Connecticut becomes the 17th medical marijuana state!
After years of effort, Connecticut is now the newest medical marijuana state! On May 31, Gov. Dannel Malloy made it official, signing HB 5389 into law. The Connecticut House of Representatives voted 96-51 to approve An Act Concerning the Palliative Use of Marijuana on April 25, and the Senate followed suit in a 21-13 vote on May 6.
HB 5389 will allow state-registered patients or their caregivers to obtain marijuana from dispensaries, which in turn would obtain marijuana from licensed producers. Only pharmacists could apply on behalf of dispensaries. HB 5389’s qualifying medical conditions are cancer, glaucoma, HIV, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries causing spasticity, epilepsy, wasting, Crohn’s disease, and PTSD. The Department of Consumer Protection could add additional medical conditions.
HB 5389 provides for access through licensed dispensaries, which only pharmacists will be allowed to file applications for. Dispensaries may obtain marijuana from licensed producers, who will pay an application fee of at least $25,000.
Click here to read MPP’s summary of the new law.
Patients — who must be 18 or older — will be able to obtain a one-month supply, and the amount will be determined by the department. The bulk of the bill will go into effect on October 1, 2012, including a provision to allow patients to obtain a temporary registration to possess marijuana while the department implements the remainder of the act.
This victory comes despite saber-rattling from Connecticut’s U.S. attorney, who sent a letter on April 23 saying that dispensaries and growers are illegal under federal law and saying the Department of Justice could prosecute or enjoin them. Connecticut is the latest of several states to move forward with well-regulated dispensing programs despite receiving similar intimidating letters. Please ask your member of Congress to support legislation to remove federal penalties from state-legal programs.
Connecticut decriminalizes possession of marijuana
On the next to last day of the 2011 session, after an epic five hour debate, the Connecticut House of Representatives gave its approval to SB 1014, a bill to decriminalize the possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana. The Senate passed the bill the day before, after a marathon debate of its own. Governor Dan Malloy signed the bill into law on June 30, and it took effect the next day.
The new law removes criminal penalties for the use or possession of less than half an ounce of marijuana and paraphernalia, lowering the penalty from a misdemeanor to a civil violation. Rather than facing up to a year in jail and fines of up to $1,000, first time offenders are cited and assessed a $150 civil fine. Subsequent offenses are subject to increased fines of $200-$500, and upon a third violation, offenders are referred to a drug awareness program. Most importantly though, they are no longer arrested or saddled with a criminal record. In addition to the fine, anyone under 21 who is found responsible for possessing less than a half-ounce of marijuana faces a 60-day suspension of their drivers' licenses.
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