A number of House Democrats in Connecticut have teamed up to unleash draft legislation that would legalize the plant for adult-use.

Connecticut is the most recent Eastern state to bat for legal weed.

If the measure is approved, the framework for legal adult-use cannabis in Connecticut would operate under a tightly-managed system. 

Adult-use cannabis in Connecticut to be taxed at 20 percent

Under the details of Connecticut’s draft for cannabis legislation, taxes would be imposed at 20 percent on cannabis sales. In addition to this, cannabis businesses would not legally be allowed to sell and cultivate the plant at the same time. This is according to a report from New Haven TV station WTNH.

Furthermore, Connecticut’s draft for cannabis legislation would entitle minorities to get involved in the legal weed industry. The law would present opportunities for minorities to obtain licenses for a variety of cannabis businesses.

Whether or not the measure is likely to pass this year remains uncertain. However, the state’s new governor, Democrat Ned Lamont, has made many public declarations to demonstrate his support of recreational cannabis.

Connecticut considers options for adult-use cannabis legalization options

This year, a number of cannabis bills have been introduced in the state legislature. They include strategies for launching a recreational market and expanding the existing medical cannabis market.

Three adult-use cannabis bills have been put before lawmakers so far this session. They are HB 6863, SB 744 and HB 5595, the latter of which is the toughest adult-use legislation. Well, this is what Connecticut NORML Executive Director Paul Kirchberg says.

Numerous other bills have been submitted for review; some relating to home cannabis cultivation and others to detect impaired drivers. One of them was focused on adding opioid disorder, fibromyalgia and chronic pain to the list of qualifying conditions for medical cannabis.

Kirchberg affirms that Connecticut NORML is working hard to expand the state’s medical cannabis program this year, not to mention supporting adult-use legalization.

“Connecticut NORML has a multi-pronged approach,” he said. “Just because adult-use is on the table, it doesn’t mean we take medical off. We’re still pushing medical advocacy. We’re still pushing improvements on the medical field because we do not want the medical program to go away when adult-use does become legalized. Adult-use should not trump medical use.”

Connecticut lawmakers could progress further on the road to cannabis reform this year, but some advocates don’t seem to think so. Read more about Connecticut’s draft legislation to legalize adult-use weed by clicking here.