Marijuana legalization bill fails first major hurdle

HARTFORD — A movement to legalize marijuana and allow recreational sales failed an early test Tuesday, but the issue is far from snuffed out.

The General Assembly’s General Law Committee rejected a weed legalization bill by an 11-6 margin, an early indication of strong opposition and possibly a forewarning the state may not be ready to join neighboring Massachusetts and allow legal sales to those 21 years and older.

State Sen. Carlo Leone, D-Stamford, and a committee co-chairman, noted there are four weed bills in various committees and stressed one defeat does not mean the issue is dead.

“It’s coming to the state and we have to be prepared to address it,” Leone said. “I’m not sure we are at that point here. But it has a long way to go.”

Some lawmakers opposed to the bill complained the committee version lacked regulatory and other details. A few noted the bill allows users to plant up to six plants in their backyard and questioned who would regulate that, and what effect those plants would have on neighborhoods.

“These are large plants,” said state Sen. John Kissel, R-Enfield. “It’s going to be the Wild West. Who is going to police these plants in everyone’s backyards?”

The vote was surprisingly bipartisan, with Democrats and Republicans both voting against the bill. Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, has come out strongly in favor of legalizing pot.

“It is time we take the rational, common-sense approach to marijuana, as we did with alcohol: regulating and taxing it,” Looney told the judiciary committee on Monday. “We need to ensure that Connecticut is not left behind as our neighbors move forward with common sense marijuana policy.”

State Sen. Kevin Witkos, R-Canton, a committee co-chairman and a former police officer, voted for the bill but said he may vote against it later on.

“All this does is move it along to the next phase,” Witkos said. “Why should we not be discussing it on the floor? Residents are going to be driving to Massachusetts to purchase marijuana and we are going to have to deal with it.”

State Rep. Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said he does not support the committee bill and ticked off many regulatory deficiencies. But he conceded the legislation will likely make it to the the full House and Senate.

“The House chamber will have to deal with this,” Candelora said. ‘This (bill) leaves out so many aspects and it should be done in one bill and not piecemeal.”

State Rep. Richard Smith, R-New Fairfield, said he is worried about people mixing weed and alcohol and the inability of police to detect marijuana.

“The effect of a couple of beers and marijuana is scary,” Smith said. “If we encourage this it will only exacerbate the situation. The cart is before the horse here.”

But state Rep. Melissa Ziobron, R-East Haddam, chastised her colleagues, noting alcohol is far worse than weed.

“I can’t help but point out the hypocrisy of allowing someone to have 3 ounces of grain alcohol (at a distillery) while we debate allowing someone to plant six seeds,” Ziobron said. “Sixty-five percent of residents want legal weed. Alcoholism has done more to rip apart families than cannabis ever will.”

State Rep. Daniel Rovero, D-Killingly, said he considered voting for the bill until he heard an advertisement on the radio arguing that legal weed sends a “mixed message” to kids.

“It’s not a laughing matter,” Rovero said. “I know it’s going to come eventually. But do I want to send a mixed message? The answer is ‘No.’ ”

Maine and Massachusetts approved ballot initiatives in November 2016 and retail sales in Massachusetts are expected to begin in July.

In May, Vermont became the first state to legalize marijuana by a vote of its legislature. Rhode Island and New Jersey are considering enacting similar measures.