Steven Stafstrom

Following votes in the House last night and the Senate earlier today, the General Assembly has finally voted to legalize recreational cannabis in Connecticut. After years of debate and hard-work, the legislature has worked to craft a comprehensive program to legalize cannabis and lift up our communities, especially those who have paid the highest price for marijuana possession and use. I was proud to bring out the bill (which passed 76-62) and lead the debate on it in the House.

Below are highlights of what S.B. 1201 does:

• Legalizes Adult-Use
  • Permits the use and possession of recreational cannabis for people 21+ beginning July 1, 2021.
  • No more than 1.5 ounces of cannabis on a person and as much as 5 ounces in-home or locked in a car trunk or glove box.
  • Retail sales are expected to begin around summer 2022.
  • Any individual 21+ will be permitted to grow up to six cannabis plants (three mature, three immature) in their home beginning July 1, 2023.
• Focuses on Equity
  • Communities of color have been disproportionately devastated by the War on Drugs and this legislation ensures Connecticut rights those wrongs through an equity fund, criminal justice reforms and economic opportunities.
  • The bill erases convictions related to possession of less than 4 oz. of marijuana, for offenses occurring between 2015 – 2021 and erases convictions related to possession of any amount of marijuana for offenses occurring between 2000-2015.
• Invests in Public Health and Prevention
  • In addition to the equity fund, this legislation directs money to prevention efforts and mental health and addiction services.
    • Only 15% of revenues will go into the General Fund.
• Addresses Public Safety
  • Establishes a multi-level system to train police officers to recognize impaired driving and keep roads safe.
  • All officers will be trained to the Advanced Roadside Impaired Driving Enforcement level, and enough will be trained to the Drug Recognition Expert level to recognize impairment.
• Listens to the Voters' Wants
  • Polls show CT residents overwhelmingly support legalized adult-use.

Connecticut’s time has finally come. Change never comes easily and rarely does it occur as quickly as we might like. But with both the House and Senate taking this major step forward, we are dedicating ourselves to righting wrongs through criminal justice reforms and economic opportunities.