Cannabis Voter Guide Connecticut State Senate August 11, 2020 Primary Election
See below for a voter guide outlining where each primary candidate for the Connecticut Senate stands on legalizing and regulating cannabis for adults.
Candidates in green have indicated their support for legalization in response to our two-question candidate survey, in a public statement, or by voting to advance a legalization bill out of committee. Candidates in red expressed opposition to legalization, and candidates in orange are not known to have taken a public stance or replied that they are undecided.
If you don’t know your state Senate district, you can look it up here. After you fill in your town/city, street name, and street number, your legislators will display. Look for the district listed as "State Senate, District ____."
If your district is not listed in our voter guide below, there is not a competitive primary. Check back for our voter guide leading up to the General Election.
The Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana (of which MPP is a convening member) sent the following two survey questions to candidates for state Senate. The voter guide below is based on their responses and public statements. If a candidate in your district has not taken a public position, we strongly encourage you to ask them these questions yourself! We would be happy to update the voter guide with their answers (please email dward@mpp.org with any updates).
(1) Eleven states, including neighboring Massachusetts, have passed laws making cannabis possession legal for adults. Do you support making it legal for adults 21 and older to possess cannabis in Connecticut?
(2) Massachusetts, Maine, and eight other states have passed laws regulating and taxing the production and retail sale of cannabis for use by adults. A bill proposed by Gov. Lamont to allow the production, sale, regulation, and taxation of cannabis for adults stalled last year due to a COVID-related capitol closure. Do you support regulating and taxing cannabis for retail sale to adults 21 and older?
Jorge Cabrera — Cabrera has not responded to our candidate questionnaire. In a 2018 candidate forum, he advocated keeping an “open mind” on legalization and noted cannabis enforcement’s disproportionate effect on communities of color.
Justin Farmer — Farmer responded to our questionnaire, saying he (1) supports making it legal for adults 21 and older to possess cannabis in Connecticut, and (2) supports regulating and taxing cannabis for retail sale to adults 21 and older. He also offered these comments: "As residents we’ve seen time and time again how our neighboring states have passed things like legalization of marijuana as we've missed these opportunities to move our state forward. I am in support of the full decriminalization and recreational legalization of marijuana. We must recognize that the legalization of recreational marijuana is an issue of social justice and criminal justice reform just as much as it is considered an economic issue. The decriminalization of marijuana has the potential to right the many wrongs within our criminal justice system and how it has targeted our most vulnerable, marginalized community members."
Farmer also added, "While going through with legalization it is critically important to allow those most deeply and negatively affected by the War on Drugs to be prioritized in a state/national legalized marijuana market. When we legalize marijuana, we should consider selling it through worker run public dispensaries that prioritize employment opportunities for formerly incarcerated folks and community members first. If not, racial and socioeconomic equity must be placed as the fundamental priority within legalization. Any measure that aims to legalize recreational marijuana must expunge the records of those currently and formerly incarcerated."
Senate District 22: Democratic Primary
Sen. Marilyn Moore — Moore did not respond to our questionnaire. In 2019, she said of legalization, “I’m no longer a hard ‘yes.’ I’m a ‘maybe’ now.”
Marcus Brown — Brown responded to our questionnaire, saying he (1) supports making it legal for adults 21 and older to possess cannabis in Connecticut, and (2) supports regulating and taxing cannabis for retail sale to adults 21 and older. He also offered these comments: "Connecticut is behind the times. Far too many people, especially black and brown people, have gone to jail over possession of small amounts of marijuana. That makes no sense. We need to legalize marijuana, expunge the records of those that have criminal records due to the possession of marijuana, and use the revenues generated from marijuana production and sales to reinvest in communities, particularly our cities, that have been most negatively impacted by the criminalization of marijuana possession"
Brown also added, "While states around us have made recreational marijuana legal and safe for consumption, our state is behind the times. Instead of Connecticut reaping the benefits of taxing the production and sale of marijuana, people are traveling to our neighboring states to make such purchases. That is a lost opportunity. I would support Governor Lamont’s bill and believe it should be taken up by the legislature next session."
Senate District 26: Republican Primary
William Duff — Has not responded to our candidate questionnaire and is not known to have taken a public stance on legalization.
Kim Healy — Has not responded to our candidate questionnaire and is not known to have taken a public stance on legalization.
