Katelyn Baker
Well-Known Member
Hartford, CT - Recreational pot could become a reality in Connecticut. It's one of a handful of bills in front of state lawmakers at a hearing on Tuesday.
Proponents said they feel pot is simply safer than alcohol. Critics, however, said the two are not comparable and that the state stands to lose far more than it would gain by making marijuana legal.
Still, the state has left the door open on the idea for quite a while. It decriminalized small amounts of pot and allowed marijuana to treat certain medical conditions.
Eight states, including neighboring Massachusetts, have legalized recreational marijuana. It remains against federal law, which for the most part has gone unenforced. However, the White House has said it may change that in the future.
In Connecticut, the bill would legalize and tax recreational marijuana.
Researchers said money is at stake.
Those at the research firm Arcview said marijuana sales topped $6 billion last year, up from 30 percent from the previous year.
People in favor of legalizing it said it would be tightly regulated and for adults only. They said they feel it's a boost for business and would gut the underground pot sale market.
According to experts from a drug summit last year, there is no way to set a clear threshold for the amount of marijuana in someone's system, as opposed to the measure of alcohol used for impaired drivers, the blood-alcohol content.
The auto club AAA pointed out that if recreational pot is legalized, more impaired drivers will be on the roads, which would make driving more dangerous for everyone.
Weigh in on the issue by voting in our poll here.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Recreational Marijuana Up For Debate By Lawmakers Today
Author: Evan White
Contact: (860) 244-1640
Photo Credit: Brett Levin
Website: WFSB
Proponents said they feel pot is simply safer than alcohol. Critics, however, said the two are not comparable and that the state stands to lose far more than it would gain by making marijuana legal.
Still, the state has left the door open on the idea for quite a while. It decriminalized small amounts of pot and allowed marijuana to treat certain medical conditions.
Eight states, including neighboring Massachusetts, have legalized recreational marijuana. It remains against federal law, which for the most part has gone unenforced. However, the White House has said it may change that in the future.
In Connecticut, the bill would legalize and tax recreational marijuana.
Researchers said money is at stake.
Those at the research firm Arcview said marijuana sales topped $6 billion last year, up from 30 percent from the previous year.
People in favor of legalizing it said it would be tightly regulated and for adults only. They said they feel it's a boost for business and would gut the underground pot sale market.
According to experts from a drug summit last year, there is no way to set a clear threshold for the amount of marijuana in someone's system, as opposed to the measure of alcohol used for impaired drivers, the blood-alcohol content.
The auto club AAA pointed out that if recreational pot is legalized, more impaired drivers will be on the roads, which would make driving more dangerous for everyone.
Weigh in on the issue by voting in our poll here.
News Moderator: Katelyn Baker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Recreational Marijuana Up For Debate By Lawmakers Today
Author: Evan White
Contact: (860) 244-1640
Photo Credit: Brett Levin
Website: WFSB
