All posts in Connecticut News

File via Shutterstock JONATHAN L. WHARTON When I worked in New Jersey’s state Capitol as a legislative researcher, my supervisor often said there were two things you never wanted to witness: sausage-making and bill drafting. The legislative process is rarely a pleasant experience and few have an understanding of policy making since it can be complicated, political and secretive. What happened this last week with the recreational marijuana proposal wasn’t any different. Delaying passage of the bill was the textbook example of problematic public policymaking.  Connecticut’s General Assembly is notorious for delaying bills. In fact, Judge Robert Satter said in…

The governor of Connecticut on Thursday said he’ll be upset if the legislature fails to deliver him a bill to legalize marijuana in a special session that is set to take place next week. “I will be,” Gov. Ned Lamont (D) said in response to a report’s question about whether he’ll be disappointed if the cannabis legislation doesn’t reach his desk. “Pass the bill. Let’s go. Vote on it and pass it.” The Senate approved a legalization proposal in the final days of the regular session this week, but an expected House vote was called off as time ran short…

Most, if not all, of the state police dogs trained to smell for weed will retire if Connecticut legalizes recreational marijuana. Police dogs, a widespread tool in Connecticut law enforcement, have been used for years by local and state police to detect hidden drugs. But with marijuana facing possible legalization, the need would end for those specifically trained to sniff out the drug. “The potential to have to retire those K-9s is a pretty good possibility,” said Brian Foley, assistant to Connecticut State Police Commissioner James Rovella. “Obviously, we would look for other avenues and other uses for those K-9s,”…

Most, if not all, of the state police dogs trained to smell for weed will retire if Connecticut legalizes recreational marijuana. Police dogs, a widespread tool in Connecticut law enforcement, have been used for years by local and state police to detect hidden drugs. But with marijuana facing possible legalization, the need would end for those specifically trained to sniff out the drug. “The potential to have to retire those K-9s is a pretty good possibility,” said Brian Foley, assistant to Connecticut State Police Commissioner James Rovella. “Obviously, we would look for other avenues and other uses for those K-9s,”…

“It’s one thing to have an honest, robust debate on a complicated topic,” he said. “The concern in my caucus is the four or five people that never want to stop and that goes into your calculation. If you had 36 people speak for 10 minutes, ask good questions — not the same questions — because they want to learn about the bill, that is an honest debate. The concern on my end is six people who want to go for nine hours each.”

The Connecticut House of Representatives postponed a vote on legalizing recreational marijuana and instead will consider the issue in a special session before the end of the month, a top lawmaker said. The announcement by House Speaker Matt Ritter came as the legislative session was scheduled to adjourn later Wednesday and followed the likelihood of a GOP filibuster to thwart a vote, according to the Hartford Courant. The state Senate narrowly passed the legalization measure earlier this week. MJBizDaily has projected that a Connecticut recreational marijuana market could generate $250 million in sales in the first full year and $725…

Democratic House leaders announced Wednesday that they would be going into special session and voting on a recreational marijuana bill sometime this month. The legislative session is ending at midnight Wednesday night. “My hunch is they can’t get it done by 11:59, but they will get it done within a week,” Gov. Ned Lamont said Wednesday. House Democrats had expected to get to passing a recreational marijuana bill that the state Senate passed earlier this week but ran out of time. Republican filibustering and daylong debates caused time to dwindle, so Democratic leadership turned to what they said is their bargaining chip:…

News 12 Staff Jun 06, 2021, 11:29am Updated on: Jun 07, 2021, 2:41pm Marijuana could soon be legal in Connecticut under a legislative proposal unveiled on Saturday. The bill has been in the works for months with closed-door negotiations between Gov. Ned Lamont, state legislators and social justice advocates. Under the proposed law, recreational cannabis would become legal for anyone 21 and over in July of this year.  Retail sales could begin in 2022. An initial vote on the mammoth, nearly 300-page bill could happen Monday in the state Senate. Connecticut lawmakers must pass the bill by Wednesday. If they…