CT Marijuana Proposal: 5 Things To Know

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont this week unveiled his latest push to legalize recreational marijuana in Connecticut.

The state's Democratic leadership supports the proposal, but there is no guarantee it will pass. Previous attempts at legalizing recreational marijuana in the state have failed for the last six years.

These are five key aspects to Lamont’s proposal:

When would legalization/sales begin?

Legal possession would be effective Jan. 1, 2022. Sales would begin in May 2022, subject to sales, excise and municipal taxes.

Sales would bring in around $33.6 million in revenue for the state in fiscal year 2023 and $97 million by fiscal year 2026, Lamont said.

The excise tax is $1.25 per dry gram of flower, 50 cents per dry gram of trim and 28 cents per gram of wet cannabis. Half of the taxes will go toward municipal aid.

The state sales tax would apply and communities could collect a 3 percent sales tax.

What would be the possession amounts?

• People over the age of 21 would be allowed to possess up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana or equivalent of another cannabis product.
• Possession between 1.5 and 2.5 ounces would be an infraction.
• Possession of more than 2.5 ounces would be an infraction on the first offense and a class C misdemeanor for a second offense.
• People under the age of 21 who possess up to 2.5 ounces will face infractions.
• Home growing wouldn't be allowed, but criminal penalties would be reduced and the subject would be studied for future consideration.

What would happen to criminal records?

People with convictions for possession of small amounts of marijuana before Oct. 1, 2015, would have convictions automatically erased.

People with convictions after that date would have to petition the court for erasure.

How would law enforcement change and what about driving under the influence of marijuana?

Police officers couldn't conduct searches, stops or seizures based on the odor of marijuana unless it's in the context of impaired driving.

It would be a class C or D misdemeanor to consume marijuana while driving a vehicle or as a passenger in a vehicle.

A “behavioral impairment standard” would be created to allow sanctions against impaired drivers. Penalties would be the same as those for impairment for alcohol, including license suspension and fines.

The Police Officer Standards and Training Council would need to ensure there are enough advanced roadside impaired driving enforcement and drug recognition expert trained officers.

What is the support level from Democrats and Republicans?

Democratic and Republican legislative leaders have predicted that legalizing recreational marijuana will be a close call. House Speaker Matt Ritter said in November that he would put the issue before voters as a constitutional amendment if it isn’t going to pass the normal legislative process.

Certain aspects of Lamont’s proposed bill will complicate the issue for Republicans and Democrats, House Republican Leader Vincent Candelora said.

“Certainly we had support years ago when we had homegrown policies and the libertarian sort of belief that people should be allowed to grow the plant in their households,” Candelora said. “It’s now morphed into a social justice proposal that is diverting substantial amounts of money into cities, giving priority to certain people to be able to get the license, and it’s become sort of a commercialized enterprise and that’s complicated the debate.”

Senate Republican Leader Kevin Kelly said there is a mix of support and opposition from both sides of the aisle.

“I don’t think it’s clearly a partisan issue,” he said. “I don’t think the justification that just because every other state around us and everyone else is doing it that we should do it.”