Connecticut’s governor, Ned Lamont, is dispersing a reform to decriminalize cannabis, gathering response from state departments as he rolls out a plant to implement the bill in 2021.
Lamont recapped his support for authorizing cannabis during his yearly State of the State address earlier this year. He disclosed that he would liaise with lawmakers to further ascend the policy change this season.
Ned said that he was working with nearby states and expected to begin working with the state’s tribal partners to modernize gaming and legalize cannabis within the state. He added that sports betting, decriminalized marijuana and internet gaming are occurring in several other states. It wouldn’t be prudent for Connecticut to leave these opportunities to beyond-state markets or underground markets.
The draft regulation that was initially reported by The CT Mirror would create a tax-and-control marijuana market within the state.
Based on the outlet’s report, wholesale cannabis flowers would carry 1.25% tax per gram according to the proposal and trimmed crops will be taxed at 50 cents/gram.
Connecticut’s 6.35 %sales tax would be attached on retail marijuana purchase and 3% surcharge with proceeds partly allocated to local administrations.
It also recommends autonomous expungements of minor-level cannabis possession convictions from 1st October 2015 or earlier. For folks convicted after that after this date, they can petition courts for relief.
Other regulations of the draft reform would prohibit advertising to avert appeal to youths and increase resources for law enforcement drug recognition experts.
Legislators have considered legalization proposals on multiple occasions during recent years, including a reform that Democrats launched in 2020 on behalf of the governor.
However, while those failed to advance, there’s surging optimism that they’ll be implemented in 2021.
Representative Jonathan Steinberg, Public Health Committee’s co-chair, told CT Mirror that he believes the reform has higher prospects this year than it had during the previous years.
