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HARTFORD, CT (WFSB) – Connecticut’s recreational marijuana bill passed through the Senate late Thursday morning. The legislation passed in the House of Representatives Wednesday night and moved on to the Senate. They voted just before noon, passing the bill 16 to 11, with 9 votes not cast. The bill now heads to Gov. Ned Lamont’s desk to be signed. Connecticut’s recreational marijuana bill passed through the Senate late Thursday morning. “The lesson is the public is far ahead of where elected officials are on this issue, and most of the states that have struggled to do this as we have…

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…

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,”…

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:…