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Drug Policy Reform in Connecticut
Documents relating to the recent efforts for drug policy reform in the State of Connecticut
Public Act No. 97-248 - An act concerning substance abuse education and treatment programs and establishing Connecticut alcohol and drug policy council.
Committee Hearings, March 12, 1997
Committee Hearings, March 21, 1997
Amendment SB-1259-SA - An Act concerning pilot research programs for treating drug addiction and the qualifications and licensure for certain health care professionals
Drug Felony Convictions for Females
Summary of HB 6991, An Act Concerning Drug Policy
Field Sobriety Tests For Driving While Impaired By Drugs
Supreme Court Review of Forfeiture Cases
Denying Welfare Benefits to People Convicted of Possession with Intent to Sell
Medical Use of Marijuana in Connecticut
Use of Narcotics Detection Dogs
Arizona and California Initiatives on the Medical Use of Marijuana
by Tom Vondeck
For years there was talk among the Connecticut Judiciary Committee to undertake a comprehensive study of Connecticut's drug policy. On April 19th, 1995, they wrote a letter to Jay Levin, the chair of the Law Revision Commission at the time, requesting that the commission undertake a study of "alternative models for the control of drug use". It was further requested that such a study should focus on the following areas:
By the deadline, which was January 2, 1997, the commission published a report on their findings, along with a list of "Strategy Options" (basically a set of bills). These options included:
All but the first three failed to make it through the 1997
legislative session. However, the first three were merged into one bill which
passed as Public Act 97-248.
It's a good compromise which turned Connecticut into a leader in
reform. Because of the nature of the political arena, COMPLETE reform doesn't
happen overnight, but every step counts.