Connecticut, along with its regional counterparts New York and Vermont, is taking a closer look at cannabis legalization in 2020. But while Vermont’s considering an expansion of its non-commercial cannabis program, and New York state has the gravitational pull of its own massive consumer market to reckon with; Connecticut’s lawmakers are feeling the sting of residents bumping north across the Massachusetts border for legal cannabis sales to contend with.

Connecticut lawmakers are looking to address not only the lost tax revenue that comes with in-staters going elsewhere for legal cannabis, but also are considering better ways to address the “three E’s of legalization”: equity, expungement and economic opportunity in the Nutmeg State. To that end, lawmakers are looking to revive many of the proposals around finance, restorative justice and regulations that Connecticut considered in early 2019. Namely:

• Giving social equity applicants a first crack at applying for operating licenses in CT.
• Expungement of low level cannabis arrests for Connecticut residents.
• An oversight committee for adult-use that would mirror what is in place for Connecticut’s medical program.

The Nutmeg State was included in the loose “summit” of Northeast and Middle Atlantic states organized by NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo last fall. Seemingly that meeting has encouraged governors and legislatures alike to reconsider their legalization efforts. Whether that spurs actual, y’know, progress or legalization waits to be seen. However, with Vermont, New York and now Connecticut looking to advance things, and with New Jersey voters likely to pass legalization in November, 2020 could be a surprisingly fruitful year for the Northeast corridor.