Politics & Government

Connecticut's Medical Marijuana Rules Taking Shape

The Department of Consumer Protection convened a hearing on Monday, April 22, on new rules that would allow the sale of the drug for medical purposes.

This post was reported and written by Associate Regional Editor Eileen McNamara.

Officials with the state's Department of Consumer Protection held a hearing today, April 22, to start hammering out new rules that will govern how Connecticut dispensaries are allowed to sell pot for medical purposes. 

The law allowing the "palliative use of marijuana" passed in the legislature last year, but sales of the drug, which cancer patients and others use to alleviate the symptoms of their illnesses, had to await the state's action on regulations for the drug's sale. 

The consumer protection department convened its hearing at 10 a.m., in Room 126 of the state office building at 165 Capitol Ave., Hartford. The department is also taking written testimony through the end of this week. Instructions on how to submit testimony can be found here. 

The lengthy regulatory process is intended to appease critics of the state's moves in recent years to ease pot restrictions, including the decriminalization for the possession and recreational use of small amounts of marijuana. The state legislature approved that measure in 2011. 

When the medical marijuana law passed the Connecticut Senate last May, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy stressed that consumer protection would regulate the industry to prevent any problems. 


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