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“Optimism abounds” as Connecticut lawmakers work to advance a bill to legalize marijuana, House Speaker Matthew Ritter (D) said on Tuesday. Ritter made the comment during a virtual press briefing alongside Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D) and Judiciary Co-chair Steven Stafstrom (D) after the lawmakers were asked about the state of negotiations in the legislature to reconcile various pieces of cannabis legislation, including a plan put forward by Gov. Ned Lamont (D) last month. Rojas said he “wouldn’t say we’re close, but we’re not far off either,” adding that “in principle, equity is important to both the administration and the…

Washington, D.C. lawmakers on Friday held a joint hearing on a pair of bills to authorize the legal sale of recreational marijuana and significantly expand the existing medical cannabis program in the nation’s capital. The District Council’s Committee of the Whole, along with the Judiciary and Public Safety and Business and Economic Development Committees, took testimony from about 100 people on the legislation over the course of several hours. They heard numerous recommendations on the legalization proposal, ranging from enhancing social equity provisions to ensuring that medical cannabis patients continue to have access to their medicine to establishing regulations for…

Connecticut this year has its best chance yet to legalize recreational marijuana as Gov. Ned Lamont and top Democratic lawmakers favor the move. But the business community still has its concerns, though its stance against legalization may not be as strong as it was in the past. In fact, an increasing number of employers, legal experts say, view recreational pot legalization as inevitable, but want workplace safeguards put in place. The General Assembly is currently debating two bills — one from Gov. Ned Lamont, the other from House Democrats — that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana, following in…

Connecticut this year has its best chance yet to legalize recreational marijuana as Gov. Ned Lamont and top Democratic lawmakers favor the move. But the business community still has its concerns, though its stance against legalization may not be as strong as it was in the past. In fact, an increasing number of employers, legal experts say, view recreational pot legalization as inevitable, but want workplace safeguards put in place. The General Assembly is currently debating two bills — one from Gov. Ned Lamont, the other from House Democrats — that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana, following in…

An emerging industry with 50,000 customers and tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue would be attractive for most banks and credit unions. Except if it’s the state’s medical marijuana industry. Of the 146 banks and credit unions operating in the state, a mere five — three banks and two credit unions — are banking licensed marijuana operators, and to a limited extent, mainly focused on deposit services and cash management rather than loans, according to an industry expert. Strict and costly compliance measures to ensure institutions don’t run afoul of federal law, which still deems marijuana to be…

An emerging industry with 50,000 customers and tens of millions of dollars in annual revenue would be attractive for most banks and credit unions. Except if it’s the state’s medical marijuana industry. Of the 146 banks and credit unions operating in the state, a mere five — three banks and two credit unions — are banking licensed marijuana operators, and to a limited extent, mainly focused on deposit services and cash management rather than loans, according to an industry expert. Strict and costly compliance measures to ensure institutions don’t run afoul of federal law, which still deems marijuana to be…

Ohio activists have collected enough signatures to force the legislature to take up the issue of marijuana legalization, the secretary of state’s office confirmed on Friday. This comes about two weeks after the Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol (CTRMLA) submitted a final round of signatures for the measure. The petitions’ formal validation triggers the legislative review of legalization, but it does not require lawmakers to enact the reform. The legislature now has four months to consider the campaign’s cannabis reform proposal. Lawmakers can adopt the measure, reject it or pass an amended version. If they do not pass the…