Tune in to Regulate Connecticut on Facebook Live for an expert panel featuring an economist, retired police captain, nurse, and clergy member!

Incoming House Speaker Matt Ritter recently told the press he thinks there’s a 50/50 chance Connecticut will legalize cannabis in 2021. We need your help to put the issue over the top.

We are pleased to announce a Facebook Live community conversation on cannabis legalization and social equity this Thursday, December 3, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This legalization forum will feature a panel of experts who support legalization, followed by an audience Q&A.

This will be a great opportunity to show support and participate in the discussion.

Here are the details:

WHAT: Connecticut Legalization Forum

WHERE: Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/RegulateCT

WHEN: Thursday, December 3, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m.

WHO: Prof. Fred Carstensen of the Connecticut Center for Economic Analysis; Capt. Lawrence Hunter (Retired, Waterbury Police Department); Rev. Tommie Jackson; Kebra Smith-Bolden, R.N.; and DeVaughn Ward, Senior Legislative Counsel, Marijuana Policy Project and Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Co-Chair

Please tune in and spread the word on Facebook and other social media.

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We must continue building support for legalization, but first, we need to make sure chronic pain is approved as a qualifying condition for medical cannabis.

A new poll just came out, and it confirms (yet again) that Connecticut residents strongly support legalizing cannabis and expunging criminal records for low-level offenses. Sadly, the legislature ended its regular session yesterday without voting on any of the bills that would have ended cannabis prohibition.

It's disappointing that our opponents were able to create enough uncertainty and confusion to delay our progress. However, we've come a long way — three committees advanced bills to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis this year. If we can ramp up our efforts, we are optimistic we can get past the finish line in 2020. Please help us continue to build our coalition by making a contribution today. Please also "like" our coalition on Facebook and follow us on Twitter!

Unfortunately, your help appears to be needed on another issue. You might think it would be a no-brainer for Connecticut to approve chronic pain as a qualifying condition for the medical cannabis program, but the discussion about whether to do so has been "tabled for a future meeting" by the Board of Physicians.

Please email the Department of Consumer Protection to politely express your frustration with the delay and urge them to approve chronic pain as soon as possible!

Finally, please share this message with your family and friends!

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Join coalition leaders for a lobby day and press conference at the capitol on Wednesday, May 15.

We’ve made great progress with the state legislature this year, but victory remains far from certain. The 2019 session is scheduled to end on June 5, and many representatives and senators still haven’t taken a position on the bills to legalize and regulate marijuana. According to legislative leaders who have been counting the votes, we still need to earn support from several undecided legislators in order to be sure we have majorities in both chambers.

If you are available on Wednesday, May 15, we would love to have you add your voice to our chorus of support in Hartford. Beginning at 9 a.m., we will host a legislative breakfast in the cafeteria at the Legislative Office Building (300 Capitol Avenue). After that, we will seek out our state legislators and speak to them about our support for reform efforts. At noon, we will hold a press conference.

If you are able to join us, please RSVP on Facebook.

For more details on the companion bills to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis, you can read summaries here. Please note that although these bills have already passed committees, legislators are continuing to work on amendments, and at this point everything is subject to change.

If you haven’t already done so, please contact your state representatives and senators and urge your friends and family members to do so as well!

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A committee has approved the third piece of the cannabis puzzle; please contact your legislators and help us cross the finish line this year.

Yesterday evening, the Finance Committee approved Senate Bill 1138, bringing Connecticut one step closer to legalizing cannabis! Now that all three of the companion bills to legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis have passed their respective committees (you can read summaries here), it’s time for us to turn our attention to the full House and Senate.

There are only about 30 days left in this legislative session of the Connecticut General Assembly, and many key legislators have still not taken a position on legalization. Here are three things you can do today to help get this important initiative across the finish line:

1. Join us for the Regulate Connecticut "End Prohibition" Lobby Day on Wednesday, May 15 at the State Capitol. Breakfast will be served in the legislative cafeteria at the Legislative Office Building at 9 a.m., a press conference will follow at 10 a.m., and we'll have the rest of the day to lobby lawmakers directly at the Capitol! If you can join us, please RSVP to adam@regulatect.org.

2. Help us generate phone calls to legislators in key districts! We have a system that allows you to volunteer from home — please email adam@regulatect.org for details on how get started. We are also hosting a volunteer phone banking session next Wednesday, May 8, from 6 to 8 p.m. We’ll meet at 57 Pratt Street, Suite 405 in Hartford. Street parking is available, pizza will be served, and all are welcome!

3. Please contact your state representatives and senators and urge your friends and family members to do so as well!

Thank you again for your continued support. We need it now more than ever! 

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If you live in Connecticut, please contact your state legislators today and urge them to support legalizing, regulating, and taxing cannabis — public hearings will begin this Friday, March 22

Last week, after several weeks of working behind the scenes, legislative leaders announced their plan to pass bills that will legalize, regulate, and tax cannabis in Connecticut. They also announced that committee hearings are scheduled to begin this Friday, March 22.

Contact your state legislators today and urge them to support the legalization bills!

Rep. Michael D'Agostino, co-chair of the General Law Committee, stressed that the introduction of draft legislation is only a first step, and that policy details would continue to be discussed and debated as bills are considered by committees. "This is the start of the process," he said. For example, he noted that home cultivation is not currently included in the bill, but the legislature may decide to include it as the process moves forward. More details are explained in this article.

You can also check out our summaries of the bills referred to the Judiciary Committee, along with the General Law bill. (The taxation piece, which will be in Finance, has not been introduced yet.)

If you're interested in testifying at a public hearing in the legislature, please contact me at msimon@mpp.org, and I will share more details.

After you email your state legislators, please share this message with your family and friends and encourage them to join the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana!

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