By Nathalie Bougenies, Attorney @ Harris Bricken The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (“2018 Farm Bill”) legalized hemp by removing the crop and its derivatives from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”) and by providing a detailed framework for the cultivation of hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill gives the US Department […]
Connecticut
Connecticut lawmakers advance bill that would legalize marijuana, erase criminal records for low-level drug offenders
State legislators Monday narrowly advanced a bill that would legalize recreational marijuana and erase criminal records for low-level drug offenders. By a vote of 21-19, mostly along party lines, the judiciary committee passed the second legal marijuana bill of the legislative session. Both bills still have to be voted on by the full House of […]
Connecticut legislators have introduced the first legal marijuana bill of 2019. Here’s what it would do.
More than 40 House Democrats have introduced Connecticut’s first marijuana legalization bill, laying out a plan for the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries to begin selling the drug to all customers. Previous recreational marijuana bills have failed, but lawmakers have an increased sense of urgency this year with bigger Democratic margins in the General Assembly, a […]
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF CONSUMER PROTECTION ISSUES REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS FOR ADDITIONAL MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY FACILITIES
PRESS RELEASE Wednesday, January 3rd 2018 – The Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) announced today that it has issued a Request for Application (RFA) for new Medical Marijuana Dispensary Facilities. DCP plans to award at least three (3) new licenses. “Our state’s Medical Marijuana Program is incredibly successful, and is growing rapidly,” said Consumer Protection […]
Federal Courts Upholding State’s Rights in More Workplace Cannabis Use Cases
The courts are catching up to the reality of state’s marijuana laws – or so it seems in a couple of cases in New England, where people accused of using marijuana in the workplace are now free to either continue working at their jobs or find new ones without being chased by a history as […]
Connecticut Could Add Three More Conditions for Medical Marijuana Treatment
People suffering from three medical conditions — hydrocephalus, migraines and trigeminal neuralgia — may be able to use medical marijuana under a plan expected to win approval from the Department of Consumer Protection. Consumer Protection Commissioner Michelle. H. Seagull said Thursday she is considering adding the three conditions to the 22 already approved under state […]
Connecticut Lawmakers Taking Serious Look at Legalizing Marijuana
HARTFORD >> Connecticut’s continuing fiscal woes, coupled with a new law that fully takes effect next year in neighboring Massachusetts, have prompted state lawmakers to take their most serious look yet at possibly legalizing the recreational use of marijuana for adults. Several bills with bipartisan support that sanction the retail sale and cultivation of pot […]
Recreational Marijuana Debate Underway in Connecticut
Supporters of legalizing pot in Connecticut argued Tuesday that the time has come to control and tax marijuana in the same way alcohol is regulated, warning that pot prohibition has failed. Democratic and Republican lawmakers said at a morning news conference that legalization of recreational cannabis would end the illegal market in pot, halt the […]
These 11 States May Change Their Marijuana Laws in 2017
After four states legalized recreational marijuana last year and twice that many approved new medical marijuana laws, at least eleven more are considering changing their laws in 2017. Here are the states and the legislation they’re proposing: 1. Connecticut Not only are lawmakers hoping to expand Connecticut’s five-year-old medical marijuana legislation, but Martin Looney, the […]
Debate on Recreational Marijuana in Connecticut Is Poised to Begin
Connecticut is gearing up for a debate about whether to legalize recreational marijuana. Democratic Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney has introduce a bill that would permit residents to use marijuana recreationally. If the measure passes, Connecticut would join fellow New England states Massachusetts and Maine, where ballot initiatives passed in November. Eight states have […]
Connecticut Police Chiefs Express Concern about Potential of Marijuana Legalization
Law enforcement officials across the state will be paying close attention to proposed legislation on marijuana legalization. Connecticut Police Chiefs Association President John Salvatore said while the group has not taken an official stance on proposed bills, there are some reservations among chiefs about permitting marijuana for recreational use. “That’s largely from what we’re witnessing […]
Connecticut Hospital to Study Medical Marijuana Effectiveness Against Oxycodone
HARTFORD, CT – A first-of-its kind research study that will test the effectiveness of using medical marijuana in place of oxycodone in patients suffering from pain from multiple rib fractures will be done at St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center. The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) announced recently approval of the research program, which […]
Lawmakers Say That Legalization in Connecticut Is Dead for This Year
Connecticut lawmakers have been saying for months that a bill to legalize marijuana had no chance of approval during an election year, and the bill has now been withdrawn. Rep. Juan Candelaria, a New Haven Democrat who was the measure’s chief proponent, brought out an amendment for recreational use Wednesday night on a related bill, […]
Legal Cannabis Proponents Urge Connecticut Lawmakers to Move Quickly
HARTFORD — Proponents of legalizing marijuana in Connecticut urged state lawmakers on Tuesday to act quickly and capitalize on the ‘‘novelty factor’’ of possibly becoming the first New England state to allow recreational use of the drug. Tracy Helin of Middletown, who is registered to use the state’s medical marijuana program to relieve cancer symptoms, […]
Connecticut Groups Take a Stand Against Legalizing Recreational Marijuana
HARTFORD — With surveys showing marijuana use among youth in on the rise, substance abuse prevention groups gathered at the Legislative Office Building on Monday to launch a pre-emptive strike against any move to legalize marijuana for recreational use. “We should not consider marijuana innocent until proving guilty given what we already know,” said Dr. Sandra […]
Bill in Connecticut Legislature Would Legalize Marijuana There
Legislation has been introduced that would legalize the recreational use of marijuana in Connecticut for people 21 and older. Rep. Juan Candelaria, a Democrat from New Haven, introduced the bill on Thursday. It would make it legal for adults to grow, sell and use marijuana, subject to some restrictions. Other New England states have been […]
Connecticut Cops Told: Get Ready for Legal Recreational Marijuana
BRIDGEPORT — Robert Ticer is no fan of legalized recreational marijuana. And the Avon, Colo., police chief said Thursday that more pot in Connecticut’s future would increase challenges for cops on this state’s roads. “It’s mind-boggling,” he said of marijuana’s spread through Colorado, speaking at the Webster Bank Arena as part of a traffic safety […]
Connecticut Will Allow 3 More Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
HARTFORD — Connecticut plans to allow up to three more medical marijuana dispensaries, targeting New Haven and Fairfield counties, where there are the most registered patients and the fewest licensed sellers. The decision to add to the state’s six dispensaries comes nine months after the first medical marijuana sales by a fledgling industry in Connecticut […]
