What was once thought to be another state likely to legalize adult-use cannabis this year, Connecticut Congress is split over social equity measures. The fate of SB 888, sponsored by Governor Lamont, is up in the air.

SB 888

After receiving approval from the House Judiciary Committee of 22-16, SB 888 moved on to a full chamber vote. However any Senators spoke out against the social equity measures in the bill. Right now, 40 percent of eligible business licenses will be specifically for social equity applicants. There must be 51 percent business ownership by someone who:

• Has/had a cannabis conviction
• An immediate family member has a cannabis conviction
• The person currently lives in a “disproportionately affected community” and has been for at least five of the past ten years.
• They’re a resident of a tribal land

OR

• A full time employee working at the facility has any of the above qualifications.

And that’s where many Senators are having issues with SB 888. The “OR.” 

Concern Among Senators 

Senator Doug McCrory (D) has stated that his voters want ownership within the booming cannabis industry. LIke at retail dispensaries or production lines. They don’t want lower-waged jobs to take care of a store, created by a rich out of town employer who is looking for any legal loopholes they can. 

“What does equity look like?” Senator McCrory asked. “You’re not going to have a situation where you own everything, and I work for you for $15 an hour. That’s not going to happen.”

Another Senator, Senator Gary Winfield (D), spoke out along with Senator McCrory. “Many of our colleagues in the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus have said there will be no bill if there is no equity. There will be no cannabis legalization in this state without equity — without it being a serious part of the bill. … There won’t be a cannabis bill in this state until we get equity right.”

And that is where many Senators are saying they won’t support the bill. But with several Democrats strictly opposing the bill because of social equity, others, like House Republican leader Vincent Candelora, will oppose the bill because they are against cannabis. Connecticut has been working for years to get a legalization bill on the agenda, and now with it so close to making it to Governor Lamont’s desk, it could fall just short. 

Governor’s Response

In a recent statement, Governor Lamont said:

“I think [legalization is] in the best interest of public health and I don’t want to surrender this to the underground market and I don’t want to surrender it to outside markets. That said, if you get a bill that you think doesn’t meet some basic requirements, you’ll put it off another year just like they have for many years in the past. You can’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”

Governor Lamont isn’t going to sign any cannabis legalization bill, but he does want to sign one before the Mandatory adjournment date of June 9th. After that date, all bills that haven’t made it to the governor’s desk will be considered dead. They will have to go through the legislative process again next year to be considered again. 

There is currently pressure on Connecticut to pass legalization as New York, New Jersey, and New Mexico have all legalized adult-use cannabis measures so far this year. Reform is the new national trend. 

Future

Whatever the lawmakers decide is not clear. But legalization may not happen in Connecticut this year despite being one of the top states expected to legalize cannabis. But there will be no bill if there is no equity according to dominant Democratic Senators. Less than two months remain before the session must end, so there is still time to appease the resistant senators.

As more information develops, we will be sure to update you with the latest. Make sure to check back for more cannabis and hemp related news.