Connecticut’s Governor’s informal task agency has launched an assortment of recommendations on how to authorize cannabis with a focus on social justice for territories most adversely impacted by the prohibition.
The panel that consists of twenty legislators, community leaders and activists worked on two major concerns: those associated with regulations and licensing, and community reinvestment. It was set up by the authority in an ad hoc manner during December and remained discreet until its recent effort.
De Vaughn Ward, top legislative counsel for the Marijuana Policy Project, said that he thinks the overarching aspect in those recommendations is Ned Lamont’s proposal to push for sturdy equity provisions within the licensing aspect and substantive revenue portion allocated for communities hardest hit by the failed Drug War.
He added that the members of the task force noted the lack of inclusion and diversity in the present medical marijuana market. He further said that without these two aspects, Lamont’s recreational cannabis legalization bill will face a lot of challenges in gaining approval from progressive legislators, black legislators and urban legislators.
The following are the task force’s Major recommendations:
- Social equity permits should be given to ventures that have more than 67% ownership by individuals who adhere to at least two criteria:
1) individuals who have been incarcerated or arrested over MJ-related offences
2) individuals with close family siblings who were arrested over Cannabis
3) individuals with yearly income that’s less than 150% of median wage or
4) folks from communities hardest hit by cannabis criminalization.
- Equity permits should be in tandem with federal conventional licenses at every stage of the supply chain
- Every cannabis organization must enact regulations that foster variety in contracting, employment and other professional areas.
- If medicinal marijuana dispensaries are awarded recreational licenses, equity applicants need to also acquire licensing priority for transportation, micro-cultivator and transit businesses.
