After years of stalled efforts, Connecticut is close to legalizing medical marijuana.
The state Senate approved the bill early this morning following nearly 10 hours of debate. The measure passed the House of Representatives in April, and Gov. Dannel Malloy, a Democrat, has said he would sign it.
The move would make Connecticut the 17th state, along with the District of Columbia, to legalize medical marijuana.
New Jersey legalized it in 2010. Lawmakers in New York flirted with introducing a medical marijuana bill in April, but Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the risks needed to be studied more carefully. Former Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rell, a Republican, vetoed a medical marijuana bill in 2007.
The passage of the Connecticut bill came over the objections from lawmakers who said it violates federal law and from groups such as the Connecticut State Medical Society, which urged more research.
“I understand many of the concerns raised by opponents. We don’t want Connecticut to follow the path pursued by some other states, which essentially would legalize marijuana for anyone willing to find the right doctor and get the right prescription,” Malloy said in a statement.
“Under this proposal, however, the Department of Consumer Protection will be able to carefully regulate and monitor the medicinal use of this drug in order to avoid the problems encountered in some other states.”
Only Connecticut residents with debilitating illnesses such as cancer, Parkinson’s disease or HIV and who have a doctor’s written certification will be eligible. Patients will have to register with the state Department of Consumer Protection. Prison inmates and people under age 18 will not be eligible for medical marijuana, regardless of health condition.
The Department of Consumer Protection will regulate both dispensaries and growers of medical marijuana. Only licensed pharmacists will be eligible to dispense the drug. There would be three to 10 growers statewide.
Dissenting lawmakers argued that medical marijuana violates federal laws.
“It puts us in direct conflict with the US Department of Justice,” Republican state Sen. Toni Boucher said during Friday’s debate.