North Branford’s Candelora Leads Fight Against Legalizing Pot

NORTH BRANFORD, CT - One of those leading the fight against legalizing recreational pot in the state is North Branford Rep. Vincent Candelora.

Candelora held a press conference at the state Capitol along with other opponents Monday just before a committee held a hearing on a marijuana legalization bill.

The Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee held a public hearing on a bill that would establish a state gross receipts tax of 6.35 percent on retail cannabis sales for adult use; a state tax on transfers from growers of ($35 per ounce for cannabis flower and $13.50 per ounce for trim); and a 3 percent local option tax on retail sales.

All of the state tax revenue would be deposited into the Community Development Corporation Trust Fund, which would fund early literacy education and community development corporations focused on improving the lives of people living in economically distressed and underserved communities.

Local tax funds would go to the municipalities where the retail sales occurred.

“Regulating and taxing cannabis sales will generate significant new revenue for our state and local governments," Kebra Smith-Bolden, co-director of the Connecticut Coalition to Regulate Marijuana, testified.

"Under the proposed plan, virtually all of the funds will be directed to the communities that have been most devastated by cannabis prohibition,” Smith-Bolden added. “For decades, minority and low-income individuals have been disproportionately affected by marijuana enforcement and the war on drugs. It is fitting that they be the ones who benefit from cannabis tax revenue following legalization.”

Those opposed to legalization made a passionate argument that legalization is the wrong path for Connecticut to follow - for a number of reasons, including that revenue brought in doesn’t factor in other costs shouldered by a state that legalizes. In addition, they argued, the money isn’t worth the suffering innocent families may endure.

One of those imploring legislators to not legalize was Susan Klein of Brooklyn, who said her husband of 25 years was killed in 2015 when the car they were driving in on Interstate 84 was struck by a teenager who later was found, she said, to be driving under the influence of drugs.
“The 18-year-old girl that hit us was high on marijuana,” Klein said, fighting to hold back tears as she spoke at the press conference.

She said because there is no equivalent impaired driving test for marijuana it took three-and-a-half years to get justice and see the person, who killed her husband, sentenced.

“It is really difficult for me to understand why legalization is even a question,” said Klein. “That something so wrong is even being considered. There is no amount of money worth the devastation that this would cause.”

Candelora said: “This issue is not about social justice; this issue is about making money.”

Candelora added that it is also a mistake to lump the legalization issue together with wiping criminal records clean.

“We shouldn’t be having a conversation about expunging arrests on the back of marijuana legislation,” Candelora said, stating that the expungement issue is a conversation that can be tackled separately.

Many members of the Black and Puerto Rican Caucus won’t vote for legalization if it’s not tied to expungement.

Candelora and other opponents also state that it is unfair to try and measure the amount of money marijuana legalization will raise without weighing the societal burdens - and costs - legalization brings with it.

How much money will the proposal raise?

There’s no fiscal not on the bill yet, but the Marijuana Policy Project, testified that based on its research, the legislation as written would provide approximately $170 million in state taxes and $22 million in municipal taxes annually.

Additionally, the policy project’s statement said the bill is a well thought out effort to direct funding to areas hit hardest by cannabis arrests - namely larger cities.

“The services would include - in order of priority - free or low-cost early childhood education, supplementing per-student funding to increase achievement at public elementary and middle schools, building or fixing community resources like playgrounds, parks, community centers, senior centers, and public libraries; increasing owner-occupancy of residential buildings, supporting pathways to home ownership, creating pipelines to employment, expanding access go programs at community centers and senior centers, and providing low-cost transportation alternatives,” the testimony said.

But those opposed argue whatever money is brought in will be spent - and then some - by the increasing ancillary public health and enforcement costs legalization brings.

Luke Niforatos, of Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM), said a recent study by his group shows the state of Colorado, where recreational marijuana is legal, spends $4.50 on public health, law enforcement and other programs for every $1 it receives in marijuana tax revenue.