Lamont answers questions on marijuana, UConn, taxes

Gov. Ned Lamont took a break from governing, or maybe campaigning, to answer some questions from people via Twitter this week, weighing in on everything fro mm arijuana and drivers licenses to internet access and the UConn football team.

Here's a recap of some of the questions and the governor's answers from this week's Q&A on Twitter.

Any word or updates on digital driver’s licenses coming to iOS devices?

One follower was curious about whether Connecticut would ever allow drivers to access their license through a smartphone. It doesn't seem like Connecticut is quite there yet, but state officials are not adverse to the change.

“You can renew your drivers license from your bed while still in your pajamas. Digital drivers licenses for those who want will be the next innovation we make in modernizing CT's state government,” Lamont tweeted.

Why does Connecticut continue to have a personal property tax on vehicles?

“Although half the states have car taxes, I agree it's among the most regressive taxes in CT. We capped mill rates at 32.46 this year, providing $100M of relief to residents in 75 towns who'd otherwise have seen higher bills, and are moving to a more predictable way to value cars,” Lamont tweeted.

While Lamont doesn't seem to like the car tax, it remains in affect for now and will take legislative authority to eliminate it.

Do you have any updates on how the recreational marijuana setup will be for retail customers? Will it be close to how Massachusetts has theirs setup?

“I just got my latest briefing on adult-use cannabis this week. We're about six months away from opening a safe, equitable market,” he stated.

Lamont may not have had a ton of information for this answer, but it was reported this week that 16 licenses have been recommended to the Department

of Consumer Protection for approval under the state's social equity program . It re mains to be seen exactly where they might be located and how soon they will open.

Will UConn join a Power 5 conference?

A good question for UConn Huskies fans as the conference realignment carousel spins. Nothing definitive has been reported on what happens next for UConn, which has settled into the Big East, but football head coach Jim Mora did recently pitch at least one recruit on his hope to play in the ACC.

“They're good enough to join any conference they want, unless other teams are afraid of them,” Lamont said in his response.

Will you order more N95s and home tests for people who can’t afford their own and/or are uninsured?

“We are currently seeing infection rates rise, but not hospitalizations. Our PPE stockpile is ready to go when it's needed and there are free testing sites across the state. In the meantime, you can get your own free at-home rapid tests at http://covidtests.gov,” he said.

It should be noted here that the state has seen an uptick in hospitalizations recently, although they remain nowhere near the peak during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Anything happening on municipal broadband internet?

“Affordable broadband should be a universal service. We invested $150M of federal funding to make this happen. Folks should be able to do everything they can do from Brooklyn, CT as they can in Brooklyn, NY,” the governor said.

What’s Ned listening to lately?

“You know that I'm a Hamilton groupie. … We're coming up on Jerry Garcia's 80th birthday, so I'm listening to a little more Grateful Dead. I always like Lynyrd Skynyrd,” he wrote.