CT Joins Other New England States In Recreational Marijuana Push

HARTFORD, CT — The entire New England region can potentially have some form of legalized recreational marijuana in the very near future as several states, including Connecticut take a strong look at the issue.

Gov. Ned Lamont has come out strongly in favor of legalizing marijuana in a manner similar to other neighboring states. Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont have already legalized recreational marijuana and New York, Rhode Island and New Hampshire are considering it this year.

Lamont includes $300,000 in his budget proposal for the Department of Consumer Protection to begin laying out the regulatory framework for legalized recreational marijuana sales. His proposal would also erase criminal records for those convicted of misdemeanor possession offenses of marijuana.

"Coordinated regional regulation is our best chance to protect public health by displacing illicit sellers with trusted providers," Lamont said during his budget address. "And it's an opportunity to right the wrongs of a war on drugs that has disproportionately impacted our minority communities."

Opponents of legalization admitted that it would be much tougher to block the effort this year. Connecticut’s chapter spokesman of Smart Approaches for Marijuana said the group will try to reach out to legislator’s one-by-one on the issue, according to CT News Junkie.

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo proposed a state-owned marijuana store network, according to Forbes.

Like Lamont, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo also said he wants a regional effort to legalize recreational marijuana. New Hampshire is considering legalizing home growing of marijuana.

Democratic State Senate leadership said the plan would be to impose an initial 25 percent tax on top of the regular 6.35 percent sales tax on marijuana, which would bring in an estimated $70 million in taxes during the first full year of legalization, said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven). The state would then eventually move toward an excise tax system that could bring in $160 million annually.

The bill has been sent to the Judiciary Committee, but so far no hearing is scheduled, according to the General Assembly website.

Massachusetts recreational marijuana retailers sold $420 million in product during 2019, according to WCVB. Marijuana sales are taxed at a rate between 17 and 20 percent; 17 percent would translate to $71.4 million in taxes. The taxes include the regular 6.25 percent sales tax, 10.75 percent excise tax and up to three percent of a local optional tax.

Connecticut’s legislative session opened Feb. 5 and will adjourn May 6. During that time legislators are expected to take up several other matters, including electronic tolling.

The 2019 legislative session brought Connecticut closer than ever to legalizing marijuana after three separate bills passed committee votes. The bills didn’t get a full legislative vote before the close of the session. One bill would legalize possession of up to 1.5 ounces of marijuana for those 21-years-old or older.

The 2019 bills would have given current cultivators, manufacturers and retailers of medical marijuana the first chance to apply for recreational licenses. The bill would’ve allowed medical patients to get higher potency and greater quantities than recreational users.

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