Hartford Business Journal

Recreational marijuana legalization efforts in limbo By Joe Cooper jcooper@HartfordBusiness.com T his year's canceled legislative session prevented the Gen- eral Assembly from voting on many hot-button issues — includ- ing potentially making Connecticut the 12th state to legalize recreational marijuana sales. In early March, Gov. Ned Lamont gave his full support for adult-use legalization, proposing a blueprint for establishing a regulated pot market by summer 2022. Then the coronavirus hit Con- necticut, and cut short the legisla- tive session, which was supposed to end May 6. Rep. Josh Elliott (D-Hamden), an ardent pro-pot supporter, says the disruption likely didn't have a mate- rial impact because legalization efforts still needed more support from both sides of the aisle. "COVID has not deterred or en- couraged the passage of the bill," El- liot said. "Either way, we were going to need to wait for the 2021 session." Elliott disputes an opposing argument that Connecticut needs to continue studying the economic, criminal or cultural implications of allowing adult marijuana sales. On the fiscal front, estimates offered by state lawmakers and mar- ijuana-legalization advocates project that recreational marijuana sales could generate between $40 million and $60 million in tax receipts in the first fiscal year of adoption. The Connecticut Police Chiefs Association, employer groups and the AAA have been among the opponents of legalization, rais- ing concerns over the difficulties in detecting impairment from the use of marijuana by motorists and employees. Ultimately, Elliott said recre- ational legalization will come down to who is voted into legislative of- fice this November. "People don't change opinions on this mostly, so it really comes down to whether or not the person being elected is already in favor," he said. "Hopefully next year we get a new wave of people that are ready to work on this issue." A CT Mirror report contributed to this story. By Joe Cooper jcooper@hartfordbusiness.com C onnecticut's eight- year-old medical marijuana program has been tightly regulated from the start, but the coronavirus pandemic has forced the state to ease some restrictions, which could change the way the industry operates long term. Through various executive orders, Gov. Ned Lamont has allowed adult pa- tients to purchase cannabis products via curbside pickup and authorized physicians or APRNs to certify patients for the program using telehealth services, which have been gaining trac- tion among providers in-state. Certain dispensary/laboratory employees are also able to work at multiple locations under common ownership. Meantime, dispensaries are encouraging or mandating patients to pre-order online, or by phone, to limit in-store foot traffic. Some in the industry are also hope- ful Connecticut will follow other states that have relaxed rules on product home delivery and conducting online transactions. (Cannabis sales in Con- necticut can only be made in-person.) While the rule changes are tempo- rary during the state's public health emergency, local dispensaries and growers expect some new guidelines to stick around long after the pandem- ic subsides, which would help broaden patient access — and potentially industry sales — to flowers, vape oils, edibles and other cannabis products. "Even if we return to normal soon, I think there's going to be a higher volume of online orders vs. in-store orders," said Dennis So, a manager at the Fine Fettle dispensary in New- ington. "It's beneficial for all parties involved because it allows us to be able to get the orders prepared ahead of time and speed up transactions." So said patients are also adapting to new procedures set by Fine Fettle, which include moving consultations for first-time patients to phone or videoconferencing formats. Fine Fettle's pharmacists have also been using virtual appointments to dis- cuss patients' medical history, care goals and to prescribe medications. Fine Fettle, which operates two of Connecticut's 17 dispensaries in New- ington and Willimantic, is also asking patients to consolidate their orders, and is only allowing a maximum of three people in its stores at any given time to limit potential exposure. So said he expects the social-dis- tancing guidelines to help stream- line sales and train patients to self educate on products. "There will be a major change as patients may be more empowered right now and have more indepen- dence on placing orders," So said. New norms Nicole Leja, president of Curaleaf Connecticut, is also optimistic efforts to limit the spread of COVID-19 will spur market innovations in sales, sanitation and staffing procedures. The coronavirus has forced Curaleaf, one of Connecticut's four Testing Ground COVID-19 mandates clear red tape for CT's medical marijuana industry State Rep. Josh Elliott (D-Hamden) is a grocery store manager/ owner and a leading advocate for recreational pot legalization. Fine Fettle dispensary has boosted safety measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, including requiring workers to wear face masks. PHOTO | CONTRIBUTED PHOTO | HBJ FILE

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