A recent poll shows 64 percent of Connecticut voters approve of recreational cannabis legalization. So lawmakers are working together with Governor Ned Lamont (D) to make that happen. One of the biggest concerns between the two parties is social equity. Only a few weeks ago, Democratic lawmakers threatened to shoot down the legalization measure. They said the bill had no social equity measures. That looks to change. 

Discussions

The House Majority Leader Jason Rojas (D) made a statement recently about meeting with Governor Lamont over concerns with his legalization bill. “We’re really finalizing on getting down to the definition of an equity applicant. I think that’s been the primary goal for folks on both sides of the discussion,” Representative Rojas said. “We do have a definition that we’ll share with the administration so that we can move forward from there.”

Social equity is a necessary part of any legalization bill, lawmakers across the country are saying. Back in February, New Mexico lawmakers began circulating HB 12, the recreational cannabis bill. Social equity became a major aspect and focal point of the bill. New York lawmakers also pressed for social equity measures when they worked with Governor Cuomo to legalize recreational cannabis. 

Special Session

The end of the legislative session for Connecticut is coming up on June 9th. Lawmakers fear they won’t have enough time to approve the measure and send it to the governor. Many different measures are combining into one for a more comprehensive and defined legalization bill. Once the measures combine, they will go before both chambers for a vote. If approved, then it heads to the governor. 

But there may not be enough time left. According to House Speaker Matt Ritter (D), the legislature is currently open to the idea of a special session. “It’s the kind of thing that I think you could always go into overtime if you had to,” Speaker Ritter said. “We’d all be comfortable coming to [a] special session for that issue.” All the governor has to do is call for one.

Future

A special session will most likely happen. New Mexico’s governor also called lawmakers back to discuss recreational cannabis when the Senate failed to make moves on the House approved bill. Other states, like Mississippi, could possibly call for a special session as well. They would create a medical cannabis program after the Supreme Court overturned the voter approved measure. It’s just a matter of waiting for Governor Lamont’s response. 

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