Connecticut May Soon Join the Club

Help Strengthen the Implementation of Medical Marijuana in CT

It is likely that CT will enact Medical Marijuana legislation this year. Connecticut needs a dedicated forum where patients and caregivers can share information, and advocate for improvements to the law.

A buddy of mine is going to start up a Bulletin Board dedicated to Connecticut Medical Marijuana similar to what http://michiganmedicalmarijuana.org/ is in Michigan (click for link). Of course, the site will start out on a modest scale, but needs a couple of people dedicated to getting the project off the ground.

I am sensitive to everyone's need for privacy, so if you PM me with interest, I will send you his e-mail so you can contact him directly. He is looking for IT folks, advocates and good writers that can put some time into making this happen.

The Hartford Courant is reporting this morning that "The drive to decriminalize small amounts of marijuana appears to be coming up short in the legislature this year."

http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-conn-marijuana-decrim-05-13-20110513,0,778263.story

The news seems to be coming from Sen. Majority Leader Looney, who says "We did have a caucus last week and we were somewhat short of the number to pass it with purely Democratic votes.''

IMO, Boucher has put out an 'Over My Dead Body' move on decriminalization. Remember that when medical marijuana came up a few years ago, she held up with vote with a four-hour filibuster. This time around, she is facing both Medical MJ and decriminalization. She has tried (unsuccessfully) to amend the decriminalization bill in committee. Her pride is on the line. Decriminalization has become the sacrificial lamb.

The Governor may fight to have his bill approved-- he is stubborn like that, but the legislature just feels stressed out making so many changes to marijuana law at once-- their inertia can be incredible.

The good news is that Medical Marijuana has an even better chance of passing now.

...And Tate can go to the Prom-- lol.

The Medical Marijuana Bill has been passed by Finance Revenue and Bonding this morning, and now heads back to the Senate floor for a vote. It has now been approved by the Judiciary, Public Health and Finance committees.

The vote was close at times, but the committee voted down four (!) amendments by Senator Boucher. Boucher is the key legislator fighting any liberalization of marijuana laws, and she may have killed the decriminalization bill (SB1014).

The bill can now be voted on by the Senate as early as Thursday. Have your fingers crossed (or contact your legislator in support) -- if it gets bumped out to committee again, it may not have a hearing this year.

i really hope this all works out. i have a good feeling it will

i wouldn't mind meeting some fellow riu ct people.

sharing is caring

Here is a great article for those of you who don't know the kind of MMJ opponent Sen Boucher is . The news piece covers the last Finance Committee and is deliciously critical of her...

a quote: “So many lives lost and so many lives broken that it makes my heart weep with anguish.”

http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/despite_bouchers_best_efforts_medicinal_marijuana_passes_finance/

If anyone thinks that getting the Medical Marijuana law passed should be easy (70% of CT residents support it, including a majority of Republicans), check out the monster filibuster gearing up for the bill: http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=1015&which_year=2011&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0

I count about 50 (!!!) amendments by Boucher that she will force the Senate to debate when this comes to floor. This says to me that this will be coming up for a vote, as long as the legislature has the stamina to go through the process. Note that bill 1014 (decriminalization of marijuana) has no amendments up for consideration, which confirms that this will NOT be coming to the floor this year:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=1014&which_year=2011&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0

I will be watching the Senate sessions when I can, and will post when I see them debating the bill-- stay tuned!

I didn't expect this to happen, but it seems that the Governor has pushed harder, and the Marijuana Decriminalization Bill 1014 passed the Senate-- but only after Nancy Wyman broke a tie with her own vote.

If it passes the House, possessing 1/2 oz. or less is treated as a violation-- a fine of $150 for the first offense and a fine of $200-500 in the second offense.

The full bill (with two amendments) will be available by Monday at this link:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=1014&which_year=2011&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0

Here is the article in the Hartford Courant:
http://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=1014&which_year=2011&SUBMIT1.x=0&SUBMIT1.y=0

and here is a link to the debate (the discussion of this bill starts at 1:03:45)
http://www.ctn.state.ct.us/ondemand.asp

This bodes well for Medical Marijuana. Keep those fingers crossed!

If the Senate doesn't debate MMJ today, it is unlikely to pass this year. The legislature has today and tomorrow before it ends this year's session, and because of the amount of debate, the Senate may turn its attention elsewhere-- but I haven't given up hope yet.

I believe the underlying reason for the bill dying relates to the dispensary issue. As written, SB 1015 does not provide for dispensaries, but the issue is a matter of some debate in the legislature, where some see the potential economic benefits for farmers. Here is a quote from a recent article at ctnewsjunkie by Sen Coleman:

"An amendment is also in the works for the measure allowing for the medical use of marijuana. It would establish a network of dispensaries to grow the substance, Coleman said. Four regional dispensaries would dispense the marijuana to pharmacies or similar establishments where people with prescriptions could obtain the proper dosage, he said."
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/coleman_amendments_to_breathe_new_life_into_marijuana_bills/

At the time, the dispensary amendment was thought to increase the odds of passage. However, the Feds are just getting geared up on the issue. Here is a quote from a very recent article from the Provedence Journal:

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder suggested on Thursday that the Justice Department will work with governors and other states to reach a satisfactory resolution to the establishment of dispensaries that sell marijuana to patients in state-sponsored medical-marijuana programs.
“We are in the process of working [on] these issues with the U.S. Attorney for Rhode Island and other U.S. Attorneys across the country,” he said. “My hope is that sometime in the not too distant future … it will be addressed.”
http://www.projo.com/news/content/HOLDER_MARIJUANA_06-03-11_3LOEEIN_v20.33ae691.html

Puting 2 and 2 together, I would imagine the Governor and Legislature are holding off while they explore the federal position on dispensaries. The good news? There may be some solid policy development that will institutionalize Med Marijuana.

I can't help but feel dissapointed, though. First, the law is less likely to pass this year. Second, I strongly believe that it would be better for patients if big business (aka four monster dispensaries) stayed out.

Caregivers may not be permitted in the final legislation, and if so, MJ may stay controlled by government.

Fellow reader: what are your thoughts on dispensaries, good or bad for Medical Marijuana?

Just a quick update: Decriminalization Bill 1014 is on the House 'Go' list. This means it will probably be debated today. If it makes it through the House, it will be signed into law.

This is extremely disappointing, I had such high hopes for SB 1015.. it really is a shame I have to continue being a criminal just to get some relief.

Necrobutcher--

If it's any consolation, in the House Session, members were just bemoaning that Med MJ is not being considered. An amendment was just offered that would require the state to have a Pallitive Use Task Force to further explore the benefits of Med MJ-- the measure failed (along party lines), but sentiment in the House is certainly in favor of Med MJ.

Lets be sure to push our legislators for next year. We'll get this right.

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled by the progress since Rell vetoed it in 2007 -- it seems like we already had it right and this would be the year.. oh well.

And thanks, Nitegazer, for all the up to date info.

OK-- Here is the last update for this fiscal year

Medical Marijuana didn't make it, but has growing support in the legislature, and will likely come back next year.

Decriminalization APPROVED. It's going to be law that 1/2 oz. is a violation. Note that although it will no longer be a crime, a violation is more than an infraction. Records of violations are available to employers, etc.

Thank you Necrobutcher and others who contributed here. I'll be back for the next legislative session.

This isn't too bad:
http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/90051045?CT Senate decriminalizes marijuana possession

Senate passes.