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In 2004 and 2005, Connecticut came very close to passing acompassionate use bill to provide patients with access tophysician-recommended marijuana. But both years, the bill got mired inpolitical debates and never made it out of the legislature.

Drug Policy Alliance Network, the lobbying arm of the Drug PolicyAlliance, is now working hard to break through the politics and winmedical marijuana legislation in Connecticut for 2007.
Legislation currently on the books is written such that doctors whorecommend medical marijuana and patients who use it are not protectedfrom criminal prosecution. The law must be fixed in order to makemedical marijuana accessible and improve the quality of life for peoplewho are seriously ill.

Such a fix would bring the law in line with the views of voters. 83% ofConnecticut residents support medical marijuana, according to a 2004report by UConn Center for Survey Research and Analysis.

"Compassionate Use in Connecticut has an overwhelming support fromConnecticut residents, as well as from health organizations such as theConnecticut Nurses Association," said Gabriel Sayegh, director of DPA'sstate organizing and policy project. "Now is the time to turn thatsupport into momentum for the 2007 legislative session."

The governor and all state legislators are up for re-election thisfall, so drug policy reform supporters in Connecticut are contactingtheir legislators now to let them know passage of medical marijuanaremains a high priority for voters.

"Eleven states now have working medical marijuana laws, healthorganizations around the world recognize the medical value ofmarijuana, and the federal Institute of Medicine found that marijuanaprovides relief to some patients," said Sayegh. "The most effectivemethods for managing pain associated with conditions such as cancer orHIV/AIDS should be determined by doctors and their patients, not bypoliticians who refuse to accept the evidence."

If you live in Connecticut, find out how to get involved. You can also join the DPA Action Network to receive state-specific DPA alerts about reform work in Connecticut. Make sure to fill in your state when you sign up.
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