Search Results for "connecticut"

Connecticut Launches Cannabis Information Website

7/06/2021

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The administration of Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) on Monday launched a website intended to update residents with information about the state’s new adult-use cannabis laws. The governor said the site will “be an important resource for people who have questions about the new law or who might be interested in starting a new business in this market.”

“Passage of this new law was an important step forward in ending the failed war on drugs as adults over the age of 21 can now legally possess and consume cannabis in Connecticut. Now begins the important work of standing up a fair, well-regulated marketplace for businesses and consumers that prioritizes public health, safety, and social equity.”—Lamont in a press release  

Department of Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull called the website “an important resource for consumers and interested business owners” which will provide up-to-date information on the licensing and application process, noting that state officials “are committed to a clear and transparent process.”

Portions of the state’s adult-use cannabis law took effect July 1—just nine days after Lamont signed the measure into law.

The website includes information on what parts of the law are currently in effect and the state’s medical cannabis program.

The equity, diversion, and inclusion section of the site notes that the War on Drugs “ravaged” the state’s communities.

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Adult-Use Cannabis Possession Now Legal in Connecticut and Virginia

7/01/2021

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Portions of the legislature-approved legalization laws in Connecticut and Virginia take effect today including possession and use for adults 21-and-older in both states. In Virginia, adults will be able to grow up to four plants per household, but recreational sales will not commence in the state until 2024.

In Connecticut, retail sales are expected late next year.

Virginia lawmakers approved the reforms in March, making it the first state in the South to end cannabis prohibition. Starting today, it is legal for Virginians over 21 to possess up to 1 ounce and gift up to that amount to another adult. Consumption in the state is only permitted in private.

In Connecticut, where Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont just signed the legalization bill last week, adults can possess 1.5 ounces in public and up to 5 ounces in a locked container at home or in a car. Adults will eventually be allowed to cultivate their own plants on July 1, 2023, but provisions of the law de-felonizing home grows up to six plants take effect today.

The Connecticut law also includes a requirement for municipalities that opt-in to the market to create outdoor spaces for cannabis consumption, WTNH reports.

Earlier this year, adult cannabis use and possession reforms also took effect in New York; while on Tuesday portions of New Mexico’s adult-use law—including possession and use—also kicked in.

In Virginia, the reforms were not initially set to become the law of the land until 2023, but lawmakers passed a bill to push up the launch date following criticism.

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Connecticut Gov. Signs Legalization Bill Into Law

6/22/2021

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Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) signed the state’s cannabis legalization bill into law today, closing out a multi-year effort by pro-cannabis advocates and lawmakers.

Under the new law, adults aged 21 or older will be allowed to use and possess cannabis starting July 1. Legal purchases and possession will be capped at one and a half ounces on someone’s person but up to five ounces can be legally stored at home or in a vehicle’s trunk or glove box. Regulated cannabis sales are not expected to roll out until May 2022.

During the signing ceremony, the governor said the bill was public health- and equity-focused.

“People have been working on this for 10 years. It’s been a long time coming. I think we have a good bill that puts public health first.” — Gov. Lamont, during the bill’s signing ceremony

The law was approved last Thursday during a special session after House lawmakers failed to take up the Senate-approved legalization bill in the final days of the legislative session. In a twist of irony, Connecticut’s legalization bill was formally approved by lawmakers on the 50th anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s declaration of the drug war.

With the signing, Connecticut is officially the fifth state to legalize adult-use cannabis in 2021, following in the footsteps of New Jersey, New York, New Mexico, and Virginia. Additionally, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are now the only remaining New England states that have not yet adopted the reforms.

 

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Connecticut Passes Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization

6/18/2021

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The Connecticut Senate on Thursday passed a bill to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, WFSB reports. The legislation was approved on Tuesday by the House and moves next to Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont who is expected to sign the reforms into law.

In a statement, Lamont noted that the bill passed the Legislature on the 50-year anniversary of President Richard Nixon’s declaration of the War on Drugs.

“The war on cannabis, which was at its core a war on people in Black and Brown communities, not only caused injustices and increased disparities in our state, it did little to protect public health and safety. That’s why I introduced a bill and worked hard with our partners in the legislature and other stakeholders to create a comprehensive framework for a securely regulated market that prioritizes public health, public safety, social justice, and equity. It will help eliminate the dangerous unregulated market and support a new, growing sector of our economy which will create jobs. … By allowing adults to possess cannabis, regulating its sale and content, training police officers in the latest techniques of detecting and preventing impaired driving, and expunging the criminal records of people with certain cannabis crimes, we’re not only effectively modernizing our laws and addressing inequities, we’re keeping Connecticut economically competitive with our neighboring states.  … This measure is comprehensive, protects our children and the most vulnerable in our communities, and will be viewed as a national model for regulating the adult-use cannabis marketplace.”—Lamont in a statement

Cannabis use and possession for adults 21-and-older will be legal on July 1 and retail sales are expected to roll out by May 2022. The law allows adults to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, including up to five ounces at home or in a vehicle’s glove box or trunk.

Once signed by the governor, Connecticut will be the 19th state to end cannabis prohibition and the fifth state this year to pass the reforms.

The bill passed 16-11 with four Democrats joining all of the Republicans in voting against the proposal. Nine senators were absent for the vote.

Once the bill is signed into law, New Hampshire and Rhode Island will be the only New England states where cannabis remains prohibited.

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Connecticut House Passes Legalization Bill, Senate Vote Expected Today

6/17/2021

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The Connecticut House on Wednesday approved a cannabis legalization bill with the Senate expected to vote on the proposal today, the Hartford Courant reports. The vote came during a special session, which Democratic leaders called after the House failed to vote on a Senate-approved legalization bill before the end of the state’s regular session.

The Senate has approved the measure twice in eight days but had recently amended social equity provisions in the bill enough to force Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont—a strong supporter of legalization —to threaten a veto, according to CT New Junkie. The changes included an amendment that would have included wealthy relatives of anyone who had previously been arrested on cannabis charges to be considered a social equity applicant.

House Speaker Matt Ritter (D) told the Courant that most of the caucus members were comfortable removing the language opposed by the governor as it was not part of the original bill drafted in coordination with Lamont’s office.

The House plans to restore the initial definition of equity applicants to only include individuals from areas most disproportionately impacted by the enforcement of cannabis laws—those with the highest rates of drug-related arrests—high unemployment rates, and those with incomes less than 300% of the state median.

Following the House vote, Rep. Steven Stafstrom (D) said the state’s “time has finally come” for broad cannabis legalization.

“We take the next step as this chamber in recognizing the war on drugs has failed us and the criminalization of cannabis was the wrong course of action for our state and for our nation.”— Stafstrom to the Courant

As currently drafted, the measure would allow adults 21-and-older to purchase and possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis, including up to five ounces at home or in a vehicle’s glove box or trunk, starting on July 1. Retail sales in Connecticut are not expected to start until May 2022.

The bill passed the House 76-62. During the regular session, the Senate passed the bill by just two votes.

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Connecticut Delays Legalization Vote to Special Session

6/10/2021

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Connecticut’s legislative session ended last night before the House of Representatives could consider legislation to legalize adult-use cannabis but House Speaker Matt Ritter (D) said lawmakers will take up the bill in a special session, the Hartford Courant reports.

The bill had momentum going into the last day of the session after being passed by the Senate — the first time a legislative body of Connecticut approved sweeping cannabis reforms — but ultimately the bill’s progress was set to be stalled by debates with House Republicans. Speaker Ritter said he decided to delay the vote for a special session in order to avoid the lengthy fallout.

“It’s one thing to have an honest, robust debate on a complicated topic. The concern in my caucus is the four or five people that never want to stop and that goes into your calculation. If you had 36 people speak for 10 minutes, ask good questions — not the same questions — because they want to learn about the bill, that is an honest debate. The concern on my end is six people who want to go for nine hours each.” — Ritter via the Hartford Courant

House Republican Leader Vin Candelora said that talks of a Republican filibuster were “preposterous” because lawmakers were only given one day to consider the 300-page bill. “It was less the threat of a filibuster and more a reality of when midnight comes, the debate has to end,” he said.

The bill was approved 19-17 in the Senate early Tuesday morning.

Gov. Ned Lamont (D), who supports the legislation, was still confident that legalization would pass.

“We’re not going to lose momentum,” he said in the report. “It will pass. … We’ll vote when they’re tired of talking. … Look, if they want more time to read it, God bless ‘em — they got a little more time to read it.”

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Connecticut Senate Passes Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Bill

6/08/2021

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The Connecticut Senate early this morning narrowly approved a bill to legalize cannabis for adult use as the Legislature prepares to adjourn today, CT News Junkie reports. It’s the first time either legislative chamber in the state has approved the reforms and Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont commended the chamber for passing the bill.

The legislation passed by just two votes – 19 to 17.

“The war on cannabis, which was at its core a war on people in Black and Brown communities, not only caused injustices and increased disparities in our state, it did little to protect public health and safety. That’s why I introduced a bill and worked hard with our partners in the legislature to create a comprehensive framework for a securely regulated market that prioritizes public health, public safety, social justice, and equity. It will help eliminate the dangerous, unregulated market and support a new growing sector of our economy, which will lead to jobs and growth. This measure is comprehensive, protects our children and the most vulnerable in our communities, and will be viewed as a national model for regulating the adult-use cannabis marketplace. I look forward to the Connecticut House of Representatives securing passage of this measure and sending it my desk.” — Lamont in a statement

The proposal would allow adults to possess up to 1.5 ounces in public and up to 5 ounces at home or in the glove box of a car. Sales to adults 21-and-older would begin in May 2022. The bill estimates that legal sales would lead to about $4.1 million in tax revenues during year one and about $26.3 million in year two, according to the fiscal note attached to the bill.

House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora told Fox 61 that the bill “is not about the policy of marijuana and the public health implications” rather decrying it as “all about revenue.”

Adults would be able to grow six plants per household, up to 12 plants, by July 2023. The bill also includes provisions allowing Connecticut cannabis workers to unionize along with social equity rules to ensure 65% ownership in cannabis businesses benefit communities most impacted by the War on Drugs. The legislation would also require the state to set up a social equity commission.

Opponents of the bill could try and prevent its passage by debating the proposal until after tonight’s midnight deadline but House Speaker Matt Ritter (D) said he could immediately call back lawmakers for a special session on Thursday to continue the debate and vote on the reforms.

Lukas Barfield contributed to this report.

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Connecticut Cannabis Legalization Bill Could Be Considered Next Week

5/28/2021

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The Connecticut House Majority Leader said he expects at least one legislative chamber to act next week on a bill to legalize cannabis in the state, WTNH reports. State Rep. Jason Rojas, a Democrat, said he expects the measure to be heard, first, by the Senate.

Rojas added that lawmakers plan on making social equity applicants a priority in the first round of licensing.

“The whole conversation around equity is about ensuring that entrance to the marketplace is able to be accessed by communities and or individuals who live in the communities that have been most impacted by the war on drugs.” – Rojas to WTNH

State Rep. Matthew Ritter, the Speaker of the Democratically-led House, indicated that he was “struck by the number” of lawmakers that “were ‘no’s’ previously, or ‘maybes’ who are kind of getting there.”

House Minority Leader, Republican state Rep. Vin Candelora, said conversations were still needed because of “health issues” associated with “people that are vaping 90% THC.”

A recent Sacred Heart University poll found nearly two-thirds (64%) of Connecticut residents support adult-use cannabis legalization in the state with about 29% opposed and 7% unsure. The survey also found that 61.6% of respondents supported legalization-related criminal reforms such as the expungement of low-level cannabis crimes, which is included in the bill making its way through the Legislature.

The reforms are supported by Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, who has indicated that if the Legislature fails to approve the reforms this session – which ends June 9 – the issue would “probably” end up being put to voters next year.

Connecticut is bordered by legal states Massachusetts and New York, the latter of which only approved the reforms in March and has not yet launched legal sales.

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Poll Finds Strong Support for Legalization in Connecticut

5/20/2021

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Nearly two-thirds (64%) of Connecticut residents support adult-use cannabis legalization in the state with about 29% opposed and 7% unsure, according to a Sacred Heart University poll conducted last month and released on Monday.

The poll found support for the broad reforms was down slightly from a survey by the university published in March which found 65.7% backed legalization.

The survey also found that 61.6% of respondents supported legalization-related criminal reforms such as the expungement of low-level cannabis crimes, while less than half (47.8%) said legalization would lead to more drivers operating motor vehicles under the influence.

A supermajority (76.1%) surveyed said cannabis had “fewer” or “the same amount” of effects as alcohol and 70% indicated they believed cannabis had fewer effects than other drugs, such as heroin, amphetamines, and prescription pain medications.

Poll respondents were split as to whether they believed cannabis was a gateway drug, with 41.8% agreeing with the statement with 49.5% disagreeing and 8.7% unsure.

Earlier this week, Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont met with legislative leaders to discuss legalizing cannabis in the state, according to a Marijuana Moment report. Last month, the General Assembly Judiciary Committee approved a legalization proposal and lawmakers hope to vote on the measure before the session ends on June 9, Lamont said.

Earlier this month, Lamont indicated that if the Legislature fails to approve the reforms this session, the issue would “probably” end up being put to voters next year.

Connecticut is bordered by Massachusetts, which legalized cannabis in 2016, and New York, which approved the reforms in March. It is also nearby New Jersey, where voters approved legalization via the ballot during last year’s General Election.

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Connecticut Cannabis Legalization Bill Approved by Judicial Committee

4/07/2021

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The Connecticut Legislature’s Judiciary Committee on Tuesday approved the cannabis legalization bill proposed by Gov. Ned Lamont (D) and added a host of amendments including allowing medical cannabis patients to grow their own plants and the proposal’s strengthening social equity provisions, the CT Mirror reports.

The changes include permitting only existing medical cannabis dispensaries and social equity applicants to open adult-use cannabis facilities from July 2021 to January 2024; requiring all cannabis operators to have social equity plans; provides for apprenticeship and workforce programs to ensure those from communities most impacted by the war on drugs can get jobs in the industry; and directing 55% of cannabis-derived revenues be spent on social equity efforts. Fifteen percent of the remaining funds would be used for drug prevention and addiction services, with 30% allocated to the state’s general fund, the report says.

The amendments, which passed the committee 22-16 along party lines, would also allow medical cannabis patients to cultivate up to six plants starting next year.

Rep. Steven Stafstrom (D), co-chair of the Judiciary Committee, said during the hearing that he expected the legislation “will see additional revision as it moves through the legislative process and its next committee of assignment.”

“It is this committee’s cognizance as to whether this drug should be legal or not. And that is, I believe, the primary vote that we are taking as a Judiciary Committee here today, is whether to legalize cannabis or not. I would submit that that is long overdue in the state of Connecticut, for a whole host of reasons, not the least of which is this is a drug that is widely believed to be less addictive and less harmful to the body than many other drugs that we already have legalized and regulate here in the state of Connecticut, including tobacco and alcohol.” – Stafstrom via the Mirror

Lamont has included cannabis reforms as part of his State of the State address in January.

Last month the Labor and Public Employees Committee approved a measure that would require labor peace agreements for the state’s cannabis industry. That bill also includes a program to provide grants or low-interest loans to small cannabusinesses in the state and on tribal lands and prohibits employers from discriminating against employees – or prospective employees – who use cannabis outside of work.

Connecticut is bordered by Massachusetts, which legalized cannabis in 2016, and New York, which approved the reforms just last week.

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Connecticut Gov. Considering Cannabis Legalization Plan 

1/25/2021

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Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) has started discussing legislation with state agencies to set up an adult-use cannabis system, the Hartford Courant reports. Joining other states who are taking on cannabis reform via the legislative process, the governor has requested agency feedback on a bill that would tax flower at $1.25 a gram, “trimmed” plants at $0.50 a gram, and unprocessed, or “wet,” cannabis at $0.28 a gram.

Additionally, the governor is asking lawmakers to erase cannabis convictions prior to October 1, 2015. People convicted after that date would have the ability to “petition” the state to have their convictions overturned.

“I am working with our neighboring states and look forward to working with our tribal partners on a path forward to modernize gaming in our state, as well as the legislature on legalization of marijuana. Sports betting, internet gaming, and legalized marijuana are happening all around us. Let’s not surrender these opportunities to out-of-state markets or even worse, underground markets.” — Gov. Lamont, via the Courant

The draft legislation would also ban cannabis advertisements that could be considered attractive to children, call for hiring more “drug recognition experts” in state agencies and police, and regulate indoor cannabis smoking and vaping.

Last year, SB 16, which included various social equity provisions, was introduced in the Connecticut legislature but failed to pass.

This year, state Rep. Jonathan Steinberg told the Courant, “I think it has extremely stronger prospects than it had in recent years.”

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Connecticut Gov. Calls for Cannabis Legalization

1/08/2021

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In his State of the State address on Wednesday, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said he planned to work to legalize cannabis in the coming session.

“I am working with our neighboring states and look forward to working with our tribal partners on a path forward to modernize gaming in our state, as well as the legislature on legalization of marijuana. Sports betting, internet gaming, and legalized marijuana are happening all around us. Let’s not surrender these opportunities to out-of-state markets or even worse, underground markets.” – Lamont, January 6, State of the State

In 2019, Lamont and other regional governors, including New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D), and Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (D) announced a joint regional approach toward legalization. Since then, New Jersey legalized cannabis through a voter-approved ballot initiative in November.

Cuomo this week announced a proposal to create an Office of Cannabis Management – a signal that he would include legalization in his Executive Budget for the third consecutive year. In 2019 and 2020, state lawmakers rebuffed the governor’s move to pass the reforms via the budget.

In August, Wolf called on the Legislature to legalize cannabis for adults, saying the market “might be one way” to bridge the state’s budget gap.

Raimondo might not be around to join the regional push for legalization as President-elect Joe Biden (D) announced on Thursday her as his pick for commerce secretary, the New York Times reports. Raimondo had included legalization revenues in her 2020 Executive Budget and supported legalization efforts.

Lamont unveiled a broad legalization bill last year, which included possession limits up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis and 5 grams of concentrates. The measure would set THC caps, prohibit the use of vitamin E acetate in vape products, create a nine-member equity commission and a social equity licensing program, and allow industry participation for individuals with non-violent misdemeanor drug offenses.

Under the governor’s plan, flower would be taxed at $1.25 per gram, trim at $0.50 per gram, and “wet” cannabis at $0.28 per gram. Retailers would also be taxed 3 percent on total gross revenues. The proposal also includes product marketing restrictions – such as a ban on child-friendly shapes for edibles.

A University of Connecticut analysis last year suggested direct state revenue from cannabis sales in the state could be between $784 million and $952 million over five years, according to a Hartford Courant outline of the study. Professor Fred Carstensen, the study’s author who serves as director of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis at UConn’s School of Business, estimated that the number of jobs created by the industry would range from 10,424 to 17,462 by the fifth year.

Connecticut has a medical cannabis program and decriminalized possession.

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Connecticut Aligns State Hemp Program with Federal Rules

10/15/2020

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Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont (D) on Tuesday signed a bill aligning the state’s hemp rules with the federal government’s, the Hartford Courant reports. The measure expands the state’s pilot program, under which there already about 170 hemp-based businesses in the state with farmers cultivating about 500 acres of the crop.

The bill requires the state Agriculture Department to prepare a permanent hemp plan for federal approval, extends the licensing period for producers and manufacturers from two to three years, increases license fees for some industry sectors, outlines more stringent testing requirements, and expands the types of information exempt under the Freedom of Information Act to include hemp location and a producer’s testing results.

During the signing ceremony at a refurbished tobacco factory in Suffield – now a hemp cultivation site – state Agricultural Commissioner Bryan Hurlburt called hemp “the future of Connecticut agriculture,” according to a Journal Inquirer report.

“I’m very proud that the governor made hemp one of his priority issues last year and made sure that in the small call of a special session that we included it to make sure that we still have the opportunity for businesses like this to be successful in the state.” – Hulburt, during the ceremony, via the Courant

Lamont remarked that “CBD is remarkable for the variety of different uses it has.”

“We continue to evolve, and that is what hemp is about,” he said. “Farming is a big piece of our past, and it’s a big piece of our future.”

During the ceremony, U.S. Rep. Joseph D. Courtney (D), called industrial hemp “a tremendous opportunity for eastern Connecticut farming families.”

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Connecticut Legalization Hearing Focuses on Social Equity

3/03/2020

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On Monday the Connecticut Judiciary Committee held a public hearing on Senate Bill 16, the governor-backed bill to legalize and regulate cannabis in the state. The hearing was an opportunity for both administrative agencies, state representatives, and stakeholders to testify in support or opposition of the bill.

Among the top officials that testified in support of the bill was senior advisor to the governor Jonathan Harris.

“We can’t stick our heads in the sand. Cannabis will be increasingly available to the residents of Connecticut. We need to come together on how to most effectively protect our children and public health and safety.” — Harris, during the hearing

Along with legalizing adult use and regulating the sale of cannabis, the bill also includes important social equity and criminal justice reform provisions. Under the bill, a nine-member Equity Commission would be created to “encourage” participation in the cannabis industry by persons from communities that have been disproportionately harmed by cannabis prohibition and enforcement.

“In many places equity might have a seat at the table, where this equity commission gives us a whole table,” said Jason Ortiz, President of the Minority Cannabis Business Association which supports SB 16’s prioritization of creating economic opportunities for disproportionately impacted communities.

Criminal justice reform organizations including the Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association and the Last Prisoner Project also testified in support of the bill, which includes mechanisms for the automatic erasure of past cannabis offenses. The governor’s top criminal justice aide, Mark Pelka, noted that the state has identified 558 collateral consequences to having a criminal record in Connecticut and that a criminal conviction remains on your record for 110 years after your date of birth. “

“That means when most people are buried, the work that they’ve done to atone for the wrongs or to rehabilitate or move forward, that conviction remains on their permanent record,” Pelka said. 

Along with erasure, the bill also includes policy proposals to ensure that individuals with cannabis offenses on their records can participate in the legal industry.

Editor’s note: This article is an editorial contribution from the Last Prisoner Project. Learn more at LastPrisonerProject.org.

 

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Priests Promote Legalization In Connecticut

2/19/2020

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A group of Connecticut clergy members rallied at the state Capitol building yesterday in support of legislation to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis, according to a Regulate CT press release.

“Prohibition does not work. Legalization will regulate the market and bring sorely needed revenue to the state budget, reduce needless arrests, especially for people of color, and provide jobs in communities ravaged by the failed war on drugs.” — Rev. Alexander Sharp, executive director of Clergy for a New Drug Policy, in a statement

Connecticut lawmakers are currently considering a legalization bill pitched by Gov. Ned Lamont (D) that, if approved, would legalize the possession of up to 1.5 ounces, establish a licensing system for cannabis cultivators and operators, and set a weight-based taxation system for the new industry. The bill would also include social equity licensing caveats and the expungement of cannabis possession convictions for up to four ounces.

Under the governor’s proposal, the Department of Consumer Protection would be tasked with determining by 2023 whether or not to allow cannabis home grows.

Participating clergy members at Tuesday’s event included: Rev. Tommie Jackson of Rehoboth Fellowship Church (Stamford); Rev. Alexander Sharp of Clergy for a New Drug Policy; Rev. Stephen W. Camp of Faith Congregational Church (Hartford); Rev. Simon Castillo of Good Shepherd Christian Church (Bridgeport); Rev. Zoey Dominguez of Rehoboth Fellowship Church (Stamford); Rev. Dr. Lindsay E. Curtis of Grace Baptist Church (Norwalk); Rev. Lawrence Hunter of Grace Baptist (Waterbury); Bishop William Marshall, pastor of City of Life Worship and Deliverance Center (Bridgeport and Waterbury); Bishop Robert L. Middleton, Jr., senior pastor of New Beginnings Ministries, Inc. (Hamden); Rev. Edwin Pérez of United Church on the Green/Apostolic Fellowship International Revival Ministries (New Haven); and Rev. Charlie L. Stallworth of East End Baptist Tabernacle Church (Bridgeport). The group was also joined by gospel choir “Brothers in Christ” of Cross Street AME Zion Church in Middletown.

A strong 65 percent majority of Connecticut residents support cannabis legalization, according to a January 2020 GQR poll.

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The Connecticut Capitol Building in Hartford, Connecticut.

Connecticut Moves to Add Chronic Pain to Cannabis Program

10/01/2019

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The Connecticut Board of Physicians has approved chronic pain and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome as qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program, according to a WFSB report. Ehlers-Danlos syndrome affects connective tissues, according to the Mayo Clinic. 

The board also considered adding night terrors/parasomnia but it was ultimately not recommended for the program.

Final approval for the conditions are still required by the Regulations Review Committee of the state General Assembly. In June, the state Department of Consumer Protection approved interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder pain syndrome; intractable neuropathic pain that is unresponsive to traditional medical treatments; medial arcuate ligament syndrome, which causes severe abdominal pain; Tourette syndrome; and vulvodynia and vulvar burning, which causes pain in female genitalia.

If the two conditions are approved by the General Assembly, the total number of qualifying conditions will be 38.  

As of September 29, there are 36,653 medical cannabis patients in the state with just four producers, 14 dispensaries, and 1,117 recommending physicians. 

Lawmakers in the state are considering recreational cannabis legalization. Last week Gov. Ned Lamont and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo met to discuss legalization as the Democrats are pushing for a uniform regional approach to the reforms, the Hartford Courant reports. The states are bordered by Massachusetts which legalized cannabis sales for adults last year.

 

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Connecticut Opens Hemp Manufacturer Licensing

7/09/2019

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Applicants planning on manufacturing hemp products for human use in Connecticut must pay a $50 application fee and a $250 fee if approved for the two-year permit, according to the agency website. Applicants growing and processing hemp for industrial purposes and retailers do not need DCP licensing, but they do need a permit from the Department of Agriculture.

The program is operating under pilot program rules signed into law by Gov. Ned Lamont in May; last year’s federal farm bill requires U.S. Department of Agriculture approval for final rules for permanent programs.

Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull told the Middletown Press that she is “pleased” to have gotten the program up and running so quickly after the bill’s signing.

“I want to thank the Department of Agriculture and our legislators for their support in making the start of this program a success. I look forward to this program growing as an important part of the state’s economy, and encourage those with questions about hemp manufacturing to reach out to us.” — Seagull, to the Middletown Press

In his budget, the governor earmarked $136,000 to the Agriculture Department to develop and regulate the industry. The agency is also provided a lab technician to conduct compliance testing for hemp crops.

Bryan Hulburt, former executive director of the Connecticut Farm Bureau who now serves as the Connecticut Agriculture commissioner, noted prior to joining the government that there are a lot of steps that need to be taken in advance by farmers before they even put seeds into the ground, including a USDA seed waiver, seed procurement, financing, and field preparation.

In April, the USDA released guidance for farmers seeking to import hemp seeds from outside the U.S.

Hulburt estimated that 500 pounds to 1,500 pounds of hemp flower could yield between $37,500 to $150,000 per acre.

“Having a high value crop would keep farmers on the land, be an incentive for farmers to put more land into production, attract new farmers to the industry, stabilize farm incomes, add business opportunities for agricultural support businesses, employ more people, support the opportunity for value-added production, and generate more revenue for the state,” Hulburt said in an interview with the Press.

Farmers will have to show that they are doing some research to qualify for the program.

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University of Connecticut Launches Online Cannabis Horticulture Class

6/17/2019

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The University of Connecticut is bringing its cannabis horticulture class online after more than 400 students — less than half of those interested — enrolled in the on-campus section last semester, the Hartford Courant reports. The online class, Horticulture of Cannabis: from Seed to Harvest, will be available to students nationwide.

The class focuses primarily on hemp cultivation but also focuses on the biochemistry of cannabinoids. UConn Professor Gerry Berkowitz noted that the course is the first of its kind to be offered online by a U.S. university and that, currently, similar classes are only available through for-profit companies. He indicated that many of those classes are not evaluated by an independent, third-party or supported by peer-review science.

“It’s [the online class] all about trying to bring rigor and scholarship to growing cannabis — to understand the basis for why we can and cannot say that applications of this compound, this technique is working, and the basis for all that is we’re trying to have hard science.” — Berkowitz, to the Courant

Berkowitz recommends that students interested in the class have some background in science-related fields; about 100 students dropped the on-campus class last semester after, perhaps, finding it too difficult. He called the current research on cannabis “a complete dark room,” noting that private companies often don’t publish their research and “the government funds nothing” related to cannabis.

He hopes to split the class into introductory and advanced sections next spring and that, along with his colleagues, the college could offer a course on the extraction of organic materials.

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Connecticut May Approve Five New MMJ Qualifying Conditions

6/05/2019

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The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection has approved five new conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program bringing the total to 36, the Hartford Business Journal reports. The conditions must still be approved by the legislature’s Regulations Review Committee.

On Monday, the agency approved interstitial cystitis, a chronic bladder pain syndrome, intractable neuropathic pain that is unresponsive to traditional medical treatments, medial arcuate ligament syndrome, which causes severe abdominal pain, Tourette syndrome, and vulvodynia and vulvar burning, which causes pain in female genitalia. Some of the conditions are only approved for adults, while others are approved for both adults and patients under 18-years-old.

According to the report, the DCP will consider and define chronic pain at a future meeting.

According to state statistics, there are currently 33,206 registered medical cannabis patients in the state with 1,114 recommending physicians. There are nine dispensaries serving patients and four medical cannabis producers.

“Our program relies on the advice and guidance we receive from the medical community including the board. I’m pleased with how our program has grown to support well over 30,000 patients with severe debilitating conditions in the state, all while keeping the integrity of this truly medical program in mind.” – DCP Commissioner Michelle H. Seagull, to the Business Journal

Last month, the legislature’s Finance Committee advanced a recreational cannabis bill but according to a Hartford Courant report, that bill will not be voted on in the General Assembly this session. Medical cannabis was legalized in the state in 2012 and sales began in 2014. The state has updated its medical cannabis qualifying conditions twice before, in 2016 and 2018.

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The state capitol building of Connecticut.

Connecticut Gov. Signs Industrial Hemp Bill

5/13/2019

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Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, a Democrat, has signed legislation creating a pilot program for hemp cultivation in the state. Lamont said the program will strengthen officials’ efforts to grow the agriculture economy and create jobs “in a responsible manner.”

“With this program, farmers will have the opportunity to bolster their profits with hemp, and veteran and first-time farmers alike will be attracted to a new and growing market that will offer crop diversification, increased revenue, and expertise in an expanding field.” — Lamont, in a press release

According to the bill text, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture will use Kentucky’s industrial hemp program as a policy guide for the state’s hemp regulations. The pilot program aims to study the growth, cultivation, and marketing of industrial hemp in Connecticut “in a manner that ensures that only such department grows or cultivates such industrial hemp through the use of sites that are certified by, and registered with, the Department of Agriculture.”

The measure received unanimous support in both chambers of the state General Assembly.

Connecticut Agriculture Commissioner Brian Hurlburt said that while the measure doesn’t outright legalize hemp – as many other states have done following the passage of the federal farm Bill last year – it is a “giant step closer” to broad reforms.

“Hemp has the potential to stabilize the agricultural economy and attract new farmers to the industry while providing consumers with a locally grown product that is in high demand,” he said in a statement. “This ties in with the governor’s budget to support a hemp program and the desire to create new market opportunities for the small business men and women in Connecticut.”

Interested farmers will pay a $50 annual application fee and a cultivation fee of $50 per planned acre of hemp; processors will pay a $250 licensing fee.

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The Connecticut Capitol Building during a pink-toned sunset.

Connecticut Legalization Bill Passes Finance Committee

5/07/2019

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Connecticut lawmakers have amended the state’s adult-use cannabis proposal to include an undisclosed amount of industry-derived revenue be used for mental health and addiction services, according to a CT News Junkie report. The amendment was proposed by Democratic state Sen. Sean Scanlon who said he has “serious reservations about legalization from a public health perspective.

Under the previous version of the bill approved by the General Law Committee in March, all revenues from the recreational cannabis industry would have been sent to cities and communities most impacted by the drug war.

“I wholeheartedly agree that we should be building up communities disproportionately impacted by decades of misguided criminal justice policy but I also have serious reservations about legalization from a public health perspective and I offered this amendment to ensure that, should we legalize, a portion of the revenue will now go towards mental health and substance use disorder treatment.” – Scanlon, during remarks introducing the amendment, via CT News Junkie

The measure includes a 6.35 percent tax on gross receipts of retail sales, transfer taxes of $35-per-ounce of flower and $13.50-per-ounce of trim on growers, and a 3 percent local sales tax. Previously, Connecticut lawmakers had eyed an overall tax rate of 20 percent.

Last month, Democratic House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz came out in opposition of earmarking any of the new tax funds, because of ever-evolving budget needs. Under the measure, local tax funds would go back to where the sales occurred.

The amendment was approved by the Finance Committee 29-21.

Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont is supportive of legalization but did not include tax revenues from legal sales in his 2020 budget proposal. The bill is expected to move next to the floor for full consideration.

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A freshly trimmed cannabis nug lying on its side on a wooden table.

Connecticut Lawmakers Want 20% Overall Cannabis Tax Rate

4/30/2019

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Connecticut lawmakers are seeking an overall tax rate of 20 percent on adult-use cannabis products, the Hartford Courant reports. Under the plan, the proceeds would be sent to cities and communities that have been most impacted by the War on Drugs.

Lawmakers in the state are debating various cannabis legalization-related bills after they moved out of their respective committees in late March and earlier this month. House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, a Democrat, opposed the idea of earmarking the funds – not because of where they are going but because earmarks are “really hard to live up to in a changing economy and a changing budget process.”

Aresimowicz said if the legislature doesn’t come up with a compromise on legalization before June 5 they might call a special session to come to an agreement.

The tax rate plan would keep Connecticut’s cannabis taxes on par with neighboring Massachusetts and includes a local option that would allow municipalities to add their own 3 percent sales tax.

“Naturally, we don’t want to incentivize anybody to go over the border to Massachusetts if they are going to purchase cannabis. We tried to keep our rate consistent with the overall effective rate of where Massachusetts is.” — Rep. Jason Rojas, via NBC Connecticut

Earlier this month, the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee approved cannabis charge expungement bill, a measure to ensure employers have the right to ban cannabis from the workplace, and legislation to create a driving under the influence test for cannabis. The adult-use bill was approved by the General Law Committee in late March.

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Connecticut Lawmakers Advance Three Cannabis-Focused Bills

4/10/2019

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A Connecticut bill allowing adults to possess cannabis and expunge low-level possession charges heads to the Senate after passing the Judiciary Committee on a slim 21-19 vote, CT News Junkie reports. Three Democrats crossed party lines and voted against the measure.

The state Legislature’s General Law Committee approved a separate bill to create a taxed and regulated adult-use cannabis industry late last month 10-8, across party lines.

During the hour-long debate, the Republicans and Democrats that opposed the measure said they had concerns about the effect of cannabis legalization on youth and most had adopted the phrase coined by prohibition advocates: “When you legalize you normalize.”

“As the mother of three teenagers, I can’t support legalization. Our kids will say, ‘If it’s legal, how can it be bad?’ Because when you legalize something, you normalize it.” — Sen. Alex Bergstein, the Democratic vice-chair of the committee, during the hearing

Democratic Sen. Dennis Bradley argued that cannabis is already “in every single community” in the state and asserted that the War on Drugs is “a racist initiative” that disproportionately affects minority and poor communities.

The committee also approved bills to ensure that employers have the right to bar cannabis use from the workplace and create a driving under the influence test for cannabis.

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Connecticut Committee Advances Cannabis Legalization

3/27/2019

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The Connecticut Legislature’s General Law Committee voted across party lines, 10-8, in favor of a cannabis legalization bill that would create a regulated adult-use market and provide equity opportunities for citizens who were most negatively affected by the War on Drugs, CT News Junkie reports.

The social equity provisions included in the legislation were hotly debated during the committee meeting; Democratic Sen. Dough McCroy called the nation’s drug policy “probably the last” policy left over from the Jim Crow era. The representative from Hartford indicated he would not support any legalization bill that is anything less than the gold standard for social equity.

The legislation defines social equity as “individuals or communities disproportionately impacted by high rates of arrest and conviction, as well as individuals who can demonstrate, via affidavit and other documentation as the commission may require … requisite experience with cannabis cultivation, distribution or the sale or manufacture of cannabis products.”

Other Democrats on the committee voiced support for the social equity provisions and a regulated market, while most Republicans on the committee stood opposed due to public health concerns.

The committee also advanced legislation to add opioid use disorder to the state’s medical cannabis qualifying conditions list – which the state’s Board of Physicians voted against last year – and eliminate the $25 program registration fee.

Both bills need to be approved by both legislative bodies before being sent to the governor.

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