June 7, 2011

Connecticut Marijuana Decriminalization Bill Passes House, Ready For Governor Approval

June 7, 2011
Connecticut cannabis

Connecticut Marijuana DecriminalizationOn Tuesday the Connecticut House of Representatives voted to pass a bill that decriminalizes possession of small amounts of marijuana. The bill now awaits the approval of Governor Dan Malloy who is expected to sign the bill into law.

“We at SSDP are ecstatic. This is a victory for the citizens of Connecticut who recognize that for too long we have wasted tremendous public resources prosecuting otherwise law-abiding, non-violent people for possession of small amounts of marijuana,” said David Haseltine, President of UConn Students for Sensible Drug Policy.

No Victim No CrimeUConn SSDP thanks Speaker Donovan and Representative Gerald Fox for all of their hard work in making the bill a priority in the House. Through the combined efforts of student and citizen activists and the Democratic leadership in the General Assembly, a more just policy with respect to minor possession of marijuana will soon be enacted in Connecticut. The major provisions of the law will take effect July 1 of this year.

A separate bill to legalize the medical use of marijuana (SB 1015) appears to have stalled in the Senate. Republican opponents of the bill have been using delaying tactics, numerous dead-end amendments, and the threat of filibuster to derail this and other Democratic legislation. “The time-wasting, run-out-the-clock tactics of the Republican caucus are truly shameful. It looks like the issue of medical marijuana won’t get an up or down vote this session, but we’re still pushing to get it done.”

Students for Sensible Drug Policy is an international grassroots network of students who are concerned about the impact drug abuse has on our communities, but who also know that the War on Drugs is failing our generation and our society.

SSDP mobilizes and empowers young people to participate in the political process, pushing for sensible policies to achieve a safer and more just future, while fighting back against counter-productive Drug War policies, particularly those that directly harm students and youth.

 

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