HARTFORD, Conn (WCBS 880) — Connecticut is poised to become the 18th state in the country to legalize recreational marijuana when Gov. Ned Lamont signs newly passed legislation next week.
In an interview with WCBS 880’s Steve Scott, he said he believes the state should have done this long ago and he will be proud to sign the bill into law.
“It's been a long time coming, it's a reality. So, let's do marijuana on a carefully regulated basis – adult use only – let’s push out the underground market. I think it makes good sense,” Lamont said.
While Lamont is excited to sign the bill into law, legalizing recreational marijuana in the state was in jeopardy just last week over an amendment added by the Connecticut Senate.
Lamont had threatened to veto the bill, but the House voted to remove the amendment and pass the revised bill along to the Senate this week for final approval.
The governor said he was much happier with the revised bill – which was his original vision – as it ensures money made from marijuana sales will go to communities that have been disproportionately impacted by marijuana arrests.
“When it comes to the money… from taxing marijuana, I wanted it to go to the most distressed communities. And there were some adjustments to that, that I didn't approve of. So, the money is going to the most distressed communities that have been hardest hit by the war on drugs and taking care of people and helping them start their own businesses,” Lamont said.
The governor did not say when he will sign the legislation next week, but after he does, he expects marijuana dispensaries will be up and running in the state by spring of 2022.
However, he doesn’t foresee that people will be smoking marijuana as they walk down the street.
“I think it's more for your private use. I think that's how we're going to try and regulate it,” the governor said. “It's sort of the same laws as cigarettes…first will be friendly reminders, ‘This is the law, follow it.’”
While some opponents of the legislation have claimed that marijuana is a gateway drug to more intense substances, Gov. Lamont says he does not believe that, but says the state will be providing more addiction services to those who need it.
“We're going to be very careful about providing addiction services and support, but I think you're gonna find the overwhelming majority of people know how to use it, they know how to use it safely. We’re regulated the THC content to help them do that,” Lamont said.
He also said the state is going to make sure marijuana does not end up in the hands of children – but notes that he thinks teens are already getting their hands on other substances that are not for them.
“I think it's already out there to tell you the truth, we've got a lot of things including alcohol that are really for adult use and so we're gonna be very careful,” the governor said.
Once the law is signed, all adults over the age of 21 will be allowed to use marijuana recreationally in the state of Connecticut – something Gov. Lamont says has taken too long to do.
“It just seemed, to me, a law that outlived its purpose and I think it was misaligned from the very beginning,” Lamont said of the law legalizing the drug. “The idea that it was disproportionately impacting Black and Brown communities – they were folks much more likely to go to jail and have their lives ruined – I think we should have done this years ago.”
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