Connecticut

How does your state measure up when it comes to establishing policies that reduce the harms of both drug use and drug prohibition?

Harm Reduction

Does the state permit access to clean syringes for people who inject drugs?

  • YES

Does the state have legal naloxone distribution to prevent overdose deaths?

  • YES

Does the state have a 911 Good Samaritan law?

  • YES

Does the state have legal methadone access?

  • YES

Marijuana

Are marijuana possession and use legal for medical purposes?

  • YES

Is there a government-regulated distribution system for medical marijuana?

  • YES

More information on medical marijuana:

What are the criminal penalties for marijuana possession?

Criminal Justice

How many people are arrested for a drug offense each year? 

  • 13,926

What are the racial disparities in arrest rates?

  • Total population (2011): 82.3% white, 11.1% black.
    Drug Arrests (2011): 65.3% white, 34.0% black.

What happens to people’s voting rights when they become part of the criminal justice system?

  • Vote restored after: Term of Incarceration, Parole

CT State Good Samaritan Law (§ 21a-279(g) and §21a-267(d) - 2011)

This is the text of Connecticut's Good Samaritan law.

View the law.

Law Atlas map of states with Good Samaritan laws

This in an online interactive resource for visualizing the states with Good Samaritan laws.

View the map.

Bill to End Racial Disparities in Connecticut Hits Governor's Desk

Community Organizations Call on Gov. Rell to Keep Her Word: “If I Hear of Racism Occurring in our State Government I will Take Swift Action”

Law that Would Fix Racist Crack and Powder Cocaine Disparities Awaits Her Signature

HARTFORD–Yesterday, a bill that would eliminate the disparity in Connecticut’s crack and powder cocaine law passed in the Senate, setting the stage for Governor M. Jodi Rell to sign it into law. Currently, it takes 28 grams (28g) of powder cocaine to trigger the same mandatory minimum sentence as only half a gram of crack, even though they are two forms of the same drug. According to the United States Sentencing Commisson’s 2002 Report, nearly 85% of persons convicted of crack cocaine penalties were black.
 

Robert Rooks at (203) 435-6979 or Michael Blain at (646) 335-2241

Diversion Works

April 17, 2008
Immarigeon, Russ and Greene, Judith. A Better Way Foundation
Commissioned by the Drug Policy Alliance

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