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Updated: May 4, 2020

Recreational marijuana legalization efforts in limbo

Photo | HBJ File State Rep. Josh Elliott (D-Hamden) is a grocery store manager/owner and a leading advocate for recreational pot legalization.
By Joe Cooper

This year’s canceled legislative session prevented the General Assembly from voting on many hot-button issues — including potentially making Connecticut the 12th state to legalize recreational marijuana sales.

In early March, Gov. Ned Lamont gave his full support for adult-use legalization, proposing a blueprint for establishing a regulated pot market by summer 2022.

Then the coronavirus hit Connecticut, and cut short the legislative session, which was supposed to end May 6.

Rep. Josh Elliott (D-Hamden), an ardent pro-pot supporter, says the disruption likely didn’t have a material impact because legalization efforts still needed more support from both sides of the aisle.

“COVID has not deterred or encouraged the passage of the bill,” Elliot said. “Either way, we were going to need to wait for the 2021 session.”

Elliott disputes an opposing argument that Connecticut needs to continue studying the economic, criminal or cultural implications of allowing adult marijuana sales.

On the fiscal front, estimates offered by state lawmakers and marijuana-legalization advocates project that recreational marijuana sales could generate between $40 million and $60 million in tax receipts in the first fiscal year of adoption.

The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, employer groups and the AAA have been among the opponents of legalization, raising concerns over the difficulties in detecting impairment from the use of marijuana by motorists and employees.

Ultimately, Elliott said recreational legalization will come down to who is voted into legislative office this November.

“People don’t change opinions on this mostly, so it really comes down to whether or not the person being elected is already in favor,” he said. “Hopefully next year we get a new wave of people that are ready to work on this issue.”

A CT Mirror report contributed to this story.

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