Public weighs in on legal marijuana effort supported by Gov. Lamont
People from around Connecticut weighed in Friday on
legalizing recreational use of marijuana during a public, virtual meeting.
The state Judiciary Committee heard from 150 people who
signed up to be heard on the issue.
Bernice Wright, of Bridgeport, has lupus and uses medical
marijuana.
"It helps me with my appetite. It helps me with my
pain…I don't have any side effects," she says. "These are bags of
medicine that I no longer have to actually take anymore."
She's all for legalizing marijuana, but wants some changes
made to the current bill, pointing to its cost and a ban on indoor consumption.
Gov. Ned Lamont made his push to legalize the drug during a
virtual round table on Wednesday. Under his plan, anyone aged 21 or older would
be able to have 1.5 ounces of marijuana in their possession.
Also, criminal marijuana possession records would be
automatically wiped clean.
The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association opposes the bill
because of the absence of a qualified roadside testing of a motorist suspected
to be under the influence of marijuana.
The governor's plan would see marijuana sales begin
by the summer of next year. Any legalization effort would still need to pass
through multiple legislative committees.