Proponents say that Connecticut has fallen behind some other states in collecting taxes on marijuana at a time when use of the drug is already happening in the Nutmeg state and throughout New England. Lawmakers are pushing for an overall tax rate of about 20 percent in order to remain competitive with the same rate as Massachusetts, where legal marijuana is legal and became available in November. The Connecticut bill includes a local option for retailers in cities and towns to charge 3 percent as part of the overall taxation.