January 24, 2023

House Republicans Unveil Session Priorities for Cannabis Safety

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HARTFORD – Rep. Joe Hoxha, R-Bristol, joined with his Republican colleagues in the House to announce proposals to address the commercialization of marijuana, which increases the public safety risks for children and drivers.

This session, House Republicans have proposed H.B. 5434, which addresses a wide-ranging set of issues, from student driving education and labeling, to sales of cannabis products at gas stations and safer packaging.

A key part of the bill calls for the suspension of marijuana retail sales until the drug recognition expert certification program for police officers is operational. This is an important provision that must be in place if we want to reduce drug-related fatalities on our roads and highways.

The legislation that commercialized marijuana has also hampered a police officer’s ability to properly assess whether a driver is operating a motor vehicle under the influence of cannabis by not allowing them to use the odor of marijuana as a cause for a search.

You can read the proposed bill here and review the highlights below. A public hearing will be held so that you can submit testimony, but a date for that hearing has not yet been set.

The bill from House Republicans proposes the following:

Establishes a cap on the amount of THC present in a single serving and requires the disclosure of the concentration of THC present in each serving and a description of its potency
Requires a label to be placed on the package of each consumer product stating cannabis use may be addictive, lead to birth defects, or cause psychosis
Restricts licensed gasoline dealers from selling any product containing any form of THC
Requires each cannabis retailer employ a certified budtender and that such budtender be present at such retailer during operating hours
Prohibits cannabis consumption in locations where alcohol consumption is prohibited
Repeals certain restrictions on cannabis-related stops and searches on persons and motor vehicles
Specifies that “imminent risk of serious harm” includes a situation where a parent or guardian is visibly under the influence of cannabis and attempting to pick up and leave with their child from a school or day care
Prohibits the sale of edible cannabis products
Requires that cannabis products be sold in child-proof containers