OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS

Legislative Office Building, Room 5200

Hartford, CT 06106 ¯ (860) 240-0200

http: //www.cga.ct.gov/ofa

HB-6715

AN ACT CONCERNING THE PALLIATIVE USE OF MARIJUANA.

AMENDMENT

LCO No.: 6732

File Copy No.: 420

House Calendar No.: 348

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:

Note: GF=General Fund

Municipal Impact: None

Explanation

The Department of Public Health will require additional staff to process registrations and issue identification cards to qualifying patients. Staffing needs would vary with the number of registrants, which cannot be determined in advance. However, it is expected that the agency will require at least 1 full-time administrative staff to accommodate these activities, and may require additional staff should the volume of applicants be significant in magnitude. Additional other expenses would be incurred to produce and mail the identification cards.

For comparison purposes, as of 4/1/07, the number of patients holding cards issued by the Oregon medical marijuana program was 14, 050. A total of 7, 607 new and 7, 508 renewal applications were received in the twelve-month period ending 3/31/07. Oregon's population of 3.7 million is 5.5% greater than Connecticut's population.

The preceding Fiscal Impact statement is prepared for the benefit of the members of the General Assembly, solely for the purposes of information, summarization and explanation and does not represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose.