thrilled to welcome new patients, guests and team members to Zen Leaf as we plant our roots in Ashford and look forward to cheering on the Huskies with exclusive UConn student deals and special discounts that celebrate team wins while continuing our legacy of support for local community organizations across Connecticut,” Verano founder and CEO George Archos said.

Zen Leaf Ashford adds another convenient outlet for Connecticut cannabis consumers that complements existing Zen Leaf locations in Meriden, Naugatuck, Newington, Norwich and Waterbury. Verano’s operations in Connecticut also include the 217,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art CTPharma cultivation and processing facility in Rocky Hill, where the company produces a variety of CTPharma branded products, including flower, vapes, concentrates and topicals; Savvy flower and vapes; On the Rocks Live Rosin edibles; and Encore Edibles gummies and chocolates.

For additional convenience and accessibility, patients can choose to order ahead at ZenLeafDispensaries.com for express in-store pickup.