{"id":1647,"date":"2021-06-14T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-06-14T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/CBMiX2h0dHBzOi8vY3RuZXdzanVua2llLmNvbS8yMDIxLzA2LzE0L29wLWVkLWNvbm5lY3RpY3V0cy1yZWNyZWF0aW9uYWwtbWFyaWp1YW5hLWdvZXMtdXAtaW4tc21va2Uv0gEA"},"modified":"2021-06-14T07:00:00","modified_gmt":"2021-06-14T07:00:00","slug":"op-ed-connecticuts-recreational-marijuana-goes-up-in-smoke-ct-news-junkie","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/?p=1647","title":{"rendered":"OP-ED | Connecticut’s Recreational Marijuana Goes Up In Smoke – CT News Junkie"},"content":{"rendered":"
File via Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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JONATHAN L. WHARTON<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

When I worked in New Jersey\u2019s 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\u2019t any different. Delaying passage of the bill was the textbook example of problematic public policymaking. <\/p>\n

Connecticut\u2019s General Assembly is notorious for delaying bills. In fact, Judge Robert Satter said in his seminal work, \u201cUnder the Gold Dome<\/a>,\u201d that our state legislators prefer \u201clast minute decisions\u201d with little public involvement. For years, our budgetary process has been delayed as well. This year was an anomaly<\/a> since state lawmakers dealt with the state\u2019s biennial budget plan early on and leaders from both major parties haggled out what they mostly wanted, especially with a surplus<\/a>. Meanwhile, the opportunity to address and pass recreational cannabis legislation came days before the end of the legislative session. <\/p>\n

Some raised concerns<\/a> about past criminal marijuana convictions, and how the state would manage and incentivize cannabis shops, especially in minority communities. At the same time, political pressure has been on Connecticut officials to consider recreational cannabis since neighboring states have similar laws and there is tax revenue potential \u2013 something I stressed in a prior op-ed<\/a>. <\/p>\n