Connecticut Cannabis Crackdown Raises Fears of a New Era in the War on Drugs

Connecticut’s top prosecutor, Attorney General William Tong, is championing a controversial bill that would stiffen penalties on illegal cannabis sales, but critics say it’s a wolf in progressive clothing—repackaging the war on drugs under the guise of public safety.

The proposed legislation, House Bill 7181, would slap felony charges on cannabis shops that sell synthetic products or distribute marijuana and paraphernalia to anyone under 21. The penalty? Up to three years behind bars and a fine of $3,500. Landlords could face $10,000 penalties, and violators could be fined $30,000 per incident. The bill also greenlights a new Hemp and Cannabis Enforcement Taskforce and allows municipalities to pocket civil penalties from busts—an incentive some say invites over-policing.

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