Malloy Applauds House Passing Bill to Decriminalize Small Marijuana Amounts

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy released a statement Tuesday applauding final passage of a bill modifying the penalties for the possession of small amounts of marijuana.

The bill was passed by the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon, and was previously passed last week in the Senate. Malloy, a Democrat who is in favor of of the bill, released the following statement to the media:

“Final approval of this legislation accepts the reality that the current law does more harm than good – both in the impact it has on people’s lives and the burden it places on police, prosecutors and probation officers of the criminal justice system.  Let me make it clear - we are not legalizing the use of marijuana.  In modifying this law, we are recognizing that the punishment should fit the crime, and acknowledging the effects of its application.  There is no question that the state’s criminal justice resources could be more effectively utilized for convicting, incarcerating and supervising violent and more serious offenders.

“Modification of this law will now put Connecticut in line with the laws of two of our neighboring states, New York and Massachusetts, and a total of thirteen states across the country with similar statutes.  I applaud the General Assembly in their passage of this legislation and will sign it into law.  I would also like to specifically thank State Senator Martin Looney, who first introduced this legislation in 2009, for his support and advocacy of this issue.”

Republican lawmakers have mounted opposition to the bill in the past few weeks. One state representative, Toni Boucher of Bethel,  that Malloy's interest in the bill is of a personal nature.

"One of his sons has had serious problems with drugs," Boucher told Patch. "[The governor] has a personal interest in this."

Malloy declined comment. Read more about the story .