Legalizing Pot in Connecticut Really Is Dead in 2017

Those that are hoping that legalizing recreational marijuana still has a chance are grasping at straws, according to those opposed to the notion. Earlier this week, the Judiciary Committee at the General Assembly said it didn’t have the votes to bring a bill to legalize recreational pot out of committee – meaning that two different committees failed to get a legalization bill passed this year.

Despite that fact, Senate Majority Leader Martin Looney from New Haven, the leading proponent of legalization, said the fight to legalize recreational pot isn’t over.

“At a time when our state budget is in need of new sources of revenue, I doubt this will be the final conversation on the topic,” Looney said. (To sign up for free, local breaking news alerts from more than 100 Connecticut communities click here.)

Related: Connecticut Marijuana Legalization: Committee Won't Support It

“I believe that Connecticut is ready for a rational, common-sense approach to the legalization and regulation of marijuana,” Looney said Wednesday.

Despite Looney’s confident words, it doesn’t look good for pot proponents.

While the door is still open to a pot bill being inserted into the budget at the last minute of the legislative session to close a budget gap, Gov. Dannel Malloy has repeatedly stated legalizing pot “is not a priority” for him.

Additionally, Republicans in the General Assembly, led by House Speaker Themis Klarides, have been on record this week saying proponents are fooling themselves if they think they can attach marijuana legislation to any budget bill at the end of the session.

Those Republicans stress they simply wouldn’t let it happen – and insist again – that legalizing pot in Connecticut is dead for this year.

Looney said states across the country are “reaping the financial benefits of marijuana regulation. With our neighbor Massachusetts poised to be the next state to implement a legalization plan, Connecticut is in danger of being left at a financial disadvantage,” Looney said.

The proposed bill will raise approximately $18.5 million in the first six months of collections, $83.4 million in the following full year of collections, and $135 million in the third year from these taxes, according to Looney.

By Jack Kramer, Correspondent

Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images