Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
It has virtually no chance of passage, but House majority leaders said Monday they may throw a bone to supporters of recreational marijuana, and allow them to bring the issue to the floor for a brief - and losing - debate.
Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz and House Majority Leader said they expect several lawmakers who proposed the retail sales of marijuana, to offer an amendment on other legislation to bring the issue up for public discussion.
"We don't stifle debate within our caucus," Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said. "They feel very strongly about it. They want a debate on the legalization of marijuana. They are preparing an amendment. At some point it will run. There is no rock-solid agreement when that's going to happen but we're not going to stifle the debate on it."
While it's estimated that recreational marijuana could raise up to $180 million in revenue at a time of tight budget, leaders have said since the start of the session in January that support was weak for it. It failed to make it out of legislative committees.
New Haven lawmakers led by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney proposed the bill in January.
"One of the arguments people make is to let it go up there, let people talk about it, you guiys write about it and people pay attention to the issue," said Ritter, D-Hartford. "I'd say that we're closer in the House than the Senate is and maybe the executive branch is and so this debate can't hurt as you try to raise awareness on the issue."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana may get a brief, losing debate in House - Connecticut Post
Author: Ken Dixon
Contact: Contact Us - Connecticut Post
Photo Credit: Brian A Pounds
Website: CTPost: Southwest Connecticut Area News, Fairfield County News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Real Estate, Classifieds - Connecticut Post
Speaker of the House Joe Aresimowicz and House Majority Leader said they expect several lawmakers who proposed the retail sales of marijuana, to offer an amendment on other legislation to bring the issue up for public discussion.
"We don't stifle debate within our caucus," Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, said. "They feel very strongly about it. They want a debate on the legalization of marijuana. They are preparing an amendment. At some point it will run. There is no rock-solid agreement when that's going to happen but we're not going to stifle the debate on it."
While it's estimated that recreational marijuana could raise up to $180 million in revenue at a time of tight budget, leaders have said since the start of the session in January that support was weak for it. It failed to make it out of legislative committees.
New Haven lawmakers led by Senate President Pro Tempore Martin M. Looney proposed the bill in January.
"One of the arguments people make is to let it go up there, let people talk about it, you guiys write about it and people pay attention to the issue," said Ritter, D-Hartford. "I'd say that we're closer in the House than the Senate is and maybe the executive branch is and so this debate can't hurt as you try to raise awareness on the issue."
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Marijuana may get a brief, losing debate in House - Connecticut Post
Author: Ken Dixon
Contact: Contact Us - Connecticut Post
Photo Credit: Brian A Pounds
Website: CTPost: Southwest Connecticut Area News, Fairfield County News, Sports, Business, Entertainment, Real Estate, Classifieds - Connecticut Post
