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Monday, January 21, 2019

Cannabis legalization bill introduced in Connecticut

Connecticut legislators have introduced the first legal marijuana bill of 2019. Here’s what it would do. - Hartford Courant - Russel Blair:

January 18, 2019 - "More than 40 House Democrats have introduced Connecticut’s first marijuana legalization bill.... Previous recreational marijuana bills have failed, but lawmakers have an increased sense of urgency this year with bigger Democratic margins in the General Assembly, a new governor who is supportive and legal sales across the border in Massachusetts.

"The proposed bill dictates that sales would be limited to customers who are 21 and older and that medical marijuana dispensaries would be given the first licensees to sell recreational pot. The drug would be taxed, but the legislation does not include a specific tax rate. People who have criminal convictions for marijuana possession would have their records wiped clean....

"A portion of the money raised from the tax on marijuana would go toward drug awareness education, drug-prevention officers in schools and substance abuse treatment programs....

"The Department of Consumer Protection, which oversees the state’s medical marijuana program, would regulate the recreational program, too. Marijuana of a certain potency would have to be labeled as such and packaged in child-safe materials....

"DUI laws would apply if a driver had 'at least five nanograms of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) per milliliter in his or her blood' or had consumed marijuana in the previous two hours....

"State residents would be allowed to grow up to six plants for personal use, according to the proposed bill. Marijuana would have to be transported in a sealed container and public consumption of recreational marijuana would be prohibited. Delivery of the drug directly to consumers would be allowed, but marketing and advertising of marijuana would be against the law....

"25 percent of licenses for growers, processes, wholesales and retailers of recreational marijuana would have to be in enterprise zones, which are located in poorer cities and towns.

"Gov. Ned Lamont has said he will make marijuana legalization a priority, but it’s unclear if there is sufficient support in the legislature to pass a bill this year.... A legalization bill passed a legislative committee last year but was not called for a vote in either chamber."

Read more: https://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-connecticut-recreational-marijuana-bill-20190118-gitfeoypfbfp7dwoixl2qfdhce-story.html
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