Connecticut’s Governor, Ned Lamont, has halted the distribution of $33.4 million from the state’s marijuana social equity fund while the program undergoes a comprehensive review. This decision comes in response to complaints from the state’s legislative Black and Puerto Rican Caucus and other stakeholders about the transparency and recipient choices of the Social Equity Council (SEC), which manages the fund.
Governor Lamont has called for the state comptroller to conduct an audit focusing on governance practices, decision-making processes, financial management, program effectiveness, and adherence to relevant statutes and regulations. The action follows concerns that the SEC has not been transparent and questions regarding its choices for community grant recipients.
The SEC was established to lead social equity initiatives within Connecticut’s cannabis industry. The agency’s executive director, Ginnie-Rae Clay, has not commented on the situation.
In other news, Connecticut’s medical marijuana program’s board of physicians has added two new qualifying conditions for patients 18 and older: autism and female orgasmic difficulty/disorder. The state now recognizes 42 qualifying conditions for adult patients and 11 for its youth MMJ program.
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