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When Connecticut legislators agreed this spring to legalize recreational marijuana, a number of lawmakers did so with the proviso that the change would also foster an equitable, diverse market, with meaningful benefits for people from communities disproportionately harmed by the criminalization of marijuana.  “There won’t be a cannabis bill in this state until we get equity right,” said State Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, at a press conference before the passage of the law.   Translating those goals into policy is the work of a 15-member social equity council appointed by Gov. Ned Lamont and state lawmakers to iron out the…

Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont has appointed a new member to the state’s Social Equity Council (SEC). On Wednesday, August 25, the Governor’s Office announced the appointment of Latinas & Power Symposium founder Marilyn Alverio to the SEC. Last month, Governor Lamont announced Joseph Williams’ and Dr. Kelli Vallieres’ appointments to the SEC. In July, Governor Lamont also announced officials from his administration who will serve as ex-officio members on the SEC. The members include Department of Economic and Community Development Commissioner David Lehman, Office of Policy and Management Secretary Melissa McCaw, and Department of Consumer Protection Deputy Commissioner Andréa Comer….

Mexican lawmakers will again take up the issue of establishing rules for a regulated marijuana market in the new legislative session that begins on Wednesday, a top senator says. The country’s Supreme Court first deemed the prohibition on personal consumption and cultivation of cannabis for adults unconstitutional in 2018. Since then, there’s been an ongoing effort in the Congress to legislate on the issue—but lawmakers have repeatedly failed to meet court deadlines to end marijuana criminalization. The court took matters into its own hands in June and invalidated prohibition, without a regulatory scheme in place. Also that month, President Andrés…

Mexican lawmakers will again take up the issue of establishing rules for a regulated marijuana market in the new legislative session that begins on Wednesday, a top senator says. The country’s Supreme Court first deemed the prohibition on personal consumption and cultivation of cannabis for adults unconstitutional in 2018. Since then, there’s been an ongoing effort in the Congress to legislate on the issue—but lawmakers have repeatedly failed to meet court deadlines to end marijuana criminalization. The court took matters into its own hands in June and invalidated prohibition, without a regulatory scheme in place. Also that month, President Andrés…

DANBURY – The Aug. 16 target opening of the city’s first medicinal marijuana dispensary in a former west side bank turned out to be more ambitious than successful. But the opening of the Mill Plain Road dispensary, which has been rebranded The Botanist, is not far off, an executive for the parent company said last week. “We just have to pass one last state inspection,” said Carl Tirella, general manager of New York-based Acreage Holdings, which owns three medicinal pot dispensaries in Connecticut. “Construction will be complete in two weeks.” The delayed opening of the city’s first cannabis dispensary means…

Some people might be tempted to try marijuana now that it is legal. It is important to have the facts regarding this addictive drug (third after tobacco and alcohol) before doing so. Marijuana contains more than 100 chemicals referred to as cannabinoids. The National Institute of Drug Abuse states that the main cannabinoids are THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and CBD (cannabidiol). THC causes a “high” when people smoke or eat foods with marijuana. Marijuana smoke includes ammonia and hydrogen cyanide. Breathing in this smoke can aggravate the bronchial passages and lungs. This can cause coughing and wheezing. It is important to keep in…