Elliott applauds committee's approval of recreational marijuana bill

April 5, 2018

State Rep. Josh Elliott commended the legislature’s Appropriations Committee for giving a bill that would legalize marijuana the green light to move forward to the General Assembly for further consideration.

The committee voted 27-24 Thursday to approve a bill that would legalize cannabis. House Bill 5394 calls for a plan to legalize and regulate the retail sale of marijuana in Connecticut. The bill also seeks to provide for substance abuse treatment, prevention, education and awareness programs.

“For Connecticut to remain competitive with surrounding states, we need to pass legislation that legalizes and regulates the retail sale of marijuana for adult use. The committee’s approval of House Bill 5394 is a step toward building a more progressive future for Connecticut,” said Elliott, D-Hamden. “As we continue to craft the framework for what legalization and regulation would look like in Connecticut, we need to remedy the effects that this model of prohibition has had on communities of color. Those who have been arrested for possession of marijuana in the past should have their records expunged and be given the chance to start a new chapter. Lowering the qualifying thresholds for businesses to sell marijuana for adult use will also allow a more diverse set of applicants – especially those in our urban centers – to become leaders in this developing business.”

The bill now heads to the state House of Representatives for further consideration.