Legislators in Connecticut Consider Medical Marijuana Again
While most of the focus from the major news outlets yesterday was on the Super Tuesday results, patients in the northeast may have been even more engaged in another development. Connecticut residents may find relief as state lawmakers are again proposing a medical marijuana program.
Previous efforts to legalize medical marijuana in Connecticut have failed, however advocates feel they have addressed the issues that led to political failure. The executive director of the Connecticut branch of NORML, Erik Williams, has reportedly said that a newly proposed bill would be the best in the nation if passed. Marijuana cultivators would have to submit to a detailed licensing process. The bill would require dispensaries to have licensed pharmacists either present or on call which Williams claims is a key difference between this and past legislation.
Erik Williams is not the only one who senses a different political environment for medical marijuana in Connecticut. State senator John Kissel, (R-Enfield) said “For some reason, even though this is a short session, I think this is the year.” Another state representative, John Hetherington, (R-New Canaan) backed up Senator Kissel’s feeling. In 2007, a bill made it through the state legislators only to be vetoed by former Governor Rell. While the current governor Daniel P. Malloy has not commented on this new bill, his spokesman Andrew Doba said, “The governor has said in the past that he supports the concept of the palliative use of marijuana for debilitating illnesses.”
Momentum seems to be in favor of patients residing in Connecticut as many state legislators and the governor seem to support medical marijuana. If Connecticut legalized medical cannabis they would join several northeast neighbors. Rhode Island, New Jersey, Vermont, and Delaware have legalized marijuana (click here for all states with legalized marijuana) while states such as New York, Massachusetts, and Maryland (here is a list of all states with pending marijuana legislation) have pending legislation that could start medical marijuana programs in those states.
Super Tuesday filled with Highlights Medical Marijuana Industry News March 9, 2012