During a debate at the University of Saint Joseph in West Hartford on Sept. 30, incumbent Democratic Gov. Daniel Malloy and his Republican challenger Tom Foley both said they've used pot in the past.
"Well, I didn't know I was going to get that question," Foley chuckled, before answering, "Yes, I have."
Then the moderator turned to Malloy, who quietly uttered, "Once."
During his tenure as governor, Connecticut has both decriminalized and medicalized marijuana. In 2011, Malloy issued the following statement about the decrim bill:
"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 13 states across the country with similar statutes.
Since then Maryland, MIssouri, Rhode Island and Vermont have jumped on the decrim bandwagon, making a total of 19 states with relaxed marijuana laws.
The gubernatorial race in Connecticut, pitting two men who faced each other four years ago, is considered a toss-up.
