Interesting news story out of the Nutmeg State:

Connecticut voters support decriminalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana, but in a weird twist on this emerging liberal agenda, they oppose allowing grocery stores to sell wine and distilled spirits, according to the new Quinnipiac University Poll.

Liberal, conservative, twisted, or untwisted, it just sounds like the folks in Connecticut are well-informed on the relative harms of marijuana and alcohol, and they clearly prefer the safer choice... 

The poll shows a strong 58 percent in support of shifting marijuana possession from misdemeanor to infraction status (much like the ballot initiative recently adopted by voters in Massachusetts), and it reinforces decriminalization legislation proposed by State Senate Majority Leader Martin M. Looney (D-New Haven):

"This is pretty substantial," Looney said of the 58 percent approval rating. "The change in Massachusetts was passed with over 60 percent of voters in favor. Clearly the public sees this as a reasonable idea to prioritize within the criminal justice system...

"I think it has a chance this year partly because the public seems ahead of politicians on this issue," Looney said, adding that an estimated $15 million could be saved in Connecticut by freeing public defenders and prosecutors from handling low-level pot possession cases.