Pubdate: Sun, 03 Apr 2016
Source: Day, The (New London,CT)
Copyright: 2016 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.theday.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/293
Author: Susan Haigh, Associated Press

POT ADVOCATES HOPE TO KEEP ISSUE ALIVE

Hartford (AP) - Even though two bills legalizing the recreational use 
of marijuana in Connecticut failed this session, proponents are 
seeking to keep the issue alive by holding a public informational 
meeting on the subject.

Reps. Juan Candelaria and Toni Walker, both Democrats from New Haven, 
are seeking input on the pros and cons of marijuana legalization from 
experts and members of the public. The hearing is scheduled for 
Tuesday at the Legislative Office Building. It will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"I think that the people deserve an opportunity or at least a forum 
to express their opinions on legalization," said Candelaria, who also 
proposed legislation legalizing marijuana for those 21 years and 
older during the 2015 legislative session.

This session, bills offered by Candelaria and Walker received the 
support of more than a dozen legislative co-sponsors but were not 
called for a public hearing before the General Assembly's Judiciary 
Committee. Legislative leaders, who've been grappling with how to 
cover large state budget deficits during a short legislative session, 
said this wasn't the year to take up such a potentially contentious issue.

Also, Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, who successfully pushed for 
decriminalizing the possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2011 
and signed legislation in 2012 legalizing the medical use of 
marijuana, has been unenthusiastic about going further and fully 
legalizing pot.

"I don't believe that's in our best interest. I think we've taken 
what I consider to be the right steps with marijuana and that is to 
stop using our laws on marijuana as a first step to lead to a 
criminal record so we decriminalized marijuana," Malloy said at a 
public town hall meeting in February. "I'm not an advocate for 
legalizing marijuana."

Candelaria contends the state needs to move beyond those two laws.

"There is a market out there that's happening. I think we need to 
regulate it. We cannot turn a blind eye to the fact this is out 
there. People are put in dangerous situations because they're dealing 
directly with a drug dealer," he said, adding how the state can also 
generate much-needed revenue.

Proponents estimate Connecticut could reap about $50 million in 
additional annual taxes. Walker is co-chairman of the legislature's 
budget-writing committee and her bill called for the revenue 
generated from a tax on marijuana be deposited in the state's main 
General Fund account, with some money diverted for drug awareness 
education and efforts to curb opiates, alcohol and other harmful substances.

Colorado Rep. Dan Pabon, one of the state legislators involved in 
crafting that state's regulatory framework from recreational 
marijuana, is among the guest speakers tentatively scheduled to 
attend Tuesday's hearing.
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