Did Anyone Else Not Realize Medicinal Cannabis is Legal in Connecticut?

Although many have not realized it, cannabis has actually been legal in Connecticut since May of 2012. Because the government was still trying to work out the kinks in the legislation, and because many counties are against the sale of cannabis for medicinal purpose, hardly any actual dispensaries were actively open for business until very recently.

On Sept.15, medical cannabis finally hit stores in Connecticut— which is a drastic improvement over previous conditions— where legal officials were looking the other way while cancer patients bought cannabis on the black market. However, there are a few strict regulations in place on the plant that are angering some. For example, it is sold ground, instead of in fresh flowers or buds. 

“They could offer us a choice or just give us the whole bud like every other state [that has a medical marijuana law] does,” Peter Mould, a man from North Haven who came up with a petition to change this, told the Hartford Courant. “You don’t go into a steakhouse to get pre-chewed steak.”

There are other odd restrictions as well; buyers can’t smell their cannabis in jars before they buy, the way they can in every other state, and cannabis comes pre-packaged, looking more like a synthetic alternative. Additionally, prices are so high that many patients are arguing they can’t afford the medicine and would rather stick with the black market. 

While state officials have acknowledged that cannabis can go down in quality when ground up before selling, they claim that this is the only way they can safely regulate the plant for now. However, if Mould is able to get enough signatures on his petition, they will be forced to rethink their current approach and factor in what the people want when it comes to fair and quality cannabis.