{"id":102,"date":"2021-07-08T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-07-08T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiQmh0dHBzOi8vZW4uYXMuY29tL2VuLzIwMjEvMDcvMDgvbGF0ZXN0X25ld3MvMTYyNTcwNDQ1OV85MjQyNTYuaHRtbNIBRmh0dHBzOi8vZW4uYXMuY29tL2VuLzIwMjEvMDcvMDgvbGF0ZXN0X25ld3MvMTYyNTcwNDQ1OV85MjQyNTYuYW1wLmh0bWw"},"modified":"2021-07-08T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-07-08T07:00:00","slug":"legalization-of-marijuana-in-connecticut-what-does-the-new-law-mean-for-the-state-as-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=102","title":{"rendered":"Legalization of Marijuana in Connecticut: What does the new law mean for the state? – AS English"},"content":{"rendered":"
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On 18 June<\/strong>, the Connecticut<\/strong> legislature legalized recreational cannabis use for residents twenty-one<\/strong> and older. The bill changes state law to allow the government to tax and regulate<\/strong> the commercialization of cannabis products.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After the signing, Governor Ned Lamont said that the law is a first step at correcting the injustices and disparities of the War on Drugs<\/strong>. Gov. Lamont hopes that the new law will \u201celiminate the dangerous, unregulated market<\/strong> and support a new and equitable sector of our economy that will create jobs.<\/strong>\u201d<\/p>\n

While opponents argue that this could make the public less safe, Gov. Lamont highlighted the new funding included for \u201cprevention and recovery services, which will be used to help prevent cannabis use by minors<\/strong> and to promote safe, healthy use of cannabis by those of legal age.\u201d<\/p>\n

The passage of this law comes after then-Gov. Dannel Malloy signed a bill that decriminalized possession of some cannabis products<\/strong> in 2011. <\/p>\n

At the time, Gov. Malloy assured some that opposed the move that the state was \u201cnot legalizing the use of marijuana.<\/strong>\u201d Instead, the decriminalization represented a modification to the law and that the government would continue \u201crecognizing that the punishment should fit the crime<\/strong>, and acknowledging the effects of its application.\u201d<\/p>\n

The governor also believed that there still could be cases where charges would be pursued, for example, if a person were to tell marijuana to minors. However, it was also his position that the \u201cstate\u2019s criminal justice resources could be more effectively utilized for convicting<\/strong>, incarcerating and supervising violent and more serious offenders<\/strong>.\u201d<\/p>\n

In 2012, the medical use of marijuana<\/strong> was legalized<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

What changes to the law does the new bill include?<\/h3>\n

Commercialization<\/h4>\n

The details over how, where, and when dispensaries will open<\/strong> are unknown, but most expect it to be sometime in 2022<\/strong>. Lawmakers hope that legalization will also increase public revenue as a tax of<\/strong> 6.35% will be applied to cannabis products.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Possession and Public Use<\/h4>\n

While the commercialization aspects of the law will not take effect until next year, on 1 July, possession of small qualities of marijuana was legalized.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Possession of more than 1.5 ounces of marijuana<\/strong> or any other controlled substance will still be classified as a misdemeanor<\/strong>. For those under eighteen found with more than five ounces of a cannabis product<\/strong> with no criminal record will be given a warning, and \u201csuch person may be referred to a youth services bureau<\/strong>.\u201d Consequences become more severe<\/strong> after the second infraction.<\/p>\n

The law also protects cannabis users<\/strong> by making it illegal for the sole reason of a police stop to be that an officer smells<\/strong> cannabis. Also, it mandates that municipalities with populations larger than 50,000 must designate public areas where cannabis can be consumed publicly.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Righting Injustices of the Past<\/h4>\n

According to the American Civil Liberties Union<\/a>, in Connecticut, Black residents are four times more likely<\/strong> than their white counterparts to be arrested for marijuana possession.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Today, recreational marijuana becomes legal for adults 21+ in Connecticut and Virginia.<\/p>\n

The ACLU says:
\u25aa\ufe0fBlack people are arrested for marijuana at 3.6x the rate of whites despite similar usage rates
\u25aa\ufe0fRacial disparities in arrests actually worsened in 31 states since 2010 pic.twitter.com\/6jsgmqbNQ7<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 AJ+ (@ajplus) July 1, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote><\/div>\n

This fact led some Democratic lawmakers to oppose<\/strong> an earlier draft that they felt did not include sufficient social measures to right this injustice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The final bill also acknowledges the disproportionate impact the War on Drugs has had on communities of color<\/strong> and mandates that \u201cleast half of all initial licenses<\/strong>\u201d be reserved for \u201csocial equity applicants<\/strong>.\u201d More details on these programs will be released in the coming months. <\/p>\n

Will criminal records be expunged?<\/h4>\n

The Connecticut law included a provision that allows certain convictions to be erased or expunged<\/strong> if they happened after 1 January 2000.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Convictions that occurred between 1 January 2000 – 1 July 2021 that qualify include,<\/strong><\/p>\n