AN ACT CONCERNING REFORM OF LAWS RELATED TO CANNABIS AND EQUITY.

HB 6377 aims to reform cannabis laws by ending nonviolent cannabis enforcement, clearing past convictions, and restoring civil rights for those impacted by previous laws. It requires courts to review and potentially vacate sentences for cannabis-related incarcerations and mandates that at least 50% of new cannabis business licenses go to people with past convictions or from communities disproportionately affected by enforcement. The bill also establishes an equity fund (funded by cannabis tax revenue) to provide financial assistance for qualifying applicants and requires law enforcement officers to undergo training on cannabis laws, implicit bias, and nonviolent enforcement approaches. These provisions directly affect individuals with past cannabis convictions, communities impacted by historical enforcement, and new cannabis businesses seeking licenses.