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The leaders of the Guilford Developmental Assets for Youth group published a letter Monday calling on the Board of Selectmen to take action to prohibit retail dispensaries, after state lawmakers voted earlier this year to legalize the sale and use of recreational marijuana. The letter focused mostly on marijuana use by children and teens, which the group conceded would be a problem, whether or not local officials ban sales in Guilford. The letter was signed by three DAY organizers. “We are going to have that problem, and we cannot … close our eyes to the damage that this will cause…

To print this article, all you need is to be registered or login on Mondaq.com. Seyfarth Synopsis: In the first six months of 2021, several states legalized marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes, including New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and New Mexico.  States show no signs of slowing down.  On June 22, 2021, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill that legalized recreational marijuana use by adults 21 years and older.  Although provisions relating to possession are effective now (as of July 1, 2021), the employment-related provisions are not effective until July 1, 2022.  Because the new law will prohibit many…

MASHANTUCKET, CT — The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation may open a cannabis retail business near Foxwoods Resort Casino, according to Leafly, a trade publication. The mega-dispensary is expected to be at least 25,000 square feet which could open as early as spring 2022. The dispensary will be less than half a mile away from Foxwoods, Leafly reported. A tribal official told The Hartford Courant that the tribe is “exploring all of the options created by the legislation and has no plans to publicly disclose at this time.” Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, is supportive of the casinos selling cannabis and also…

Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed that getting New York’s budding marijuana sales program off the ground will be a high priority. Scandal-scarred ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the state Legislature approved the law back in March that legalized the sale of weed in New York. But Cuomo — locked in a dispute with the state Senate — didn’t nominate an executive director for the new Office of Cannabis Management or name appointees to the Cannabis Control Board, even though the Marijuana Taxation and Regulation Act was passed months ago. The Senate must confirm the appointments. The appointments are necessary to set up…

It is no secret that casinos happily offer free alcoholic beverages to gamblers (just be sure to tip your server!) so that they continue to gamble and continue to gamble poorly. A drunk casino patron is one thing, but what about a high one? It appears that two Native American tribes are going to test things out, as they plan on opening cannabis stores very close to their major casinos. According to cannabis industry hub website Leafly, both the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, which owns and operates Foxwoods Resort Casino in Connecticut, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (EBCI),…

A California bill to legalize possession of a wide range of psychedelics such as psilocybin and ayahuasca will not advance further this year following a decision by the sponsor that more time is needed to build the case for the reform and solidify its chances of being enacted. The Senate-passed legislation advanced through a second reading on the Assembly floor last week before being re-referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, which was set to determine on Thursday whether it could be cleared for final passage. But it was ultimately decided that the proposal would be made into a two-year bill,…

Seyfarth Synopsis: In the first six months of 2021, several states legalized marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes, including New York, New Jersey, Virginia, and New Mexico. States show no signs of slowing down. On June 22, 2021, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed a bill that legalized recreational marijuana use by adults 21 years and older. Although provisions relating to possession are effective now (as of July 1, 2021), the employment-related provisions are not effective until July 1, 2022. Because the new law will prohibit many employers from taking certain actions in the absence of clear policies addressing marijuana use…

RIDGEFIELD, CT — The town’s Economic & Community Development Commission will be holding a Special Meeting to discuss and learn about the pros and cons of retail cannabis. Connecticut legalized the sale and possession of marijuana earlier this summer, but provided room for some local controls. If at least 10 percent of residents petition for it, the town must hold a public referendum, which will decide whether marijuana sales will be allowed there. The Special Meeting will be held via Zoom on August 30 at 6:30 p.m., with invited guests including policymakers and retailers from Connecticut, California, and Massachusetts. It…