All posts in Connecticut News

NEWTOWN — Leaders here were concerned enough about the unintended consequences of Connecticut’s legal marijuana trade that they saw no downside to being first in the Danbury area to prohibit cannabis establishments. At the suggestion of First Selectman Dan Rosenthal, who said, “the prudent approach is to prohibit cannabis establishments until we better understand the dynamics of the new law,” the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on July 1, the same night that Connecticut decriminalized marijuana. After hearing testimony from a state senator, a union leader, the town’s health director, the head of a substance abuse prevention…

Connecticut employers concerned about the use of legal marijuana on the job are faced with a dilemma given the limits of current drug testing technology and federal requirements, employment lawyers say.  “It’s not like a test for alcohol where you can immediately figure out someone’s current level of THC,” said John Blair, associate counsel with the Connecticut Business Industry Association. “I don’t think a test like that exists.”  Patrick McHale, an employment lawyer in Hartford, said the lack of a test that allows employers to determine whether a worker is under the influence of marijuana at the moment of testing…

Connecticut’s recreational marijuana law went into effect on July 1, meaning that residents can now consume marijuana without fear of legal repercussions. Still, consumption of the drug is not consequence-free – particularly for employees of federal defense contractors, as the drug is still illegal at the federal level. Concerns around attracting workers came up repeatedly during debate over the bill in the legislature, and State Rep. Joe de la Cruz, D-Groton, said his opposition to legalization was mainly due to fears for Electric Boat.  Connecticut Examiner caught up with Congressman Joe Courtney to get his thoughts on what the new law…

Connecticut’s recreational marijuana law went into effect on July 1, meaning that residents can now consume marijuana without fear of legal repercussions. Still, consumption of the drug is not consequence-free – particularly for employees of federal defense contractors, as the drug is still illegal at the federal level. Concerns around attracting workers came up repeatedly during debate over the bill in the legislature, and State Rep. Joe de la Cruz, D-Groton, said his opposition to legalization was mainly due to fears for Electric Boat.  Connecticut Examiner caught up with Congressman Joe Courtney to get his thoughts on what the new law…

Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) isn’t deterred by President Joe Biden’s opposition to marijuana legalization and says that he and his Senate colleagues will be talking to the White House now that they’ve released draft reform legislation. The senator on Friday took another round of questions on Twitter about the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), which he introduced this month alongside Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR). While many of the questions concerned Booker’s stance on marijuana banking issues—as they did when he solicited input earlier in the week—he responded to another…

With recreational cannabis legal in Connecticut for less than a week, questions abound about the new law and its implementation. DeVaughn Ward, a Connecticut lawyer and senior legislative counsel for the nonprofit Marijuana Policy Project, has the answers. Starting this past Thursday, people are allowed to possess weed — with some limits — in the state. But, retail operations here won’t be set up for about at least another year. Though that may seem confusing, Ward said it isn’t a novel concept. Vermont has had legalization without a retail component for years. Washington, D.C., works in much the same way: Cannabis possession is…

That depends on when the person was convicted, as well as the specific charge. Those charged with simple possession of 4 ounces or less before Jan. 1, 2000, or from Oct. 1, 2015 through June 30, 2021 will be eligible to petition the Superior Court to have their criminal records erased — starting on July 1, 2022. Those charged with the same crimes between the period from Jan. 1, 2000 to Sept. 30, 2015 will have their records automatically erased starting on Jan. 1, 2023.