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Proponents of legal potatoes in Connecticut savor Tuesday the start of recreational marijuana sales in the north of the country, a milestone far beyond Massachusetts by those pushing for legalization.
In cities as well as in universities, local advocates believe that the first sales of marijuana at retail in New England are a taste of what will happen in Connecticut, especially after the election of New York. a governor in favor of legalization, Ned Lamont, and other key legislators in the General Assembly. .
"Here's a clear example of a regulated market just happening in the north of the country, so there's more guessing," said Jason Ortiz of Hartford, vice president of the Minority Cannabis Business Association. "We can see how it goes."
Ortiz expects lawmakers from here to develop a single bill that covers everything from local producers, retail sales to marijuana parlors, and extinguishment of records. of persons convicted of possession of marijuana. It is currently illegal to possess marijuana in Connecticut.
And while it did not dispel the locals' enthusiasm for Tuesday's Massachusetts watershed sales, police warn potential customers not to bring legally procured cannabis products back to Massachusetts. .
Like many others, Ortiz said he would not go to clinics this week. Visits are expected to New England Treatment Access in Northampton and Cultivate in Leicester, which will begin sales at 8 am on Tuesday.
But soon, he said, "I'm going to explore, especially from a policy point of view. This is where we see how the rubber hits the road. "
State police say the soldiers will be vigilant, as usual, but do not plan to strengthen the law enforcement on marijuana possession by drivers when they go to court. go to Connecticut. Officers are also being prepared in border towns like Enfield, where police chief Alaric Fox has said marijuana has been a topic of discussion for some time.
"I do not think dawn today is necessarily unexpected for officers," Fox said.
Possession of small amounts of marijuana is not a crime in Connecticut, but a fine except for some repeat offenders.
Mark Jenkins nonetheless joked Monday by claiming that, in front of his Albany Avenue office at the Greater Hartford Harm Reduction Coalition, one might think that the sale of pots is already legal – which he advocates for. improving the security and regulation it would bring to at-risk populations. it serves.
Jenkins, the director general of the drug treatment center, also hopes that legal marijuana will provide equal protection to minorities. Despite the use of the drug at similar rates, blacks are nearly four times more likely than whites to be arrested for this drug, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.
Connecticut may be prompted to act when it will see Massachusetts collect tax revenue from its flourishing marijuana industry, Jenkins said.
In his field, it seems "that they still need motivators," Jenkins said. "Either there is a champion because there is too much loss of life, or there is money to be won."
On Monday, Lamont reiterated that he was in favor of legalizing marijuana for recreational purposes.
"You know it's something I would support," Lamont told reporters on Capitol Hill. "I do not want the black market to control our marijuana distribution in our state. I think it's a bad thing to do. Canada, Massachusetts, others do it. "
On Monday, he also highlighted the role that marijuana plays for medical purposes in reducing opioid use. In May, researchers at the University of Georgia announced that opioid prescriptions had declined in states with marijuana laws for medical purposes, such as Connecticut.
In some states, doctors may even prescribe marijuana to people with a disorder of opioid use.
On the question of whether the Connecticut legislature should speed up the process when the session begins in January to avoid falling behind Massachusetts, Lamont said: one of our priorities. "
"Listen, my number one priority is getting a budget, getting people around this table and getting a budget that's not supposed to last a year, but a budget that helps us to have a master plan. for the next four and eight years, "he said.
Jennifer Purdon, president of the University of Connecticut's Students for Sensible Policy, will be following the next legislative session closely to see if Lamont is keeping his campaign promises.
The Groton native was already considering a post-graduation move to Massachusetts, where taxes are slightly lower and economic growth is faster.
According to Mr. Purdon, Massachusetts has another advantage over this state: It is estimated that the legalization of marijuana for recreational purposes could bring Connecticut $ 30 million or more in tax revenue in the first year.
"This is extremely important if we want to have a chance to get out of this fiscal crisis and retain people already living in this state, especially young people," she said. "It's just a matter of getting lawmakers to take up the torch and act on this issue."
Purdon said she was considering going to the Massachusetts leisure industry soon, although she did have access to marijuana in her home country. She is one of more than 30,000 patients in the Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program, as well as a member of the Hartford Dispensary Team, Canna Care Docs, one of nine marijuana treatment facilities in Canada. medical purposes of that State.
She does not expect many patients to go to mass clinics in Massachusetts to smuggle marijuana across the border. However, she added, some people are looking for cannabis products for therapeutic purposes not approved by the Connecticut Consumer Protection Department, such as opioid disorder and chronic pain in general.
These people can weigh the risks and benefits of breaking the law, Purdon said.
"So, really, I hope it's easier in the future for our patients to have access to cannabis," she regretted.
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