AMONG the results of last month's elections was a startling cultural development: Two states, Colorado and Washington, became the first to legalize the sale of marijuana for any purpose to adults over 21.

This coincides with national polls that show increasing support for marijuana legalization. Yet on this issue, conservatives and liberals alike have balked at defending individual rights and states' rights.

Since 1996, when California allowed the medicinal use of marijuana, 17 more states and the District of Columbia have followed suit. A Washington PostABC News poll three years ago found overwhelming support for legalizing medical marijuana use: 81 percent were in favor. More recent CBS News and Quinnipiac polls have shown Americans almost evenly split on legalizing recreational sale of marijuana to adults, with supporters ahead by 3 to 4 percentage points. In 1969, only 16 percent favored legalization.

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BRIDGEPORT - Mayor Bill Finch wants zoning commissioners to speed up economic growth and that includes approving a medical marijuana farm.

"We've got to move things quicker," Finch, a Democrat, said in an interview Wednesday following his weekly "brown bag lunch" with constituents.

During the lunch, students from Housatonic Community College asked the mayor what his administration is doing to create more jobs in Bridgeport. Finch spoke at length on the challenges faced by the Parks City and also criticized the Planning and Zoning Commission.

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ARCATA, Calif. - A public university located in one of California's prime pot-growing regions has formed an academic institute devoted to marijuana.

The Humboldt Institute for Interdisciplinary Marijuana Research at Humboldt State University plans to sponsor scholarly lectures and coordinate research among 11 faculty members from fields such as economics, geography, politics, psychology and sociology.

The Times-Standard of Eureka reports that one professor is studying recent campaigns to legalize marijuana, while another is investigating the environmental effects of pot cultivation.

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SOUTHINGTON -- Police have proposed adding synthetic marijuana to a list of products that can't be sold or possessed under local ordinance.

An updated list of "objectionable products" was presented to the Town Council Monday night by Town Attorney Mark Sciota, who focused on synthetic marijuana. The product is often sold in convenience stores and gas stations.

The list is compiled and overseen by the police department, but the council receives reports when the new version is compiled.

"The biggest change you will see has popped up in the last year," Sciota said. "(Synthetic marijuana) is becoming a dangerous thing in Southington and throughout the state."

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SIMSBURY) The Simsbury Zoning Commission sought public feedback at its Nov. 19 on how to proceed with local regulations for recently state-approved medical marijuana. Though not federally approved, Connecticut became one of several states to pass such laws, which took effect Oct. 1. It approves use of marijuana for some medical uses, such as cancer, AIDS, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

"We're not trying to challenge the spirit of the law," said Commission Chairman Robert Pomeroy Jr. during the Nov. 19 meeting at town hall. "The state has approved this to make it available, so we don't want to be obstructionist."

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Marijuana, or cannabis, has been used as a medicinal remedy for thousands of years. Once used as an anesthetic in ancient China, the drug has been administered throughout the world to treat many ailments including chronic pain, digestive disorders and inflammation. Nevertheless, possession of marijuana is illegal in the United States and often results in fines or imprisonment for those using it.

Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) is rapidly absorbed into the body by either ingestion or smoking. Once in the blood stream, marijuana tends to produce a calming or euphoric affect. Additionally, it has been shown in many studies to increase appetite, decrease nausea and relax muscles. As such, it may be prescribed for a broad range of indications for general medical use. Nevertheless, marijuana also has many potential detrimental effects. Chronic users may experience depression, memory loss, anxiety and/or paranoia. Additionally, if smoked, there is an increased risk of lung cancer.

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Connecticut took the controversial, historic step as of Oct. 1 to become the 17th state to legalize marijuana for medicinal use.

Now what?

In what some in the government and the medical community described as a compassionate effort to make the drug available to cancer patients and others who may benefit from its effects, the state quickly put in place a mechanism for doctors to certify eligible patients and for patients to receive temporary medicinal marijuana ID cards.

But detailed regulations governing how patients will receive the drug and who will grow and dispense it still are months away.

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This summer, Uruguayan President Jose Mujica made headlines by proposing nationwide marijuana legalization. Stating concerns over escalating violence among drug traffickers and increasing use of harder drugs such as paco, a cocaine-based paste, he announced a bold plan to allow adult citizens to purchase and consume marijuana. Under his proposal, the Uruguayan government would have a monopoly over the production and sale of the drug. In an effort to prevent "drug tourism," only citizens would be able to purchase marijuana from the state-run retailers, and they would be limited to a maximum of 40 grams per month.

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But Distribution System Still Needs to Be Worked Out

Connecticut on Monday became the 17th state to legalize marijuana for medical use, but patients with any of the 11 conditions allowed to use it under the new law won't get state-sanctioned access to the drug for at least several more months.

William Rubenstein, commissioner of the state Department of Consumer Protection, said Monday that a system for supply and distribution won't be set up until sometime next year.

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As of today, cancer patients and others suffering with serious and painful illnesses -- such as HIV/AIDS, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis and other illnesses -- can legally use medical marijuana to ease their pain provided a licensed physicians proscribes its use.

We supported the change in the law this past legislative session because we believe that if the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes can help ease the pain of those suffering from these illnesses then there is no logical reasoning to deny those individuals that relief.

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In less than a week, Connecticut's medical marijuana program will take effect. Starting on Monday, Oct. 1, people who meet the requirements under the new law will be able to meet with their doctors and get a temporary registration certificate, allowing them to legally possess and consume marijuana for medical purposes.

Chances are, some of those who register will be college students. Like the vast majority of their fellow students, many of those patients will live on college campuses. Yet while state law will allow these people to possess and consume marijuana to help treat a chronic illness, they will be forbidden from consuming their medicine in their own homes or anywhere near them. The law passed this year states that the laws allowing the use of medical marijuana do "not apply to aE& the ingestion of marijuana on any school grounds or any public or private school, dormitory, college or university property." This is ridiculous. The law should be amended to allow qualifying patients to consume their medicine on college and university property.

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Advocates say access still months away

Despite a change in the law coming next week to allow the medicinal use of marijuana by people who suffer from specific debilitating conditions, patients and advocates say it could be months before they have safe, legal access to the drug.

The state Legislature voted last spring to create a registration and oversight system within the Department of Consumer Protection for medical marijuana use. The bill takes effect Oct. 1, a week from today. That day, the department wrote on its website, physicians will be able to begin certifying their patients, though a secure state registration system, as eligible to receive medicinal-grade marijuana grown by state-licensed pharmacists.

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The University of Connecticut is ranked first in the nation among marijuana activism and policy by High Times magazine.

The ranking, which was released in August, grades universities across the country in terms of efforts to legalize cannabis, raise awareness and reform drug policy.

The magazine lists the many efforts by UConn's Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) as the main reason for their ranking.

According to High Times, "The Huskies of UConn SSDP have led the pack this year in reforming marijuana policy both on and off campus. Most notably, they played a huge role in helping pass medical marijuana legislation in Connecticut by hosting rallies, coordinating student-lobbying efforts and testifying before lawmakers."

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Many people who have known me for years are surprised to learn I support the legalization of marijuana. They point out how anti-drugs I was in high school and wonder how I could have changed. However, I still am anti-drugs in the sense that I have no desire to ever use them. That doesn't, and shouldn't, make me anti-drug in terms of the law.

People have a misconception that everyone who supports legal marijuana is pro-drugs, or as they might say, a pothead or a druggie. This belief is both false and harmful. No one assumes that all supporters of same-sex marriage are homosexuals themselves. There are plenty of supporters of marriage equality who have no intention of ever marrying someone of their own sex. Likewise, not all pro-choice women plan on eventually having an unplanned pregnancy and seeking an abortion (irony intended). Therefore, it is unfair for people to assume that everyone who supports the legalization of marijuana does so because they want to get high.

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Drug Paradox: State, Federal Discrepancy Threatens Legal Users

Starting on Oct. 1, medical marijuana will be legal in Connecticut. Although our state's medical marijuana law was carefully designed to minimize the risk of federal invention, the legal reality is that the federal government can still prosecute anyone growing, selling or even using marijuana in compliance with state law. Our state leaders should act to protect Connecticut's citizens, and call on President Barack Obama to allow medical marijuana at the federal level.

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Three weeks ago, Connecticut joined 16 other states plus the District of Columbia and legalized the medicinal use of marijuana. So now one-third of Americans have the option to medicate with cannabis - legally. The remaining two-thirds? Many can continue medicating same as before, just illegally.

Even with Connecticut's new law, many patients may end up obtaining marijuana illegally.

Since 1997, Connecticut grappled with medical marijuana bills eight times. In support, sometimes only patients testified, other times patients were joined by doctors and nurses and lawyers and caregivers. Notable among the caregivers was state Rep. Penny Bacchiochi, who in 2004 during House debate surprised everyone when she told the harrowing story of how years earlier she had procured cannabis for her husband, who was dying of cancer.

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In October, a certain set of people -- those with chronic illnesses, such as multiple sclerosis or Crohn's disease, or cancer patients suffering from the debilitating effects of chemotherapy -- can become certified, and legal, smokers of marijuana.

"That part of the law will be in place," William Rubenstein, state commissioner of the Department of Consumer Protection, said in a recent interview.

Where they get that marijuana will be, for the near future, up to them.

The state's system of growing, distributing and selling medical marijuana -- approved by the General Assembly last month and signed into law by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on June 1 -- will be a complicated business.

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Hartford - As anticipated, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy on Friday signed into law a bill that legalizes medical marijuana starting Oct. 1 for adult patients who suffer from certain debilitating conditions.

The state Department of Consumer Protection will oversee the new, strict regulatory framework for dispensing the drug.

Qualified patients must obtain a doctor's prescription for a one-month supply of marijuana. Only licensed pharmacists can give it out from a set number of approved "dispensaries," and only licensed, in-state producers can grow the weed.

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Years of debate and fine-tuning in the state legislature over allowing medical marijuana still have not settled all the questions Connecticut doctors have about medical marijuana. Is it, as some contend, a humane solution for patients who can't get relief from other medicines, or a reckless move toward something that hasn't been fully tested scientifically?

The Connecticut State Medical Society, which has a membership of about 7,000 practicing and training physicians, opposed the bill.

"On one hand, we're asked to be scientific and use evidence-based medicine," said Dr. Michael Krinsky, the medical society's president. "On the other hand, we're being legislated to by people who don't practice medicine, telling us this is fine to do, based on rather flimsy evidence."

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For years, advocates for the legalization of medical marijuana - many of them individuals suffering from various health problems - have appeared before legislative committees. Their stories were the same - only the use of marijuana provided relief from their debilitating conditions without the unbearable side effects of prescribed drugs.

It is good to see a majority of lawmakers have listened to them, approving a bill that will make Connecticut the 17th state to legalize marijuana as a palliative for the chronically ill. Unlike his predecessor, Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who vetoed a medical marijuana bill in 2007, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy plans to sign the measure into law.

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