New Haven Register (New Haven, CT)
Progressives, Lamont compromise on marijuana
Tensions appeared to dissipate Friday between progressive Democrats and Gov. Ned Lamont’s administration on what an adult-use marijuana bill should look like.
Criticism from minority Republicans indicated their steadfast opposition to full legalization, though the House Republican leader offered ideas for modifications. If Democrats can agree on how to craft a bill — something that has not happened in
several tries over the last few years — they don’t need any
GOP votes to make it happen.
Three main issues remain to be worked out: Who exactly would receive licenses under the bill; how the revenue from adultuse legalization would be spent to undo past drug war harm in targeted communities; and how, exactly, past marijuana arrest records would be expunged.
Lamont’s bill and a bill advanced by the legislature’s Labor Committee remain works in progress.
State Rep. Robyn Porter, DNew Haven, the co-chairwoman of the Labor Committee, said during an extensive questionand-answer session with more than a dozen Lamont administration officials that she is satisfied that her bill, which emphasizes the ability of affected communities to get into a future retail-cannabis industry and rid themselves of the stigma of criminal records, will be considered in an eventual compromise bill.
The first four hours of the online hearing by the Judiciary Committee centered on Lamont’s plan, which was included in his budget proposal. Revenue projections are modest, $33 million in fiscal 2023 with projections of about $95 million a year — in contrast to some in the industry who say Connecticut could reap more than $200 million a year.
Lamont’s advisers said they are eager to incorporate Porter’s proposals and stressed that a task force’s recommendations on social equity and business opportunities were not included in the legislation because of the late-January budget deadline.
“What cannabis and the war on drugs has done to our communities is unconscionable,” said Paul Mounds, Lamont’s chief of staff, the point man in prolonged testimony. “We have to take steps to not only right those wrongs, but take steps to make sure that individuals are not only among the marketplace, but are the marketplace. The war on cannabis did little to protect public health and safety. Instead it has caused significant injustices for many of our residents, especially people in our Black and brown communities.”
State Rep. Steve Stafstrom, D-Bridgeport, co-chairman of the committee, said before the hearing that Lamont’s bill is a source for discussion and compromise as lawmakers plan for adult use.
While Massachusetts voters approved a retail law after petitioning in a statewide referendum in 2016, Connecticut does not have such a popular mechanism short of a Constitutional amendment process. That might become a fallback position this year if the full legalization effort fails again in the General Assembly. The earliest such an amendment could reach Connecticut voters would be 2024. “I think the governor’s office has sought to bring folks together to further the conversation on equity,” Stafstrom said. “I think we all recognize the bill we are reviewing today will not be the same that passes the committee.”
House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said he is concerned that the issue of legalization debate seems to have shifted to the “commercialization” of cannabis. “I think this bill should be looking at the age of 25 if it’s going to be done,” he said. Referring to the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, he said, “I think we should have a conversation about setting the THC levels to something lower, to prevent all the societal ills we’re heard being testified. I think we should be limiting the products that are going to be offered.”
Candelora suggested that the state “lead in a different direction,” compared to Massachusetts, California and Colorado. “I think some of these states are going to find that they need to put the genie back in the bottle,” he said, adding the so-called homegrown model that Vermont started out with seems to be more sensible.
Republican criticism of the bill was led by Rep. Craig Fishbein, R-Wallingford, ranking Republican on the committee. He complained that Lamont was not among the administration’s experts in regulation, law enforcement and revenue, along with policy experts including Jonathan Harris, a former state senator and commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protection.
Harris oversaw the state’s nationally known medical marijuana program, which now serves more than 50,000 patients.
“There is a representation from the administration that this is a working document,” Fishbein said. “So I’m trying to figure out what parts are workable and what parts are not workable.” Fishbein also criticized the Department of Public Health for not appearing with the governor’s team.
During questioning from Porter, Harris said the governor’s bill includes a $75,000 study on equity issues, including a new Cannabis Equity Commission. Harris stressed that the governor is eager to continue discussions on equity revisions, including business opportunities in affected neighborhoods. “The discussions will happen and there will be, I’m sure, changes,” Harris said. “I appreciate that,” Porter replied.
Harris said that part of the discussion on equity for Black and brown communities is to lower the barriers for entry into the market, including so-called micro-cultivators, food-and beverage developers and delivery services. Under the bill, the equity panel would focus on a wide range of opportunities and funding streams. “These are the details that will be fleshed out by the equity commission and will also be on the table in the legislative discussions,” Harris said to Porter. “This bill, 163 pages, presents a comprehensive market structure. There are other bills out there, as you know, that have maybe less market structure, but have more detail on equity. These bills are complementary and will be the basis of our discussion going forward.”
“I definitely agree with that statement and wholeheartedly look forward to working collectively because I believe that both bills have some really great stuff, including the governor’s bill,” Porter replied.
“The administration feels that the regulatory portion of this bill is the most-comprehensive regulatory bill for marijuana structure that’s currently in the legislative process,” Mounds said. “This governor and this administration respects the deliberative process of the legislature. This is us putting forth a bill for the committee.”
Mounds described the apparent gap between the governor’s bill and various levels of criticism from his fellow Democrats as “chatter.”
Republicans, however, were less conciliatory. Sen. Dan Champagne, a retired police officer, criticized the whole concept. “We have a major problem right now in the state of Connecticut, with drug use and stuff,” Champagne said, stressing the need to put most future cannabis revenue into rehabilitation services, rather than the inner-city equity programming envisioned by Lamont and Porter. “As a father, I am petrified of what this will do to the teens,” said Rep. Tom O’Dea, R-New Canaan.