Some lawmakers took a practical approach to the issue of cannabis legalization.
“No one is here advocating for the use of cannabis, that’s not what this is about,” said Representative Steve Stafstrom. This is about saying it is here. It is at our doorsteps. It’s on our streets. How should we as a state regulate that substance?”
Others have spoken out about how marijuana legalization relates to human rights issues. Notably, the state’s Governor Ned Lamont used his State of the State address to talk about the importance of removing cannabis prohibition. His remarks were seen as a push for policymakers to enact marijuana access laws, and accordingly, the new proposed legislation was dubbed the Governor’s Bill to recognize his support.
Past efforts to legalize marijuana in the state, such as an unsuccessful 2019 legislative push, have also been motivated by Connecticut’s history of racially biased policing.