My Letter to CT House Rep: Demetrios

As we work toward marijuana reform around the country and especially here in Connecticut, I thought I'd share a letter I received and then replied to from CT House Rep Giannaros:

Thanks Shane.
The bill was voted successfully out of the Judiciary Committee.

I am not sure when it will be debated. I am leaning in favor of it
depending on the specific language at the end.
However, the Governor seems to be against it.

Best wishes,
Demetrios


Rep. Demetrios Giannaros
demetrios.giannaros@cga.ct.gov
(860) 240-8585


And my response:

Dear Representative Giannaros:

I sincerely appreciate you're taking the time to consider this bill at length. I urge you to stay strong in your stance to pass this bill.

In regards to our dear Governor, I have also written her to express my extreme disappointment with her narrow view on the subject and to remind her she will not have my vote in the upcoming elections if she stands against this bill. Marijuana decriminalization is important as we struggle to maintain Connecticut budgets, we could sincerely use the estimated $11 million dollars annually in our public school systems, to reinvest in our communities, or simply as a economic stimulus package to the people of Connecticut.

If the Governor does decide to veto this bill, I urge you to work with others in the House to over turn this veto as Vermont recently did in relation to gay marriage. How many more years will we pump money into enforcing non-violent, simple marijuana possession charges? Locking up our children, parents and grandparents who's only crime is simple marijuana possession charge, but are now labeled common criminal thugs by society, making it even more difficult to obtain employment. As you know, Mr Giannaros, we need to keep our residents in Connecticut and that means getting them back in the work force, does it make sense to keep simple marijuana users out of work? 

Thank you for your hard work on this very important issue to the people of Connecticut, I implore you to continue this work until we complete the task of decriminalizing simple marijuana possession in our great state.

Sincerely,

Shane Dragon
Connecticut Resident