Connecticut Legal Marijuana Debate Intensifies

HARTFORD, CT —An 11th hour pitch to legalize marijuana for recreational use in Connecticut had a snafu Monday after Democratic legislators failed to include a Republican colleague who is also pushing for legalization.

An argument ensued between Reps. Josh Elliott D-Hamden and Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam moments before a scheduled press conference after Ziobron wasn’t made aware of an amendment that was first crafted on Friday, according to the CT Mirror.

Ziobron told the CT Mirror that it was worrisome that the last-minute amendment wasn’t being done in a bipartisan way.

The amendment is more likely to pass the state House where Democrats hold a small majority. The senate is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans. Republican Senate leader Len Fasano has said he is strongly against legalizing the drug for recreational use. Democratic Gov. Dannel Malloy has also expressed his disapproval of legalization.

House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz and House Majority Leader Matt Ritter Said during a Monday morning press conference that the amendment will run at some point for debate. Every year there is a little more support for legalization and this year’s debate may help boost awareness even if the measure doesn’t pass, Ritter said.

The legalization effort stalled during the session, but gained renewed life after legislative Democrats pitched legalization as part of their amended budget proposal. Democrats believe legalization can bring in upwards of $200 million of revenue annually for the state, which is much higher than the Officer of Fiscal Analysis estimate of up to $104 million.

Massachusetts voters supported recreational legalization last year through a referendum.

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