Connecticut could legalize marijuana in a special session this week

The Connecticut legislature may have closed the regular legislature last week, but they return on Wednesday the 16th to survive in the first round.

While legislature leaders had originally hoped to avoid a special session, or at least restrict it to a limited number of bills, House spokesman Matt Ritter, D-Hartford, said “everything is on the table” after the Republicans last week announced that they would use up the remaining hours of the regular legislative session to discuss the cannabis proposal.

“Because we weren’t allowed to do the business that we had to do [last week], every item for me is open to examination in the special session, ”said Ritter. “You should have let us vote. So that’s how it will be. “

Other problems could be at play

In addition to the Cannabis Act, lawmakers are expected to pass a bill that will set out the details of the budget. Often used to revive proposals that died during the session, this law is sometimes jokingly referred to as the Christmas tree.

While Democratic Governor Ned Lamont said last week he wanted “no Christmas trees” or a “whole second round” of the regular legislature, he would like the Democrat-controlled General Assembly to consider including his proposal that Connecticut officially adopts regional transport – and climate protection program that was not included in the final budget agreement.

“If we have the chance to visit again, why not,” Lamont asked.

Under the bill, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection would enact regulations for the program, which the leaders of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Washington, DC, along with Lamont, have signed up to. An upper limit is to be set for greenhouse gas emissions from petrol and diesel fuel. From 2023 fuel wholesalers would then have to buy “certificates” at an auction to cover the costs of pollution by these fuels.

Proponents have said the funds generated – an estimated $ 1 billion over 10 years – would be used to invest in clean transportation, with at least half invested in communities adversely affected by air pollution. Republicans, however, hold on to the fact that the plan will result in higher gasoline prices for consumers, possibly an additional 5 to 9 cents per gallon or more.

Republicans killed previous legalization law

House minority leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said last week he felt the GOP was being wrongly held responsible for failing to pass the marijuana legalization bill during the regular session and lawmakers afterwards was forced to work overtime and possibly vote on the governor’s Transportation Climate Initiative, which the GOP called a gas tax hike.

“We never threatened to thwart the law,” said Candelora, who argued that there just wasn’t enough time to thoroughly discuss the massive marijuana law. “And I think it was really due to poor calendar management on the Democratic side. You see, they have both chambers, they have the governor’s office. They had six months to get their work done. “

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