HARTFORD -- Ridgefield native Kathleen M. Anderson never thought she'd be promoting the legalization of medical marijuana. "If someone told me 10 years ago I would be an advocate, I would have said no way."

Then, nine years ago, her now 23-year-old daughter was diagnosed with reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome, a chronic disease that results in intense pain, especially when touched, that increases over time.

"I'm a conservative mom," she said, "but any parent who has had to watch their child suffer for years as I have would support this effort."

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MILFORD -- Five police officers given suspensions for their handling of a prisoner who later died in custody have up to five days to decide if they want to file a grievance, a union representative said Monday.

Sgt. Jeff Matchett, president of the Milford Police Union Local 899, said the officers have five business days from receiving the suspension notice to decide if they want to fight the move. Police Chief Keith Mello announced the one-day, unpaid suspensions last Friday while releasing a report of the department's internal investigation into the death of Nicholas Brown, 24, of Stratford.

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